Reward or Reminder!

What a great idea this is!!! 

A post-it in the shape of a wristband. This would be fantastic for those reminders like permission notes or homework, or even to send little notes home.

I also stumbled across these reward wristbands which I would love to give a go!

 

Bouncy Balls - Noise Meter for the Classroom

I stumbled across this website which has a whole heap of interactive and fun visual tools which would work well in the classroom.

I particularly liked Bouncy Balls, which works with your microphone - when there is no noise, the balls don't move, the more noise the higher the balls bounce. I thought this would be a great tool for behaviour management in the classroom. Used as a noise meter, students can visually see when they are getting too loud within activities and are then able to self-regulate.

I cannot wait to try this out next term! I just hope it doesn't have the opposite effect!
Give is a go at here.

Classroom Avatars!

I was recently told about Voki - an online site which allows you to create your own avatar and implement it into the classroom. You can choose from a heap of different characters and modify to create your own look. Or make a new character for different themes, like cowboys, pirates, police officer, anything you can think of! You can choose from a number of different languages and accents, which would be great for SOSE lessons! You can even upload your own voice.

I cannot wait to show my class... It could be some sort of a class mascot! Delivering class messages, or introducing a new topic to the class.

Here is my first try at making an avatar! Still need to tweak it a bit! Have a try and let me know how you go! How will you use Voki in the classroom?

ABC Game

When I used to babysit, I had some very energetic kids that just would not settle down to go to bed. I used to think of a topic, animals for example, and they had to go through each letter of the alphabet thinking of an animal starting with that letter. By the time they got to Z for Zebra, they were usually fast asleep. 

I modified this activity and made 30 different category cards, and 30 different letter cards (put doubles of easier or harder letters to differentiate). You could even manipulate the categories to whatever you are working on in class. I made different backs for each deck to help shuffle and separate, and laminated them for a long life. The kids love it! I even took it to uni the other day, and it had adults addicted! 

Instructions: 

One card from each deck is turned over at the same time, and the players have to think of a word in that category, and starting with that letter. Whoever guesses one first, wins that category card, and the player with the most category cards at the end, wins!

Buzz Words

I have used Wordle a few times for uni assignments, but I stumbled across Tagxedo and after playing around with it, it seems much more versatile! I was able to just type my blog address in and it pulled the words. I could also pick and choose words, colours and shapes. 

I think these will be great visual aids for in the classroom! Here's my first try :)

Chalkboard Organisation

With the introduction of whiteboards and interactive whiteboards in classrooms, chalkboards are almost extinct. How sad!!

I bought a tin of chalkboard paint for another project, and was trying to think of some other uses for it.
I decided to make some labels for some jars, this way, I can keep some chalkboard in my classroom! My sister also gave me this wooden red apple, and I thought I might try and make it into a message board.

Tissue Paper Flowers

I made these gorgeous paper carnations last year. Perfect gift! Or to pretty up a classroom or desk. They're so easy, I might even try them with the kids...

Materials:

• Tissue paper
• Scissors
• 2 large bulldog clips
• Pipe cleaners 
• Coloured marker pen

Merry Grinchmas!

Christmas Classroom Decoration

My Mum made this beautiful decoration for hanging in my classroom at Christmas time. Reading The Grinch was always one of my favourite things to do at Christmas time!

Book Week Costume!

Alice in Wonderland     

I dressed up as the White Rabbit from the book and movie Alice in Wonderland for a costume party recently. Good idea for book week dress ups!!

     

Alphabet Pockets

I made these alphabet pockets for a lesson on phonics. They are made out of different cotton materials sewed together with stiffener. I then cut out the letters in felt and glue gunned them onto each pocket. I put velcro dots on the back so I could stick them around the room.                                                                                

In this lesson I cut out different pictures and the kids had to sound out the word and place in the corresponding pocket... A is for Apple. It did take a while to make but I was so happy with the results and know I will use them again and again for different lessons.  

Ideas wall

Book Plates

My new book plates!! Printed on labels so I can stick in the front cover of my professional resources and my ever growing collection of children's books.