tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2426980217849759732024-02-18T23:02:00.936-05:00EduKate and InspireA blog that shares my experiences as a school counselor and elementary school teacher. I share creative counseling lessons, social-emotional book reviews, and organization and documentation tips. Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-35108166132261887332017-09-14T22:26:00.000-04:002017-10-09T18:42:50.713-04:00How To Organize Your School Counseling Library<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As a former second grade teacher, my favorite part of my classroom was my classroom library. By my 8th year of teaching, I had collected over 2,500 books for my students! I loved reading books out loud to my students and helping them find new books to get lost in. </div>
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Now, as a school counselor, I continue to use children's books on a regular basis. I enjoy finding books with a strong message that students can connect with, learn from, and apply to their own lives. I frequently use books in my classroom lessons and small groups. I even use books with during individual counseling and we sit side-by-side on my couch to read and discuss how a book applies to the student's life. Because organization and efficiency are my jam, I keep all of my books organized in my office. Keep reading to learn how you can organize your own school counseling library! </div>
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<i>Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission when someone makes a purchase through one of my links, which helps to support my blog.</i><br />
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Step 1: Sort Your Books</h2>
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The first step to create an organized school counseling library is to sort all of your books. To begin this process as a new counselor, I borrowed a kindergarten teacher's classroom because I needed a wide, open space. I started by choosing about 10 categories that I knew I had a lot of books for and wrote the categories on Post-It notes. I took my bins of books and began sorting them into piles as I matched them by theme. As I sorted, I took the time to skim any of the books that I was not as familiar with because I wanted to make sure they were all sorted appropriately. When I started finding books that did not match up with my Post-Its, I began creating sub-piles with similar themes. In the end, I had 20 piles of books that were matched by theme! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBdpLFVl6ASCaBugH3Y5D731nh56NJx1cb9ymzt82z0u9KNWxYX4tWeigdJmXfRtRBtz1orczrwnOa2aRjIXLq1_DfRFRF0JPJD_umO5Q1pY7JwNrb8yb9L-izklUUeqNurWZpyTi2Ik-/s1600/How+to+Organize+Your+School+Counseling+Library+FB+copy+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counseling Library Themes" border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBdpLFVl6ASCaBugH3Y5D731nh56NJx1cb9ymzt82z0u9KNWxYX4tWeigdJmXfRtRBtz1orczrwnOa2aRjIXLq1_DfRFRF0JPJD_umO5Q1pY7JwNrb8yb9L-izklUUeqNurWZpyTi2Ik-/s1600/How+to+Organize+Your+School+Counseling+Library+FB+copy+2.png" title="School Counseling Library Themes" /></a></div>
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School Counseling Library Themes</h3>
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Here are the 20 themes that I use in my counseling library. Many are self-explanatory, but here is a quick description of each category:</div>
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1) Making Friends: Books about social skills related to friendships</div>
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2) Friendship Problems: Books about conflict resolution, bullying, and gossip</div>
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3) Self-Esteem: Books about individuality and boosting self-esteem</div>
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4) Feelings: Books about feelings that do not match my other specific feelings categories</div>
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5) Families: Books about divorce, new siblings, and family conflicts</div>
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6) Anxiety: Books about anxious feelings and coping skills</div>
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7) Anger: Books about angry feelings and coping skills</div>
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8) Grief: Books about the loss of a friend, family member, or pet</div>
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9) Self-Control: Books about managing impulses</div>
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10) Kindness: Books about treating others with kindness and respect</div>
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11) School: Books about new students, school anxiety, and other school-related issues</div>
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12) Life Skills: Books about character traits and manners</div>
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13) Health: Books about illnesses, lice, hygiene, and other health-related issues</div>
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14) Teamwork: Books about working together</div>
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15) Careers: Books about career options</div>
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16) Girl Power: Books specific to common girl issues such as self-esteem and friendship drama</div>
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17) Creativity: Books about thinking outside of the box</div>
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18) Perseverance: Books about not giving up</div>
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19) Diversity: Books about individuality and cultures</div>
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20) Read Alouds: Books not specifically related to counseling, but are fun to read aloud during Right to Read Week and other special school events</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdydtrk-TwE0AEh7z_NKxm8Q9wIJD8Y73vvWlkjTWC7Hy38YirLqCo9KDZmjdXn9aeowUwqleiJno4uTcdew306f-J7SFXJrbyDKTbxqabzOTdUvsNwpLLEY4aafyzjTvTGM9ICqI8j9p/s1600/How+to+Organize+Your+School+Counseling+Library+FB+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How To Organize Your School Counseling Library" border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdydtrk-TwE0AEh7z_NKxm8Q9wIJD8Y73vvWlkjTWC7Hy38YirLqCo9KDZmjdXn9aeowUwqleiJno4uTcdew306f-J7SFXJrbyDKTbxqabzOTdUvsNwpLLEY4aafyzjTvTGM9ICqI8j9p/s1600/How+to+Organize+Your+School+Counseling+Library+FB+copy.png" title="How To Organize Your School Counseling Library" /></a></div>
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Step 2: Catalog Your Books</h2>
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There are many websites and apps that you can use to catalog your books, but my favorite is <a href="http://www.librarything.com/" target="_blank">Library Thing</a>. Here is why I love it:</div>
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-You can add books by typing in the title and Library Thing will pull the rest of the info for you</div>
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-You can use a book scanner to easily add a large amount of books </div>
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-You can organize your books by category </div>
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-You can browse your categories by book cover to quickly find the book you are looking for</div>
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-You can "tag" books to break down your categories. For example, the "friendship problems" category may have tags for bullying, conflict resolution, gossip, etc.</div>
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-You have the ability to track and lend your books (I don't use this feature, but it would be helpful if you loan out a lot of books)</div>
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-You can log 200 books for free or pay $10 per year or $25 for life. I used the $25 deal because it is worth it!</div>
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If you want to check out how I organized my books on Library Thing, click on this <a href="http://www.librarything.com/catalog/ktbailin" target="_blank">link</a>! Use the drop-down menu on the left to choose a category and browse some of my favorite books.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-SlYVbV99FwOtRSDcL46akiVPINqDjaVz6rJUUpYBDEotn9F_R_r2mBMBcO_sM1U9Fwfgmb_qORlFFVF8xhwKUmTItJg3w9IIKPEuTslEOe8mL3bEc-3ZEhp3W1pFMCUXScaRD8nbk6O/s1600/How+to+Organize+Your+School+Counseling+Library+Pin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Organize Your School Counseling Library" border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-SlYVbV99FwOtRSDcL46akiVPINqDjaVz6rJUUpYBDEotn9F_R_r2mBMBcO_sM1U9Fwfgmb_qORlFFVF8xhwKUmTItJg3w9IIKPEuTslEOe8mL3bEc-3ZEhp3W1pFMCUXScaRD8nbk6O/s400/How+to+Organize+Your+School+Counseling+Library+Pin.png" title="How to Organize Your School Counseling Library" width="266" /></a></div>
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Step 3: Design Your Library</h2>
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The next step is to figure out how you would like to design your library in your office. <a href="http://edukateandinspire.blogspot.com/2016/08/school-counselor-office-tour.html" target="_blank">My office</a> is fairly small, so I keep all of my books on a tall, wooden bookshelf. On the top shelf, I store all of my counseling resource books. On the rest of the shelves, I have my books sorted into bins by categories.<br />
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I have two types of bins on my bookshelf. Near the top, I have these <a href="http://amzn.to/2uApl7b" target="_blank">neon bins from Really Good Stuff</a>. They are a bit pricier, however, I bought these when I was a classroom teacher and they have held up really well. I love how they come with a clip-on label to easily add your book category. A less expensive option are these <a href="http://amzn.to/2vytwof" target="_blank">Storex bins</a>, which can also be found on Amazon.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Magazine-Folder-Holders-Holders-Colors/dp/B06XWYKCHZ/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1502138361&sr=8-31&keywords=plastic+book+bins&linkCode=li3&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=5366b1f3b5907410c3e4ca0fcde71cb8" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B06XWYKCHZ&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eduandins-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B06XWYKCHZ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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The narrow bins above are great for the categories where I have less than 20 books. For my larger categories, I use wider plastic baskets (about 13" X 10"). My bins are similar to this 6-pack from <a href="http://amzn.to/2vfRylC" target="_blank">Sterelite</a>, but you can also snag these baskets for a great price at stores like Target or Wal-Mart.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sterilite-16248006-Medium-Titanium-Inserts/dp/B002BA5F0M/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1502138854&sr=8-5&keywords=plastic+storage+basket&linkCode=li3&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=f54a7a5e76370eb4f6dbbba694dd53e5" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B002BA5F0M&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eduandins-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B002BA5F0M" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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Step 4: Label Your Bins</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-4LruUJAmDNDyC__E9OsWvjXvraxNqP2Z6tYwHyMxxLuAOL3M7TO34PGWuhKV-Ue5nKB69RIFcT40v_rd3KK5mB90dWRQVsFyEd3Ac9smzScT_wH-8na3LdJWLgp-PxSywF1jBAOHFE7/s1600/How+to+Organize+Your+School+Counseling+Library+Pin+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paint Stick Book Separators for Counseling Library" border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="735" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-4LruUJAmDNDyC__E9OsWvjXvraxNqP2Z6tYwHyMxxLuAOL3M7TO34PGWuhKV-Ue5nKB69RIFcT40v_rd3KK5mB90dWRQVsFyEd3Ac9smzScT_wH-8na3LdJWLgp-PxSywF1jBAOHFE7/s400/How+to+Organize+Your+School+Counseling+Library+Pin+copy.png" title="Paint Stick Book Separators for Counseling Library" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the top shelf of my counseling library, I store all of my counseling resource books. They are organized into categories that are separated by paint stirring sticks! Here's how I made the book separators:</div>
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1) Go to Lowes or Home Depot. Tell them you are a school counselor and would love a donation of paint sticks for a project! :)</div>
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2) Place the paint sticks in a cardboard box and spray paint them black. Wait 1 hour, flip them over, and spray paint the other side.</div>
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3) Download the <a href="http://www.avery.com/avery/en_us/Templates-%26-Software/Templates/Labels/Address-Labels/Address-Label-30-per-sheet-_-1-x-2-58_Microsoft-Word.htm" target="_blank">Avery Label Template</a> and type in your counseling resource topics.</div>
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4) Print your topics on Avery mailing labels. </div>
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5) Stick the labels onto the ends of each paint stirrer. Mine have held great for 2 years, but it looks like I may need to put a piece of clear packing tape over each sticker this year to secure them better. </div>
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The next step in organization is to design labels for all of your baskets! If you use baskets that are a similar size as mine, I went ahead and did the work for you! :) Click on the resource below to download your FREE School Counseling Library Labels!</div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/EduKateLabels" target="_blank"><img alt="Free School Counseling Library Labels" border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="1286" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRjdf-ijVwrBD-HD1biAUlfU97xlNvJ4z2wq7W7UBTPYYpwxLK3KzDcVkQPYDm8NKn1QNLuZAt72w930S8YI_JRX4kSlv9WkjOjLvJo6g_iafnsbs9s20-8fLKz5QXKHOtISbWmB-pXA3/s400/School+Counseling+Libray+Labels+Cover.png" title="Free School Counseling Library Labels" width="398" /></a></div>
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One great thing about having an organized library is that it is very easy to loan out books to students or parents! I can quickly grab a book during a parent meeting and let a family borrow it for a week or two. I also find that students like to peek at the categories of books when they are in my office, and when they get curious, I ask if they want to borrow a book from me. To help me keep track of the books I loan out, I use a page in my <a href="http://bit.ly/EduKateBinder" target="_blank">Digital Counseling Binder</a>, which is a Google Slides file that I use to organize my counseling life! Here is a peek at the slide:</div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/EduKateBinder" target="_blank"><img alt="Counseling Resource Check Out List" border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="738" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JIFw0qcKuRni9YR0S5zj1R5EHyyEL6CAMLnRlnezr5EwwCOCUy8cmuw6kFH2J6eJ1GGCKyoE_2N0yOrbSroVdcy0JOiTIpXxHpXMbkmLn8SZ_UctKb9VBcvhk4jLLc0-mIVssUH_VRP3/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-10-09+at+6.39.52+PM.png" title="Counseling Resource Check Out List" width="640" /></a></div>
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I hope this post helped you to wrap your mind around how to organize your school counseling library. Check out this post to read about <a href="http://confidentcounselors.com/2017/07/24/15-must-have-books-elementary-school-counselors/" target="_blank">15 Must Have Books for School Counseling</a> and stay tuned for more counseling library posts where I share my favorite books. Don't forget to pin the image below to save this post for later! </div>
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<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 73px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 568px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 73px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 568px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-41230632468988950762017-06-12T23:51:00.000-04:002017-06-13T09:27:11.841-04:00Organize Your School Year with a School Counselor Planner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPMfye3tTy4BFUxJaCZS92N-PtCiJjrP2x4DVafyNVodEHtdG2hxJ3hEhoieb_wEoGPJAwai-EZIcZmdY6llbWKHA6hOzYGgfljrcDhwewiYfFe9c6W8mJ_V6hX8JSXJrNtxrfQi5RViM/s1600/post+header.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Learn how to organize your school year with a printable School Counselor Planner!" border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1462" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPMfye3tTy4BFUxJaCZS92N-PtCiJjrP2x4DVafyNVodEHtdG2hxJ3hEhoieb_wEoGPJAwai-EZIcZmdY6llbWKHA6hOzYGgfljrcDhwewiYfFe9c6W8mJ_V6hX8JSXJrNtxrfQi5RViM/s640/post+header.png" title="Learn how to organize your school year with a printable School Counselor Planner!" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Why Do You Need a School Counselor Planner?</h2>
As a school counselor, I am always looking to improve my efficiency and organization. Although I consider myself to be pretty tech-savvy, I prefer to use an <i>old school</i> paper planner when it comes to my daily schedule. I love having a printed planner that I can easily add events to without having to rely on technology. I also like being able to quickly write (and reschedule!) events in my planner that sits right on my desk. <br />
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I created a <a href="http://bit.ly/CounselorPlanner" target="_blank">School Counselor Planner</a> after trying out several store-bought planners. Although they looked pretty, they did not help me stay organized and I found that I quickly stopped using them. Because I have always had a knack for organization and design, I wanted to create a planner with a clean and simple design that only contained the features that I needed.<br />
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Last summer, I designed the perfect <a href="http://bit.ly/CounselorPlanner" target="_blank">School Counselor Planner</a>. Hoping to help other counselors, I uploaded the planner to Teachers Pay Teachers. It brings so much joy knowing that something I created for myself is also helping other counselors, too! One thing that makes my planner unique is that I offer <b>free yearly updates</b>. If you purchase my planner on TPT, simply re-download the file each year and you will have access to the updated planner for <b>FREE</b>!<br />
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<b>FYI</b>: I named my planner "School Counselor Planner" simply because I am a school counselor. However, my planner is perfect for anyone who is looking for a daily planner with a simple, clean design. If you are a social worker, school psychologist, clinical counselor, educator, or even a stay-at-home mom, this planner will be great for you, too!<br />
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<i>(Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission when someone makes a purchase through one of my links, which helps support my blog. All opinions are my own.)</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwsHwwZ42D5SQjyFS_y7-QmWSRwwg3PDRBG2BGVeGjiOgbEy0exxNvLNMAL3Xf5G6XEyPaDhh5dKItw-vAlQx52F7bu0F8n5gf_kXHC1OXdXDX9bcUnKnVMMjeNwtKo95Rgj3zcDcedM-/s1600/21.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="953" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwsHwwZ42D5SQjyFS_y7-QmWSRwwg3PDRBG2BGVeGjiOgbEy0exxNvLNMAL3Xf5G6XEyPaDhh5dKItw-vAlQx52F7bu0F8n5gf_kXHC1OXdXDX9bcUnKnVMMjeNwtKo95Rgj3zcDcedM-/s640/21.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h2>
What is Included?</h2>
The School Counselor Planner is a practical, ink-saving weekly planner designed for documenting individual sessions, groups, classroom lessons, meetings, and more! The planner has a simple design to allow your events to stand out. Each two-page spread contains a weekly view for you to document your daily events. The day is divided into 15 minute intervals (7:00-4:00) with additional space to record events before and after school. The planner also includes:<br />
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→Monthly Calendars (July 2017-July 2018)<br />
→Post-It Note To Do Pages (editable)<br />
→Daily School Schedule (editable)<br />
→Goal Planning and Reflection Pages <br />
→Year at a Glance (12 month view)<br />
→Phone Call Log<br />
→Lined Note Pages <br />
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<h2>
Cover Designs</h2>
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The School Counselor Planner comes with 20 cover designs. From watercolor flowers, to geometric designs, to succulents, and even a watercolor cat, you will have a large variety to choose from. You can quickly print your favorite cover from the included PDF file, or you can customize your cover with your name and title using the editable PowerPoint file. Here's the design I have chosen for my planner this school year:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGX67AaeNHoUknbVAM3P6CJGy-wQoo5bQCGhMFM8_O4eCdTdRe1sfKPHhuKpBnGWhpvFS2rzLeYxU56QvDd7exkF82601EtZD9JnS-z0VFNABUOGh4W9xgAAbkDwZHFBECWrOQwIgge5Pw/s1600/7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="794" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGX67AaeNHoUknbVAM3P6CJGy-wQoo5bQCGhMFM8_O4eCdTdRe1sfKPHhuKpBnGWhpvFS2rzLeYxU56QvDd7exkF82601EtZD9JnS-z0VFNABUOGh4W9xgAAbkDwZHFBECWrOQwIgge5Pw/s400/7.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here are a few of my favorites out of the 20 options to choose from!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKcEHi6Lxk3Q3XIw57bFAIBBf50gLaPF5Ew0PZxvEb3bKljlKcP1GWLF0-ezR5uKCf44yL7pJwc7ixCPq0vuGthZUberA3phQ4pww_ocvW4loWbVORoi3ySlIwHQkffvK6-rlEAgLTyph/s1600/20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="773" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKcEHi6Lxk3Q3XIw57bFAIBBf50gLaPF5Ew0PZxvEb3bKljlKcP1GWLF0-ezR5uKCf44yL7pJwc7ixCPq0vuGthZUberA3phQ4pww_ocvW4loWbVORoi3ySlIwHQkffvK6-rlEAgLTyph/s400/20.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Printing and Binding</h2>
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Since my School Counselor Planner is a digital file, you will need to choose how you would like to print and bind it. I like to print the inside pages of my planner at work since they are already greyscale images and I do not need colored ink. </div>
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The nice thing about printing your own planner is that you can decide exactly how many of each page you need. For example, I like to print 10 notes pages, 6 phone call logs, and 1 reflection page. Simply print more or less of each page to meet your needs!</div>
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I print my custom cover at <a href="http://www.officedepot.com/a/design-print-and-ship/" target="_blank">Office Max</a> because their print quality is much better than what I could print at home or school. If you have never used their print services on their website, it is very easy! Simply upload your image, choose the paper type, and choose full color or black and white. I like to have my cover printed on 110 lb card stock for extra durability. Here is a screenshot of the options I chose this year:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzhFxECyPuUa5e0XyKDON81rOWe18w_xGXqcmz4nwECg-vyqfrwK9eE-2zMptHZRTh0usxFfAbrJnQZSxIClvAn_YPFOp0KEYft_5kwqndSlVKEALHPu0moIMa8wNSLh4Jc639aFhyphenhyphenQLC/s1600/17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="964" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzhFxECyPuUa5e0XyKDON81rOWe18w_xGXqcmz4nwECg-vyqfrwK9eE-2zMptHZRTh0usxFfAbrJnQZSxIClvAn_YPFOp0KEYft_5kwqndSlVKEALHPu0moIMa8wNSLh4Jc639aFhyphenhyphenQLC/s400/17.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="400" /></a></div>
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Next up, comes binding! If you like to add other resources to your planner throughout the year, you can simply 3-hole punch your pages and add them to a binder. Using a binder is a great way to turn your planner into a resource binder to organize all of your important files. </div>
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I like having my planner spiral bound at Office Max because it makes the planner look professional and it is a great size to be able to take to meetings or toss in my bag each day. Since I print all of my inside pages at work, I simply take them with me to Office Max when I go to pick up my colored cover. When you use their custom binding option, you can also choose a front and back cover for your planner. They have several options to choose from, but my favorites are the frosted plastic cover for the front and the black regency cover for the back. As an added bonus, if you use the custom binding option, you can also choose to take extra pages to Office Max with you to have bound into your planner. For example, you can add your school district schedule or office phone extensions right into your planner!</div>
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Wondering how much all of this costs?! It is cheaper than you would think. Here is the cost break-down for my planner this year:</div>
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Colored Cover on 110 lb Card Stock: $.65</div>
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Coil Binding: $2.99</div>
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Plain Frosted Cover: $.79</div>
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Regency Black Cover: $.79</div>
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<b>Total Cost: $5.22</b></div>
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<i>Helpful hint:</i> Make sure you use <a href="https://www.ebates.com/r/KTBAIL" target="_blank">Ebates</a> any time you shop online! Right now, Office Max is offering 4% back, which means you instantly get money back just by clicking on the Ebates link before you order your printing services through Office Max.</div>
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Inside the School Counselor Planner</h2>
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The School Counselor Planner contains many types of pages to help you stay organized throughout the school year! Here is a photo and a quick description of each type of page.</div>
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<h3>
Weekly Schedule</h3>
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Perhaps the most important pages of the planner are the weekly schedule pages. These pages are already customized with the months and dates and are ready for you to write in all of your daily events. Each week is designed as a two-page spread for a peek at the week. The days are divided into 15 minute intervals (7:00-4:00) with additional space to record events before and after school. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKPB38bnr-TA7G7VbN1Hq3TRu_nua94bKtCOwX9zTp8nC1z5FGyht_OsnUJgLyt7jH8_ICwy_PkjeH_K8dLrUfYXxijfNLCAxcVCqTFFQk7FN-v0h_UnO2vXhw2qQeOhyAWFxHWpafv9G/s1600/18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="946" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzKPB38bnr-TA7G7VbN1Hq3TRu_nua94bKtCOwX9zTp8nC1z5FGyht_OsnUJgLyt7jH8_ICwy_PkjeH_K8dLrUfYXxijfNLCAxcVCqTFFQk7FN-v0h_UnO2vXhw2qQeOhyAWFxHWpafv9G/s640/18.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="640" /></a></div>
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I do my best to color code my daily events so I can peek at my week and see my schedule at a glance. I love using <a href="http://amzn.to/2svlATu" target="_blank">Papermate Flair Pens</a> because their colors are bright, the ink is smooth, and they do not bleed through the page. Here is my color coding system:</div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><u><b>Purple</b></u></span>: Meetings</div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><u><b>Blue</b></u></span>: Small Groups</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><u><b>Green</b></u></span>: Classroom Lessons</div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><u><b>Pink</b></u></span>: Special Events</div>
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<u><b>Pencil</b></u>: Individual student sessions (I always write these in pencil because they are most frequently re-scheduled!</div>
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See the little box below each day? It's one of my favorite spots in the planner because it is perfectly sized for Post-It Notes. Often, I write my "to do" list for each day on a tiny Post-It and then re-locate it to the next day if it does not get completed! :)</div>
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I also love using the Weekly Checklist and Follow Up box each week. These boxes can be used in a variety of ways:<br />
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→List the names of students you need to schedule for the week<br />
→Create a To Do list for the week<br />
→Document phone calls or follow up appointments with teachers and students</div>
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Year and a Glance and Monthly Calendars</h3>
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I like to use the Year at a Glance page for staff birthdays, but it could be used for recording school events, also. I use the monthly view for major school events and tasks to complete each month. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQohyphenhyphenmMuvjsNrL2WNETkrOHCqeRt5WjIgodRAzZGivSIud-fKvKHy4u5p3qgaWGZa4AsPxcUJ_lNAYj7xbJ7eGQv3idvv58AGcObtaw0z-9lviOLd7Vi-tlF9s4M6QCGKOi_0jjUHfV6X0/s1600/8.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="541" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQohyphenhyphenmMuvjsNrL2WNETkrOHCqeRt5WjIgodRAzZGivSIud-fKvKHy4u5p3qgaWGZa4AsPxcUJ_lNAYj7xbJ7eGQv3idvv58AGcObtaw0z-9lviOLd7Vi-tlF9s4M6QCGKOi_0jjUHfV6X0/s320/8.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="258" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPhl_NEtg-j2ZnoFUSEQB7XTJ5yNcIQOUPyb74MpolgzXIz74dzGqKpbdAkRxRSXzPOmAXBSHwmeHEWg3WFszRvrOfYCRgQFae3tPqYN-Bzdowy6ZPNnVRn9LBBa7beAAM_Txrg1HqEyl/s1600/14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="614" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPhl_NEtg-j2ZnoFUSEQB7XTJ5yNcIQOUPyb74MpolgzXIz74dzGqKpbdAkRxRSXzPOmAXBSHwmeHEWg3WFszRvrOfYCRgQFae3tPqYN-Bzdowy6ZPNnVRn9LBBa7beAAM_Txrg1HqEyl/s320/14.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="252" /></a></div>
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Post-It Note To Do Pages</h3>
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The Post-It Note To Do Pages are some of the most frequently used pages in my planner! In the first image, you will see the page that I use to simply store my Post-It Notes. I keep about 10 of each style in a stack and they are perfect to pull out of my planner at meetings. The second image shows the editable Post-It Note page that is included with my planner. You can customize the headings above each box to say anything you'd like!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9vr8MIIHd89FTANnM6tA4oQvfp8xOP3Lmexg8wc3ipr23OBDAg_9Z6o_zyc3jr54S1owV4Y8PCQwSvmle4Fe-HetxdGRTY756d1T436O9s9uyRSCQvXUPDSEhnhr4Kn51XmfSFeLmSDX/s1600/19.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="573" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9vr8MIIHd89FTANnM6tA4oQvfp8xOP3Lmexg8wc3ipr23OBDAg_9Z6o_zyc3jr54S1owV4Y8PCQwSvmle4Fe-HetxdGRTY756d1T436O9s9uyRSCQvXUPDSEhnhr4Kn51XmfSFeLmSDX/s320/19.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="252" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UXL_VhZwy9W4CLA1ePEiTGmgxMdkO6M0RI_XIW5gtyaHHqn4i-DmvNWhwOXlWULtJjTT0hqUGHLT3FhBWJ9oMfu7AllIc4vpIgJAmPD_hOUFYkdbsS2yJn3_mAOb88cwHkf5b2W_0PiZ/s1600/9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UXL_VhZwy9W4CLA1ePEiTGmgxMdkO6M0RI_XIW5gtyaHHqn4i-DmvNWhwOXlWULtJjTT0hqUGHLT3FhBWJ9oMfu7AllIc4vpIgJAmPD_hOUFYkdbsS2yJn3_mAOb88cwHkf5b2W_0PiZ/s320/9.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="259" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Goal Setting Pages</h3>
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Need a quick spot to write down your yearly goals? Jot them down right in your planner! I duplex these two pages with each other. On one side, I list my short-term and long-term goals for the year. On the other side, I pick a few goals and break them down into manageable action steps.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNSlZJ5cOiPvFN_r-4WwkJQim261lOCoH6CLoNTBAr_pKEQNcbahrrpjwDYSK9I2dKK1lytRqIfCJcgpaR-0xoGg6RCiYWw1Wqj0C3zwnV2rgYgDtRxDonXuYQ6KujBDTBCXEYalsZ43P/s1600/16.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="772" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXNSlZJ5cOiPvFN_r-4WwkJQim261lOCoH6CLoNTBAr_pKEQNcbahrrpjwDYSK9I2dKK1lytRqIfCJcgpaR-0xoGg6RCiYWw1Wqj0C3zwnV2rgYgDtRxDonXuYQ6KujBDTBCXEYalsZ43P/s320/16.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhq6WnOIq4CZSVbvJpa9Tp9mu-nggkt6aBQ2996qiZ_h7BA7vn9YfnzJgKx8RexQpzcKwQYYxY6FJuvfBQNl43oyn2pb30foa0HwHPYBX7aCn8oHChLZ6tLRZzlAywXkOrlTdfZzH-KFC/s1600/11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="709" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhq6WnOIq4CZSVbvJpa9Tp9mu-nggkt6aBQ2996qiZ_h7BA7vn9YfnzJgKx8RexQpzcKwQYYxY6FJuvfBQNl43oyn2pb30foa0HwHPYBX7aCn8oHChLZ6tLRZzlAywXkOrlTdfZzH-KFC/s320/11.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="277" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Phone Call Log</h3>
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I created this page after I realized that I was always taking notes on random Post-It Notes when I talked with parents or caseworkers on the phone. Now, I jot down brief notes from the call directly in my planner, which makes them very easy to find! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZviu8lVolke_ebRb-3YEF42MkTe4tRz1TJP5g7MdJ_FVn4oI-yugeMX0RDlYM4a6nsgjrSvSa4buA0fnoX0q17-ia8mgdKd7TW5WvSclewDM54E9p4la4wkQgbeZlosR-Qk4p3ukN0qWu/s1600/23.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="558" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZviu8lVolke_ebRb-3YEF42MkTe4tRz1TJP5g7MdJ_FVn4oI-yugeMX0RDlYM4a6nsgjrSvSa4buA0fnoX0q17-ia8mgdKd7TW5WvSclewDM54E9p4la4wkQgbeZlosR-Qk4p3ukN0qWu/s320/23.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="246" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Notes and Reflections Pages</h3>
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I keep these pages at the back of my planner to allow me to have an easy spot to record notes throughout the school year. I use the reflection page to record any thoughts about areas I would like to improve or change the following school year. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75Fw3RzMO5bM_QXinHJOsCS1LLZPPI3tR3q0o6AvPnnsWXDc5zzLxypUSl_5ssOpCqqHsb6rxpmHa297exgDasl9GWwlW2ejFa7cv-esgg6gaYTmFlM0VBa07nNZ678UFzKOXrW4Mdofz/s1600/22.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75Fw3RzMO5bM_QXinHJOsCS1LLZPPI3tR3q0o6AvPnnsWXDc5zzLxypUSl_5ssOpCqqHsb6rxpmHa297exgDasl9GWwlW2ejFa7cv-esgg6gaYTmFlM0VBa07nNZ678UFzKOXrW4Mdofz/s320/22.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdkEoCrBJ5e1rBZVjINaPRHRwFroUVl5LEy0OZIKjMBQKLrLMe42aTA0wnAE5lhyphenhyphenFdAL3KgVoYlqPTz6LTHIAKrfGNm9ExGULvkWGZJx5hr_8l5mdq6jzIClNyphHKe6tj31CCyqQei9a/s1600/13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="819" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdkEoCrBJ5e1rBZVjINaPRHRwFroUVl5LEy0OZIKjMBQKLrLMe42aTA0wnAE5lhyphenhyphenFdAL3KgVoYlqPTz6LTHIAKrfGNm9ExGULvkWGZJx5hr_8l5mdq6jzIClNyphHKe6tj31CCyqQei9a/s320/13.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Feedback from Other Counselors</h2>
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Wondering what other counselors have said about my planner? </div>
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Check out some of their great feedback below!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9_VARa4mqFOlXU9wSpu5f5W-dCSrypMjJdmRyB8IVdDzU-TDxoqM-j43uUmf57zUvQJvoPLUcNY0B6GS0ypm1AXv1wibB9CGf4DmDNdfpC5hnGmNTCLnfKHxc7il_ql4haG3EsKHHhf-/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-12+at+11.30.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="542" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9_VARa4mqFOlXU9wSpu5f5W-dCSrypMjJdmRyB8IVdDzU-TDxoqM-j43uUmf57zUvQJvoPLUcNY0B6GS0ypm1AXv1wibB9CGf4DmDNdfpC5hnGmNTCLnfKHxc7il_ql4haG3EsKHHhf-/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-06-12+at+11.30.47+PM.png" title="School Counselor Planner" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I hope you enjoyed learning more about how I organize my school year with my <a href="http://bit.ly/CounselorPlanner" target="_blank">School Counselor Planner</a>! If you have any questions, please leave a comment or email me at edukate.inspire@gmail.com.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Want to read more tips about organization? Check out my post called <a href="http://bit.ly/Docs4SC" target="_blank">Google Docs for School Counselors</a> or view my <a href="http://bit.ly/EduKateOffice" target="_blank">School Counselor Office Tour</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb82En65G_gncwI6FbR48h2b_LQao6LcHd82LdJ2LIpXXOF275tEOEXvYlLeA8vZcKraazGYvZ3pvroDbARDaYRyofTRFmTqlgNLaZkxy1R39S1fnOwxuS2jr6BH8vdRaFKAue6CNAQZNU/s1600/counselor+planner+pin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Learn how to organize your school year with a printable School Counselor Planner!" border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="748" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb82En65G_gncwI6FbR48h2b_LQao6LcHd82LdJ2LIpXXOF275tEOEXvYlLeA8vZcKraazGYvZ3pvroDbARDaYRyofTRFmTqlgNLaZkxy1R39S1fnOwxuS2jr6BH8vdRaFKAue6CNAQZNU/s400/counselor+planner+pin.png" title="Learn how to organize your school year with a printable School Counselor Planner!" width="295" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 227px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 4348px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; 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opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 938px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-72616622805019065642016-11-22T23:16:00.001-05:002016-11-29T17:52:31.948-05:00Growth Mindset Resource Round-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAFzTNXLsIgvipz5vXIhT8_mI5wMVGnCQar4u-TxdUoB3qqMQa6anUxUpCzhmI3L1ZtX2HS6X6Vzq9KA1JHRbemP8YM2fyKYPq4JBw_TrXDjQtMgqjk4UmtT4vxiJR7sxCmjTZTiG-Vh5/s1600/How+to+Welcome+New+Students.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Free Growth Mindset Resources" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAFzTNXLsIgvipz5vXIhT8_mI5wMVGnCQar4u-TxdUoB3qqMQa6anUxUpCzhmI3L1ZtX2HS6X6Vzq9KA1JHRbemP8YM2fyKYPq4JBw_TrXDjQtMgqjk4UmtT4vxiJR7sxCmjTZTiG-Vh5/s1600/How+to+Welcome+New+Students.png" title="Free Growth Mindset Resources" /></a></div>
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<h2>
<u>What is a Growth Mindset?</u></h2>
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One of the latest education buzz-words is "growth mindset." What exactly is a growth mindset? Simply put, growth mindset is the belief that we can get smarter through hard work and challenges. In schools, this involves teaching students how to persevere through challenges and look for success within their failures. </div>
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As a school counselor, I try to incorporate characteristics of a growth mindset into my classroom lessons, small groups, and school-wide programming. This post will provide you with some of the best FREE resources I have found for teaching growth mindset to elementary-aged students.</div>
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<h2>
<u>Growth Mindset Videos</u></h2>
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I love kicking off my classroom lessons with a video clip. It draws students into the lesson and provides a quick overview for what we will be learning about in the lesson. Here are three of my favorite videos for introducing a growth mindset.<br />
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1) Growth Your Brain</h3>
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This is a great video for grades 2-5. It shows what happens in our brains when we do hard things! I love how the video integrates some brain-based vocabulary into the growth mindset concept. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g7FdMi03CzI?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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2) Sesame Street: Growth Mindset</h3>
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This is a great clip of a Bruno Mars song called "Don't Give Up." I use this with grades K-1.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SnrHZ_uvtxk?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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3) Which Step Have You Reached Today?</h3>
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This is a 30 second clip that I use with grades 3-4 to illustrate the power of our words.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-QfIkLcHAYM?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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<u>Growth Mindset Hands-On Lessons</u></h2>
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One of the best ways to illustrate a growth mindset is by having students attempt hands-on challenges. The challenges below involve very few supplies and are quick to set up. Throughout each challenge, stop and discuss what it feels like to attempt something hard. At the end of the challenge, talk with the class about what strategies were used to make each challenge successful. Or, if the challenge was not successful, discuss what students would try differently next time. </div>
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If you are a school counselor and your schedule does not allow you to do many classroom lessons, a great way to introduce these challenges is to try them out with your staff. At a staff meeting, complete one of the challenges as a team-building activity and then make all of the supplies available to staff members. There's a good chance that if your staff enjoyed the activity, they will try it out with their students!</div>
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Here are 3 challenges my students (and staff!) have enjoyed.</div>
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1) Index Card Body Challenge</h3>
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Can you fit your whole body through an index card?! With the correct folding and cutting technique, it's possible! I tried this activity out with 3rd and 4th graders and they were up for the challenge. Have a large stack of index cards available because they will need several cards to experiment with! Here are some hints to give along the way (tip: give a new hint every few minutes):</div>
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-Your whole body must fit through the index card without using any tape or glue.</div>
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-You can cut the index card, but you must use the whole card to complete the challenge.</div>
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-You will need to fold the card in half "hot dog style" before doing any cutting.</div>
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Want the answer? Click the image below for the <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Fit-Your-Body-Through-an-Index-Card" target="_blank">directions</a>! You can also use this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71bzxv0032s" target="_blank">video</a> to show your students the solution.</div>
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<a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Fit-Your-Body-Through-an-Index-Card" target="_blank"><img alt="Fit Your Body Through an Index Card" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_8SjCQZTMZI4yg239KNAo2Z4jKyriBPWvaFx81lu-ubzP-0UkDhM_HHyA5g0qv3hjXJF_gUnTKwbg7B_Jb8fNs-d3Wwv2ExIQn9BgZthPsayaLhoRiE03OwNan42u06eIcpb51a3xEOw/s320/aid1503225-728px-Fit-Your-Body-Through-an-Index-Card-Intro.jpg" title="Fit Your Body Through an Index Card" width="320" /></a></div>
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2) Solo Cup Pyramid Challenge</h3>
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Prior to the lesson, prepare several sets of the following materials:</div>
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-13 Solo cups</div>
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-1 rubber band with 4 pieces of yarn (about 1.5 ft long) tied to the rubber band</div>
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Put students into groups of four and introduce the challenge: Your job is to build a pyramid of cups using the special tool. You can only touch the yarn. You may not touch the cups or the rubber band. You may spread the cups out on the carpet before you begin. </div>
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Allow students several minutes to experiment and then give the following clues, if needed:</div>
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-There are 4 members in the group and 4 pieces of yarn. Do you think that may help you figure out how to hold the yarn?</div>
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-Once you figure out how to hold the tool, experiment with where you place your hand. Does it make a difference if you and your teammates hold the yarn close to the rubber band vs. far away from the rubber band?</div>
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-If a team is doing very well, challenge them to create the pyramid without talking to each other!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacQoBve05KxTWaQn3edHFDRS-p0IweMoLGfHurPzf9vdKjRH9dPD3UwL1NlEmsgjJH_jlzhMHhyphenhyphenytE9QxqY8zXpgtpuaH67Kx-qXSAW8ar99hh05jFJzQC2nrR988hFPsp-z-5Y_8qXL7/s1600/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacQoBve05KxTWaQn3edHFDRS-p0IweMoLGfHurPzf9vdKjRH9dPD3UwL1NlEmsgjJH_jlzhMHhyphenhyphenytE9QxqY8zXpgtpuaH67Kx-qXSAW8ar99hh05jFJzQC2nrR988hFPsp-z-5Y_8qXL7/s400/1.png" width="332" /></a></div>
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3) Tie a Knot in a String Challenge</h3>
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Give each student a piece of yarn about 1.5 feet long. Tell students that they must hold onto the string with one end of the string in each hand. Without letting go, students must tie a knot in the string! </div>
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Watch out, students will get creative and try to slip the yarn out of their fingers to tie the knot! Ask students to prove their answers to you. :)</div>
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Want to see the solution? Here a great <a href="http://corneroncharacter.blogspot.com/2013/05/why-knot.html" target="_blank">video</a> from the lovely Barbara Gruener with the solution to the challenge! </div>
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<h2>
<u>Favorite Growth Mindset Picture Books</u></h2>
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Besides video clips and hands-on challenges, I also love using children's literature to teach social-emotional concepts. Ok, I know this is a FREE resource round-up, and books aren't free, but I have to share my favorites with you! :) There are several wonderful books that illustrate the growth mindset concept. Here are just a few of my favorites! (Amazon Affiliate Links)<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Oops-Barney-Saltzberg/dp/076115728X/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1479872951&sr=8-1&keywords=beautiful+oops&linkCode=li3&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=a76802e9a34a122cd72431e602308128" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=076115728X&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eduandins-20&l=li3&o=1&a=076115728X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Most-Magnificent-Thing-Ashley-Spires/dp/1554537045/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1479872951&sr=8-5&keywords=beautiful+oops&linkCode=li3&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=740d67d76c11702025dbad680ec1f0e6" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1554537045&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eduandins-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1554537045" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Elastic-Brain-Stretch-Shape/dp/0982993803/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1479872951&sr=8-14&keywords=beautiful+oops&linkCode=li3&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=31be2f839ffacec581055b48c1b886aa" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0982993803&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eduandins-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0982993803" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Never-Made-Mistakes/dp/1402255446/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1479872951&sr=8-4&keywords=beautiful+oops&linkCode=li3&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=bb2c96ab084a047d54dcd2da78e8301f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1402255446&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eduandins-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1402255446" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<u>Parent Resources</u></h2>
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The phrase "growth mindset" is new for many parents. When you start working with students on the concept, it is helpful to take a moment to educate parents, too. I LOVE this free resource from Sarah Gardner. She uses parent-friendly language to explain the growth mindset concept and gives parents some practical suggestions to help their children. Click on the image below to access the free printable.</div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Growth-Mindset-FREEBIE-1988801" target="_blank"><img alt="Growth Mindset Parent Letter" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVnyLfhub-WnMtqTcLgNENPtODUx-SJGDD6xVP2_WEx8C9A3cufD4gYZHQkdVvvvboXdbQzlGGvCeeCHj-L2ZRDZzwAbbDeAX6IE_ygzTFb2UJCc4F1nItO_8Y79mHMJr5_CWvkGSVYra/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-11-22+at+10.33.54+PM.png" title="Growth Mindset Parent Letter" width="312" /></a></div>
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My second favorite parent resource is this list of questions parents can ask their children to illicit a growth mindset response. Click on the image below to access the free printable to send home to parents!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/10-WHAT-Questions-to-Develop-Growth-Mindset-in-Children-726209" target="_blank"><img alt="Growth Mindset Questions for Kids" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoJ2hmBqLCQFTeU6c0lanKO82vN7HONCfBI2Z0mtkF9tfxhli_dLpB3u-d2ojipIoAqBEn328GiMnad136TECIUsRl381lLpSUg8D9gppIsBVZK09_qoePoJFMUq09qGDOkge-4jQg0BZ/s400/f7afd6fc8c9f823f048c12d0e90d98d3.jpg" title="Growth Mindset Questions for Kids" width="306" /></a></div>
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Do you have any favorite growth mindset resources?</div>
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Please share your favorite ideas in the comments!</div>
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Pin the image below to save these ideas for the future!</div>
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<img alt="Free Growth Mindset Resources" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCFrQ3pqsSEe7To7wKswNJVx03PobBTrh0ezwgkQbDNGTaukZe9POKqBNiKRmRgxh3y6PqCJslItp_ziQHOXE-RnkfdKi-qxguNDam4TWSwKm6g9DmJYCOI9TRTgNGH14ZBLMGiNVGF_P/s400/Growth+Mindset.png" title="Free Growth Mindset Resources" width="266" /></div>
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Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-29898986346053992042016-08-28T21:53:00.001-04:002016-09-25T14:43:59.915-04:00How to Welcome New Students<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLqOHFoqanGTkAzazfvBysJwjWI2U0KlnxF1NdC0GDvo6lW_KuYh4Ut53Dn5QG9KapUPwghINi_VkpjA1FVp5IxeNXMnX5WZ9UCIRhS9lJRHGmJDM6KQAGDT-QGEjwTvldbtPADp6kzR0/s1600/How+to+Welcome+New+Students.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Welcome New Students" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLqOHFoqanGTkAzazfvBysJwjWI2U0KlnxF1NdC0GDvo6lW_KuYh4Ut53Dn5QG9KapUPwghINi_VkpjA1FVp5IxeNXMnX5WZ9UCIRhS9lJRHGmJDM6KQAGDT-QGEjwTvldbtPADp6kzR0/s1600/How+to+Welcome+New+Students.png" title="How to Welcome New Students" /></a></div>
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How to Welcome New Students</h2>
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One important role of a school counselor is to help welcome students who are new to the school. Whether the student is new at the beginning or the year or is transitioning mid-year, it is very important to help the student feel comfortable and welcome at the new school. As an elementary school counselor, there are several ways I reach out to families and students to make the new student transition successful.</div>
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New Student Tour</h2>
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At my school, all new families are invited to a New Student Tour about two weeks before school starts. This year, we also invited families of kindergarteners, since they are technically new, too! When families register at our board office, they are given a flyer about our New Student Tour. I also email out the flyer a few times during the summer as I get the email addresses of new families. I embed a link to a Google form on the flyer to give families an easy way to RSVP. This helps me easily keep track of the amount of RSVPs to help us plan for seating and treats after the tour. This year, we had 100 parents and children at our tour!</div>
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We begin the tour with a short orientation. I put together a Google Slides Presentation that gives families basic info about our school. Tip: Check out <a href="http://www.slidescarnival.com/" target="_blank">Slides Carnival</a> for some fun templates for Google Slides. On the RSVP Google form, I include a spot for families to type in any questions that they have and I make sure to address their questions during the orientation. I try to involve some extra staff members in the orientation to allow the new families to meet as many individuals as possible. This year, I presented the orientation with our dean, principal, school nurse, and parents' club president. The orientation takes about 15-20 minutes and then we allow a few minutes for questions.</div>
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Next, we split the crowd into small groups and each staff member leads a group around the school for a tour. This allows for a more personal tour and helps families feel comfortable asking questions in a smaller group. After the tour, we head back to the cafeteria for a Popsicle treat! Families mingle as they eat their treats and also check out a table where we set out some "grab and go" resources about our school. The New Student Tour is a fun way to make a great first impression and connect with the new families!</div>
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Small Groups with New Students</h2>
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At the end of the first week of school, I schedule a small group session with all of the new students by grade level. If there are a lot of new students in a grade level, I split the group in half. We meet for about 40 minutes and it's a great get-to-know-you time!<br />
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Introduction</h3>
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We start with a quick introduction. Students say their name and the name of the school they went to last school year. I also ask each student why they moved to a new school--many students give a very specific reason, which is helpful for future counseling purposes. For example, here are some of the reasons students have given for moving:</div>
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-My dad is in the military and we move all of the time.</div>
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-We needed a bigger house.</div>
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-I was getting bullied at my old school.</div>
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-We moved in with my grandma to help take care of her.</div>
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-My mom lost her job.</div>
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-We didn't move to a new house. I just changed schools. I was going to a private school and my mom said it wasn't working for me any more.<br />
-We couldn't afford the rent for our trailer, so we had to find a cheaper one. </div>
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-We ran out of money to pay rent, so we had to move in with friends.</div>
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Those reasons are pretty telling, right?! I jot down any relevant comments students share that may help me in the future. </div>
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New Student Banner</h3>
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Next, each student creates a pennant that will be put together to form a new student banner display in our main hallway. I print all of the pennants ahead of time on colored card stock... love <a href="http://amzn.to/2c11HZG" target="_blank">Astrobrights Neon Card Stock</a> (affiliate link)! Students write their name and grade on their pennant and I trim them later with a paper cutter. I snap a photo of each student with my iPhone to print later and add to each banner. To display the banners, I made it easy and simply stapled them to the bulletin board in our display case, but you could also use yarn or ribbon. Here's the finished product:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuO6_gLFzd_MUsY-LcSX9gWSDganFmA6DcVRHUKRyfsEhNJyAXkXZE9v7ItJcwY9yjM1C8BYAVHF_1I9No2Gu_zOvkV4oIT2GUllkIBUusbbS44HCGVYOZUyP5mKjjMxCZDuG1S8VmRsc/s1600/new+student+banner+display.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLuO6_gLFzd_MUsY-LcSX9gWSDganFmA6DcVRHUKRyfsEhNJyAXkXZE9v7ItJcwY9yjM1C8BYAVHF_1I9No2Gu_zOvkV4oIT2GUllkIBUusbbS44HCGVYOZUyP5mKjjMxCZDuG1S8VmRsc/s400/new+student+banner+display.png" width="301" /></a></div>
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(Check out the amazing Starry Night crayon mural created by our 2nd graders in art class!)</div>
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If you would like to create your own new student banner, I have a <a href="http://bit.ly/NewStudentBanner" target="_blank">FREE template</a> in my TPT Store. Click on the image below!<br />
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<a href="http://bit.ly/NewStudentBanner" target="_blank"><img alt="New Student Banner" border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDS4_p24O25OIiXEEJvoK5-IPpNQk0o4RQauRL9a9Hjn-0IHFsILij39ZeEVdhpsqBaCv9tczACwJPQ_V_jpXTVe0vkc5TVSXrkuW9xAGmiqHGs2_j5Q2URE-Q_gi9KzHqLyW6UYC_iDrz/s400/New+Student+Banner+Cover.png" title="New Student Banner" width="400" /></a></div>
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New Student Jenga Game</h3>
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My New Student Jenga game is the highlight of the small group time! As soon as students see that I have Jenga, they are pumped for whatever comes next. I explain to students that this is a special Jenga and each block matches a question that will help us get to know each other better. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAr7bjSzpL76Lx3jceLItM5IMNANv8nwjXwsAZCvb6DNBDWqouAOIFUyuS00O8pD0aIZlHRrlFsane1bkFpdyIHdlzwKOqFMTz6elVzCqobxLgmrF1Q0CQqdH8FH5x_ScdNbIHYm8P83Kx/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="New Student Jenga Game" border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAr7bjSzpL76Lx3jceLItM5IMNANv8nwjXwsAZCvb6DNBDWqouAOIFUyuS00O8pD0aIZlHRrlFsane1bkFpdyIHdlzwKOqFMTz6elVzCqobxLgmrF1Q0CQqdH8FH5x_ScdNbIHYm8P83Kx/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" title="New Student Jenga Game" width="320" /></a></div>
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The New Student Jenga game was created with my <a href="http://bit.ly/BYOgame" target="_blank">Build Your Own Counseling Game</a> on TPT. The pack comes with 16 cards that can be mixed and matched to create a customized counseling game. For the new student groups, I use 4 cards: New Student, All About Me, Favorites, and Positive Feelings. I love how students stay engaged throughout the game! Often, when new students visit my office later in the school year, they ask if we are going to play Jenga again! If you would like to check out my <a href="http://bit.ly/BYOgame" target="_blank">Build Your Own Counseling Game</a>, click on the image below. </div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/BYOgame" target="_blank"><img alt="Build Your Own Counseling Game with Jenga" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrLwUeicIVpFlOpuZUiJzgJdg2d05Ij78HJHGGzFNpdFLnNKoJXboUL6CsT6C7m3hlVRZX9pJuL8IKGAmEFORTZNoq8E0qOt49UvJ4B3y08zWzD9Y-gPaVWc4m9COdt1KhPTWFtezUiyL/s400/Counseling+Game+Cover.png" title="Build Your Own Counseling Game with Jenga" width="397" /></a></div>
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Letter Home</h3>
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At the end the new student group, I give each student a letter to take home to their parents. The letter explains my role as the counselor, talks about what we did in the small group, and gives parents my contact information. The letter is simply one more way to educate parents about the role of the school counselor and it helps to reassure families that I am working on ensuring a smooth transition for their child.</div>
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New Student Mid-Year Transition</h2>
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Ideally, all new students would begin the first day of school and be able to participate in everything above! Obviously, that is often not the case! At my school, we have a process for new students who register throughout the school year. Here is what we do:<br />
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1) When I get an email that the new student has registered at the board office, I call the family and set up a new student tour.<br />
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2) The family comes in for a tour (usually 2-3 days before the student is scheduled to begin) and I address any of their questions throughout the tour.<br />
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3) I provide the family with a New Student Folder. The folder contains any important paperwork that the family may have missed at the beginning of the school year, such as:<br />
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-School Handbook<br />
-School Year Calendar<br />
-Supply List<br />
-Meet the Counselor Brochure<br />
-Letter about PBIS<br />
-Building Safety Letter<br />
-Nurse Brochure<br />
-Most Recent School Newsletter<br />
-Current Lunch Menu<br />
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It makes a great first impression to have everything put together in a folder to give to the new family at the tour. I bought some cheap <a href="http://amzn.to/2btOreD" target="_blank">two-pocket folders</a> (affiliate link) in our school color on Amazon and created a label for the front using the online Avery label maker website. <br />
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4) If several new students enroll at the same time (usually around Christmas Break), I run a new student group similar to the one above. If not, I make sure to meet with each new student about a week after their first day of school and check in to see how everything is going.<br />
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Thank you for taking the time to read about how I welcome new students! Pin the image below to save this post for the future!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2sG9W06Vn37mFPEZnqpVBivBm-h5J7xzOcTepdhIL3dpn4zrUT2Gi4j7sexpLN726u5hDv1IpodOCpmp2-8wNeACuwcaI8ZYTeoA97XD23um_QqkzrTW1ybnXg4OerFa43CBEfGsP1mX/s1600/How+to+Welcome+New+Students+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Welcome New Students" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2sG9W06Vn37mFPEZnqpVBivBm-h5J7xzOcTepdhIL3dpn4zrUT2Gi4j7sexpLN726u5hDv1IpodOCpmp2-8wNeACuwcaI8ZYTeoA97XD23um_QqkzrTW1ybnXg4OerFa43CBEfGsP1mX/s400/How+to+Welcome+New+Students+copy.png" title="How to Welcome New Students" width="266" /></a></div>
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Looking for more ways to welcome new students? Check out the Blog Link-Up over at <a href="http://www.thehelpfulcounselor.com/fun-ways-to-welcome-new-students/" target="_blank">The Helpful Counselor</a>! Visit Heather's blog to link up your great ideas for welcoming new students or comment with your favorite ideas on this post! </div>
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<a href="http://www.thehelpfulcounselor.com/fun-ways-to-welcome-new-students/" target="_blank"><img alt="Welcoming New Students" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidshyc-kKz2WUQUz2s8q1fByCPpGs-4NODCfqSaKKWpr6fQFsjOSzBeIDH80R9iHrvC0oXePJtlEMjNFMxoZ5mKwTfOFV6a8NMRl_9fPiPRws3zFgoim29Vb7UNR2pDUhEX97niqohaW2L/s1600/Contributing-1.jpg" title="Welcoming New Students" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qBLomtmAWwkFqaadTNT3MDonIvM1hPHuCVxz3_7LqVzZEc2UU-QffrQH0TXi5mEoXhcBLhudP9enDofgvAddziP_28Gjh1UrbFjWCInWW_2ddR7Vk9_ggZi8sj2UIqblVM4FnB3YRX21/s1600/real+estate+in+the+city.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Office Tour" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qBLomtmAWwkFqaadTNT3MDonIvM1hPHuCVxz3_7LqVzZEc2UU-QffrQH0TXi5mEoXhcBLhudP9enDofgvAddziP_28Gjh1UrbFjWCInWW_2ddR7Vk9_ggZi8sj2UIqblVM4FnB3YRX21/s640/real+estate+in+the+city.png" title="School Counselor Office Tour" width="640" /></a></div>
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School Counselor Office Tour</h2>
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<b>Alternate Title: How to Turn a Kindergarten Boys' Bathroom into a School Counseling Office</b></div>
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This post will show you around my elementary counseling office and show you how I organize my space! The alternate title is no joke. Back when I first started <a href="http://edukateandinspire.blogspot.com/2016/06/goodbye-2nd-grade-hello-school.html" target="_blank">teaching</a> at my school, my current office used to be the kindergarten boys' bathroom! A few years ago, we needed extra space, so the counselor's office was turned into a classroom and a bathroom was turned into the counselor's office. Truth be told, you would never really know my office used to be a bathroom. Yes, it is SMALL and in an awkward location in the school, but I love the privacy and it has become a quiet, cozy space to work with kids! <br />
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<i>(Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links)</i></div>
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<img alt="School Counselor Office Tour" border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtagda5NRnXYgcrG3xqR6fHBRba1FK9PuKMvspiw5CNZku_bi-JEZSFdsBIRBqZu5XOS5qXigRe_IeqCE_DaXDs4kafGLV5rq_RNV-Qf83ihqOclLpztDDmeC-eaBo-s6Lgvum680-UNjw/s640/2.png" title="School Counselor Office Tour" width="640" /></div>
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About My Office</h3>
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Last year, as a first year counselor, I was given a small supply budget and used some of it to spruce up my office. I also wrote a grant through our local education foundation, so that helped to offset some costs and allow me to make my office an inviting space. I work at a K-4 Title I school and am fortunate to be able to see students individually, in small groups, and in classroom lessons. I conduct individual counseling and small groups in my office, and visit each classroom for whole group lessons. <br />
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<img alt="School Counselor Office Tour" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2K2xehp9Kal2Ck6NMMSZVXg2sImWNzNLzetufhgtAn76nBpbTAmqGf_O1PWOf8T48GfI4GcjZOlCQmKqvoIe7EkA-tYosZITapk-UazAtG5kO0bWl0EXzxHdz-XUmpBdBM8oLKlDyBrFm/s400/1.png" title="School Counselor Office Tour" width="400" /></div>
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Three Main Seating Areas</h2>
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1) Counseling Couch</h3>
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Although my office is tiny, I have three seating areas that allow a lot of flexibility. The most popular choice for students is my couch! Students love to get comfy on the couch while we chat and I spin my desk chair around to talk with students. We have strict fire safety and health code policies, so I had to buy a "school couch" that can be easily cleaned... unfortunately, that means the couch is actually not very comfy, but the kids don't seem to mind! One thing I love about the couch is the flat arm rests and back surface, which allow me to prop up some comfort items and a bin of fidgets. <br />
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Find It Here:<br />
-<a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Your-Zone-PL1058-Your-Zone-5-light-Floor-Lamp/21674362" target="_blank">Floor Lamp</a><br />
-<a href="http://amzn.to/2blSaOK" target="_blank">Inside Out Poster</a><br />
-<a href="http://amzn.to/2btQiVC" target="_blank">Hoberman Sphere</a> <br />
-<a href="http://amzn.to/2bc8TCi" target="_blank">Worry Eater</a> <br />
-<a href="http://amzn.to/2bKGbuZ" target="_blank">Kimochi Octopus</a><br />
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2) Sand Tray Station</h3>
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<img alt="Using a Sand Tray in School Counseling" border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NqvB2XUcZnygPtztL1LdA8N9bjyNfW9pEZ5rh4r-s8skS8XZBW971mtwTk4v5cQ2B-xVvUV_Zarz2QJQZYGgKr5sJQ8IMlBjq3-TwWX5ESfsR9u8aVGeEcdXr5SjOKTKqlRVLEFWbJMG/s640/11.png" title="Using a Sand Tray in School Counseling" width="640" /></div>
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Another favorite area for students to sit and chat is my <a href="http://amzn.to/2bvXdfP" target="_blank">sand tray</a> station. Students love to sit on the <a href="http://amzn.to/2bqUvqN" target="_blank">Hokki Stools</a> and play with the sand while we talk. The Hokki Stools are a bit pricey, but they are very durable and allow students get some sensory input while we chat because they gently wobble--I love sitting on them, too! I use <a href="http://amzn.to/2j1cmdf" target="_blank">kinetic sand</a> in my sand tray, which is an absolute favorite because it is very moldable! Helpful hint: I use a 10 liter <a href="http://amzn.to/2bvYtjb" target="_blank">sand tray</a> and needed about 10 pounds of <a href="http://amzn.to/2j1cmdf" target="_blank">kinetic sand</a> to fill the tray. <br />
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If the student is visiting my office for a check-in or a calm down time, he or she often plays with the sand as a sensory tool while we talk. If the student is visiting me to work on a specific counseling goal, I often will give the student a prompt for the sand tray. Because my office is tiny, I don't have the space to display all of the miniatures as recommended for traditional sand tray therapy. However, the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S79102958/#/S59102997" target="_blank">organizer</a> that I use as a sand tray table doubles as a storage unit and all of the miniatures are stored inside. When a student is working on a sand tray prompt, I simply pull out the drawers and place them on my small group table, which is located in the center of my office. This allows the student to easily see all of the miniatures that are available and also allows for quick clean up!<br />
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3) Small Group Table</h3>
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<img alt="School Counselor Office Tour" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHQdsYK8plJs8SkiOoQ7WMphtp2wR0NnEuYGAmub7dBtEoM8FZg9RTuYma251WSOTQhE7RGWMmea00jmq3Dmuv1WvpHhIJ9x7fEcmGQeC7d9kxXQ5XmrRlo5vwbqeeij3UhyzRxeZ0ufx/s640/9.png" title="School Counselor Office Tour" width="478" /></div>
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My small group table seats 5 students comfortably, but I can fit 7-8 students when I'm desperate! I pull over my desk chair to sit at the table with students, which saves space by not having an extra chair at the front end of the table. For extra seating, we pull over the <a href="http://amzn.to/2bvYzY4" target="_blank">Hokki Stools</a> from the sand tray area. I love having a large dry erase board on the wall near the small group table because we can easily write on it during our groups.</div>
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Storage, Storage, Storage!</h2>
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When I was hired as the school counselor, I spent half of the summer arranging my office and figuring out where to store everything! Since the office was a bathroom originally, there is no built in storage. Thankfully, the office came with the two metal cabinets you can see in the photo above. </div>
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<img alt="School Counselor Office Tour" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfol0Jqa9A_cOig4KL0w49fWHt0R4EqTG39PfbfPli6R_777AZETQ36-T1y1-6muAyU2jvHKkNznfNm7K5QJHgHGvaKoj1tXL0E9bk7Fts7dO1GV2T1LBCICLTxpaMEgZGFFJmV7OhFm6Z/s640/14.png" title="School Counselor Office Tour" width="480" /></div>
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The double wide filing cabinet actually does not have any files in it! Instead, all of the drawers are used for storage. The bottom two drawers hold school supplies and art supplies that I use for small groups. The third drawer up holds storage containers for my small group folders (I run 8-10 small groups at the same time, so I needed a place to keep the materials for each group separate). The top two drawers hold games and other materials I use with students.</div>
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<img alt="School Counselor Office Tour" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiAv92Iqave7505uTOL-ivQWClCaCGJg5Ug1R_0Zyw3OhASM7P5suWmLfvDv43m0cnr5MBoSRY5Tanqf6kZdqRMmLv_1qU_haeHouoJjGUaS1Sbid6pMqNrwlIiL4N5U2xUC3jZLCpcyq/s640/12.png" title="School Counselor Office Tour" width="480" /></div>
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The metal cabinet on the right has two purposes (the above photo shows the cabinet when it is open)! One, it has several shelves that I use for supply and book storage. Two, it holds my coat, purse, and personal items. I actually put a plastic storage container in the storage cabinet to give me even more places to put stuff! </div>
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<img alt="Construction Paper Storage" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYfmObThyqRbZl0PT2xa8JXv6B6aHtGbaRhSuQjlkpGOCty6XL4rEFF_BI4hZm_vqNlsVVZFf1ntdFkF-6uD-AGP6n4MpVIv7KYG_RnKNbpIyjVwhqM2R907eVp9qbl1o6U9GRzgSLkQd/s640/13.png" title="Construction Paper Storage" width="480" /></div>
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Another storage space with two purposes is my paper storage unit. This is beside the two metal storage cabinets. It functions as a small table to place a file sorter and supply container, but most importantly, holds all of my 11 X 18 construction paper! </div>
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<img alt="School Counselor Office Tour" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWwTpupp1m2Jp1EwtZsh2VDOl9qGWUYEw7BcO1KzTGMhqDMcoedOTtiDvTRq085T0TIhV33LK6z0C6J4B-JuWP9tunnTHUWxZLreasLqXzDkpU_ykRWuXxSm1uJYDXwlvIEzgqT53nfiy/s640/8.png" title="School Counselor Office Tour" width="480" /></div>
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Behind my small group table, I have a small bookshelf that holds some commonly used items. The bottom shelf contains my "grab and go" resources that I keep multiple copies of and can grab quickly when I have a student in need. The middle shelf holds finger puppets and larger puppets that I use with my younger students. My older students also like to use these to role play friendship issues! Two of my favorite puppets are this set of <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90159340/" target="_blank">finger puppets</a> from IKEA and this larger <a href="http://amzn.to/2btSjBj" target="_blank">happy monster puppet</a>. The top shelf holds an amazing <a href="http://amzn.to/2bqYcMX" target="_blank">dollhouse</a> that I found on Amazon. It is the perfect size for a tiny office because the front of the house folds out to make the house bigger! </div>
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<img alt="Using a Dollhouse in School Counseling" border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGikEhAbL-6PO1BFD2wFdSijqP0X6HeyuW7OBvpRNzUmnHqIKuk0lQcllP7VLpQw9IfJ4xt3R1qzGYwSaxOm9W-QL1ytZcdSgCID40bgIgrpAYuc0kCrRoLFiskkKNm2C0qERIOfELuB6/s640/7.png" title="Using a Dollhouse in School Counseling" width="640" /></div>
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My K-1 students love putting the dollhouse on the floor to play and talk through issues!</div>
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My Desk and Workstation</h2>
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<img alt="School Counselor Office Tour" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY0Wjwqq21No3p5MWHD6F48sLWFX9_GDJO8Nc4d0cEMyg-kylIedD3_4z_v_k8Kdod3YtJlzH9nbpmIstpUHAD4ye_xWW-EsBcfDpCJw1jXek_v5WBDr8OyUOxFt4sjn4rHSg2NLN5PDX/s640/4.png" title="School Counselor Office Tour" width="482" /></div>
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My desk is directly across from the couch. When students sit on the couch, I spin my desk chair around while we chat. This saves a lot of space by not having a second seating area for me. The first major decision I made in my office when I got the counseling job was getting rid of the massive, wooden teacher desk. Sure, it had a lot of great storage drawers, but it was simply too big for the space. Instead, I brought this narrow, wooden desk from home that I had purchased in college. It works great for the space, still has storage, and has a much sleeker look than the teacher desk monstrosity. (Disclaimer: I do not typically have fresh flowers on my desk! These were an end of the year gift from a colleague!)</div>
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<img alt="School Counselor Office Tour" border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gcsECgbpqzr77nCOiASaqwCoXdSlcpkuk1WXiZmSavhHAMars-ACWvvBeDKLLJ0VPRFlOABYKQ3UwWsVESTxFM6rHTm5AxQya0XrLsbuAaZy15J8HVtYTXIUlX0XBKxpbqbfVToz7IvY/s640/3.png" title="School Counselor Office Tour" width="640" /></div>
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I made the decision to place a metal filing cabinet directly next to my desk, which created a great work station wall. It's magnetic, so I placed magnets on the back of my building schedules, which allows me to take them off easily to refer to often! I also have a magnetic dry erase board that I use for quick reminders and my to do list. Another helpful thing I did was stick a notepad and post-it notes directly to the file cabinet, so I can quickly grab a note and jot down stuff before I forget! An added bonus of having the filing cabinet next to my desk is that it functions as a room divider and blocks my often messy desk from view when you walk into my office! </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counselor-Planner-2016-2017-Free-Yearly-Updates-2630505" target="_blank"><img alt="School Counselor Planner" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-K53u2EB8ZOFqO0hesdoUHi2QAwRhFA13N3f6_QBhoRuJIPEtI5l7yF5-wyNljp2zwU7DJo8J8T8B0VrJB8_kc9x1rxxMIyXAEMg7hdpPnqP6HP98t3VpkaJMAucJimgC8gpBnS0u5Q6H/s640/IMG_7075.JPG" title="School Counselor Planner" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love that my desk is extra wide because I can keep my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counselor-Planner-2016-2017-Free-Yearly-Updates-2630505" target="_blank">School Counselor Planner</a> open on the left side of my desk under my "work station wall" and frequently refer to it throughout the school day! </div>
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Books, Books, and More Books!</h2>
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<img alt="School Counselor Book Organization" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EmagkmGChxepJaJlU54-OBx8lRS0FbZq2u0T42xV598urPvLeFygZB7moh29TUvYuy7PnONK0MsJeeABrzo_vYtGyvJSTSQ_bPEHhtY_xjVQxOGYKOPNMtB9mwKfkFkZrf63j9NO4xKi/s640/6.png" title="School Counselor Book Organization" width="408" /></div>
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I was a <a href="http://edukateandinspire.blogspot.com/2016/06/goodbye-2nd-grade-hello-school.html" target="_blank">classroom teacher</a> before I was a school counselor, and developed a healthy obsession with children's books. My office has a tiny nook right by the door and I decided that it was the perfect spot to wedge in a tall bookshelf. All of my books are organized by counseling topic. Read more about how I organize my counseling library by <a href="http://bit.ly/EduKateLabels" target="_blank">visiting this post</a>.<br />
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I use books most often during classroom lessons, but also read them during small group lessons, and sometimes with individual students. I also frequently loan books to families when they are dealing with tough situations at home. I love having so many books available because kids respond so well when they can read about someone else going through a similar situation. </div>
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<img alt="School Counselor Book Organization" border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQL7cOx5D52tlf3gdq_DQbhu8MFZmug7eLSqNjlRdX5yHhlmqzOF9ZNR3NiJOdRX8A8Br6GtGYEwcSwoiG1IEEQ0uLnC0pYYXNRslIgk52v-LDAMYBNwLnDHbOkyDD3yc4cHocjb9oh9o/s640/5.png" title="School Counselor Book Organization" width="640" /></div>
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On the top shelf of the bookshelf, I keep all of my counseling resource books. I have a lot of great resource books, but my collection does not compare to other counselors' because most of the ideas I use come from blogs, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Edukate-And-Inspire" target="_blank">TPT</a>, and digital resources. The <a href="http://amzn.to/2bqWWHR" target="_blank">Mrs. Potato Head</a> that I use for my K-1 Meet the Counselor lessons is relaxing by my resource books! </div>
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Technology in School Counseling</h2>
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<img alt="School Counseling Office Tour" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIoxB3jnKkGWmErI01Tc3cSORsMFxgo1kbObnMRxwH07X2G3dJRVSAQ_CjxOmDqUzSQclPn-BbgO9AihrrE58H-Vo9xYuOKYry_MqEp3Y84rVWfLfTW3f3LuPxW8PQhPeTz1mfEAcdhH6/s640/10.png" title="School Counseling Office Tour" width="482" /></div>
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One final area of my office that students love is my Apple TV. It is mounted above my sand tray, so students can easily see it from my small group table. I can stream digital resources from my computer directly onto the Apple TV. I love showing YouTube clips during my small group lessons because visual media is very engaging to my students. I also love using brain breaks from <a href="http://edukateandinspire.blogspot.com/2014/03/gonoodle-review-plus-giveaway.html" target="_blank">GoNoodle</a> to get students moving or relaxed. Another great thing about the Apple TV is that I can stream music from iTunes or Pandora to create a relaxing atmosphere in my office. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdqPG8Vbjl-pJw__MXURFlKsp56B2V98giDpk6biKQB42YLVaO9jxrdShu6sObo_LvRm79XQJeC-Op8CsdVk7GZWE5kFkuJZzBm1HG_QMO9Q2xG1eMY8fKRG1YrkfD5Hkc11cpeNRHnsq/s1600/nyame+dua+border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="34" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdqPG8Vbjl-pJw__MXURFlKsp56B2V98giDpk6biKQB42YLVaO9jxrdShu6sObo_LvRm79XQJeC-Op8CsdVk7GZWE5kFkuJZzBm1HG_QMO9Q2xG1eMY8fKRG1YrkfD5Hkc11cpeNRHnsq/s320/nyame+dua+border.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I hope you enjoyed the tour around my office! As a new counselor, I would have loved a post like this because I was completely overwhelmed with setting up a tiny office. Now that I am in my second year, my space has become the perfect place to work with kids! If you have any questions about my office, please feel free to ask them in the comments and I will respond to you! Use the image below to pin my tour and refer back to it later! Thanks for reading!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmOLpUW4sUOmD-mMxEU3b5PBQ7j8Q5uM4GBAsf4CQexWKtF1k5jTIocrlSKNpTz4UhZO_lx-53IBMmYfYG5ZvUoHI5FL0vahEpof5-rbkxePQGN81CB8uV9VuZrpeJf_k2aeOrO0t9z-g/s1600/SCHOOL+COUNSELOR.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="School Counselor Office Tour" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmOLpUW4sUOmD-mMxEU3b5PBQ7j8Q5uM4GBAsf4CQexWKtF1k5jTIocrlSKNpTz4UhZO_lx-53IBMmYfYG5ZvUoHI5FL0vahEpof5-rbkxePQGN81CB8uV9VuZrpeJf_k2aeOrO0t9z-g/s400/SCHOOL+COUNSELOR.png" title="School Counselor Office Tour" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzKXxtjRdj0ylW8twpUCog2opSrwUh6GWvDvtHTh7dz5NcqjF7JVNPqicTwEQqzLgAYDYjJWK7C4BV7cVH5Wa_mv_zzcwQbfp5L4Vpu7cKpPJ9QXSPPYoad5sRFdw8PVVjbXuNRNXjFmm/s1600/School+Counselor+Google+Docs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Free Google Docs for School Counselor Organization" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzKXxtjRdj0ylW8twpUCog2opSrwUh6GWvDvtHTh7dz5NcqjF7JVNPqicTwEQqzLgAYDYjJWK7C4BV7cVH5Wa_mv_zzcwQbfp5L4Vpu7cKpPJ9QXSPPYoad5sRFdw8PVVjbXuNRNXjFmm/s1600/School+Counselor+Google+Docs.png" title="Free Google Docs for School Counselor Organization" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Google Docs for School Counselor Organization </h2>
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As a school counselor, I love using Google Docs to help organize my work life. Last year, as a new school counselor, I began creating docs to organize my schedule, small groups, goals, and more! I referred to the docs often throughout the school year and am thrilled to be able to use them again this year. The best thing about Google Docs is that you can easily make a copy and then tweak them for the following school year. In this post, I will share 6 Google Docs that you can tweak for your own use.</div>
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How to Use Shared Docs</h3>
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All of the docs below are Shared Docs. Customize them to meet your needs by following these steps:</div>
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1) Open the doc by clicking on the image below</div>
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2) Click on "Make a Copy"</div>
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3) Rename your doc</div>
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4) Customize!<br />
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<h3>
Classroom Counseling Sign-Up Form</h3>
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Do you schedule monthly lessons with your teachers? The doc below will help you gather quick info to make scheduling a breeze. Before sending this doc to teachers, I type their names on the left side of the doc and color code them by grade level. Then, I share the doc with my staff and ask them to type in their two preferred days and times for me to do my classroom counseling lessons. This form helps SO much with scheduling because I can almost always choose a preferred time for each teacher.</div>
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oKnpB4sGS5qdqqAuunoaE9ecDapKBuJHgWBJUacZtCw/copy" target="_blank"><img alt="Classroom Counseling Sign-Up Form" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTieki7KsyBVTZRuH7xXtwvhE-d28F6mmC-mBo-_jQ1TIouuLbNO-L_Lu3gc6ibYmdr9rciKqu5ZXXg0M0-9WYbGREWl0eU6PcKLqDvWItTjwJEHWSpzhjup3pJcK_BtZNJv2EpitHqdAQ/s400/2.png" title="Classroom Counseling Sign-Up Form" width="268" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Classroom Counseling Schedule</h3>
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Once teachers have chosen their preferred days/times, I schedule classroom lessons for the first semester. On average, I see each classroom once a month. Scheduling lessons for an entire semester allows me to get everything written down in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Counselor-Planner-2016-2017-Free-Yearly-Updates-2630505" target="_blank">planner</a> well in advance. Then, I can plan individual check-ins, small groups, and meetings around the classroom lessons. This form is organized the same way as the sign-up form. If you want to create a page for the second semester, simply copy and paste the chart onto the next page.</div>
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d20mDN5tS7St9ORuvDG_PraDbFpeBnILt48FVYDUrP8/copy" target="_blank"><img alt="Classroom Counseling Schedule" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEztElYjyML8AweqJoCPr_yOZLfKRj8uAzQ1TDUfUiJOx46Flkif9XX7-u5JX1bDc-IxWe_0DpfArB9DKskSwiQYNUzG7oLHKcdhxqZDb3LVCjE_ZA-iywe9K9YZlo3j9_oHiK4l6GNngq/s400/1.png" title="Classroom Counseling Schedule" width="328" /></a></div>
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Character Traits Plan</h3>
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Last year, I based my monthly classroom lessons on character traits. This next doc was a lifesaver! On the first page of the doc, I made a chart for all of the traits I planned on teaching about in my classroom lessons. Throughout the school year, when I thought of a great idea, I added them to the chart as a way to collect my ideas. The second page of the doc is where the magic happened. For each character trait, I made a chart of how I planned on teaching the topic in every grade level. This was very helpful because I was able to see how my lessons built upon each other and got more complex in each grade level!</div>
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mrQvscM51Uu7xd3cls8Gkk-m4eik7WxRtlzBcGEcxTs/copy" target="_blank"><img alt="Character Traits Plan" border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3T3zvUgAuIaA_02SGmO6Usp8MxKYxGJOykb2QLU0OH3tVush0LOry6jl46HBsLndk1EeekQSVEnY9K-RUNGOn1oKiXoOFPq_RPZsmQsv6zbIzSG4lYl5apJj09e48gWP3FNi-BpxVOjyK/s400/7.png" title="Character Traits Plan" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mrQvscM51Uu7xd3cls8Gkk-m4eik7WxRtlzBcGEcxTs/copy" target="_blank"><img alt="Character Traits Lesson Plan Template" border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jCYI460WGk-9AxLkyXpSFRai4avAgd57RmegSokiokxGRxpoBazBUR3jYuI6qK65l6Dj3DGWfxVxNzP7_QbkcBCVnYyGe58p0X8JbNaG8amFc27VnMLwcGk-IAE62W412fWneqT0emuF/s400/6.png" title="Character Traits Lesson Plan Template" width="400" /></a></div>
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Small Group Schedule and Lesson Plans</h3>
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Up next is a doc that I made for scheduling and planning my small groups. The first page of the doc shows you how I organized my small groups. I made a page like this for every grade level. Whenever I went to pick up students for a small group, I took this page with me so I would not forget anyone! I also made a copy of this page for each classroom teacher to give them easy access to the dates, times, and students in their grade level's small groups. <br />
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I used the second page of the doc to create lesson plans for each small group. At the top of the doc, I wrote measurable goals for the group. On the right side, I typed in each student's name and used an "X" to keep track of their attendance at each group session. The rest of the doc was used for lesson planning. Since I used this as a digital doc, I could easily move items around in my lesson plan if I did not get to them each week.</div>
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R0162ZnayFtlUAnNNhPSH7Dt0RT31ucSiPA-PLmX8xI/copy" target="_blank"><img alt="Small Group Counseling Schedule" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUahaf9ixfCaArUugFh6CGeHuezf0wG4LUIOkoaoDobQe4V1X7PlGzCbJdIMQ-7K5JIwZmRBZFFoh9LLahs52rgRNME__8hyo3et8rVDHcqCCD4tDGdb1hx9KAcaiWq0DHH_6-TJI0Pmum/s400/5.png" title="Small Group Counseling Schedule" width="283" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R0162ZnayFtlUAnNNhPSH7Dt0RT31ucSiPA-PLmX8xI/copy" target="_blank"><img alt="Small Group Counseling Lesson Plan Template" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfN9TvsJF1KyHpcLOsICm642R9cDADH1JEPZ47UQtuNjR8_4js9i5Ljm1FT0uGNa5zbLXGoVuQb6vmB6DGcl3ArL_2KGGostrBckvhefliMpL7fSHlxDp7WCRyBGmY4ECdoS2XucDmnZB/s400/4.png" title="Small Group Counseling Lesson Plan Template" width="331" /></a></div>
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Yearly Counseling Tasks</h3>
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Do you have trouble remember what tasks you need to complete each month? Me too. I made the next doc to help me remember my reoccurring monthly tasks. For example, every August, I will need to prepare my new student folders. In September, I will need to organize my bullying awareness lessons. In October, I will need to plan for Red Ribbon Week. And so on :) Last school year, I used this doc to list each monthly task and then used the <strike>strikethrough</strike> feature when the task was complete. At the end of the school year, I turned all of the text back to normal and will re-use this form again this school year! </div>
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ljZwmNI1b84m19Ol9DCQj8IDBPaDpRLOwloNtYQ-zyo/copy" target="_blank"><img alt="Yearly Counseling Tasks" border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K0rdG2VrMLombG0QPhZETB7nFMyNDldRsymwC_X4npxn63H1FDB87pbOcxK0pqZQ57QZmpho_1GzzOv1_DbnTDkuU2EOJBEv74rpZideunhf2lHbPc1I1gUZOPYocC9bGx1PbrcOB7Zi/s400/3.png" title="Yearly Counseling Tasks" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Counseling Goals</h3>
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The last doc I am sharing today is my counseling goals doc. At the beginning of the school year, I came up with several long term and short term goals. The long term goals are my "bucket list" items (ex: getting a therapy dog)!! The short term goals are items I planned on accomplishing during the school year. I shared this doc with my administrator so he could see what goals I was working on. Follow the directions on the doc to learn how to turn checkboxes into checkmarks to keep track of your goals! </div>
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/19GcfP6aQJEDljCm3tbXn8En3i_-2D3ojlx2VOCGeeuQ/copy" target="_blank"><img alt="School Counseling Goals" border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQr6SkyKEoJZ_XP9Yrz0kAJ35swoOYWpPpUFQKKrFn2lrddtFDB5_dzaaNnrS0-h3_Jz_J2jgQLvTvcW62SIgLamPakiMCUrZw5GaoN4IImYzFAzj9VJBa7bWKiUVBZ-dxMaMRS0tyqHU/s400/8.png" title="School Counseling Goals" width="400" /></a></div>
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I hope you found all of these docs helpful! <b>Leave a comment</b> with your favorite docs or tell me about what kind of docs you would love me to create. I would be happy to share more docs in the future!<br />
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Stay Organized this School Year</h3>
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Looking for more ways to stay organized this school year? I love helping other counselors with organization! Check out some of my favorite resources below. </div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/SCDocument" target="_blank"><img alt="School Counselor Documentation Pack" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lQa05SAZ2_GTruB-yo_38qxEPWIS0TOZwkRcpMlSIBdHrjDfQkzGuSN6AE6tspNVNzThV2Po79YfV8A-sD-B9KulHu8zcRqCQ-V3pbZwFmyGnO_DvY4QC9w1EHeXJV8NamMBl-3azJOb/s320/School+Counselor+Documentation+Cover.png" title="School Counselor Documentation Pack" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="color: #2b2b2b; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Everything you need to </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">document your sessions and </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">stay organized!</span></div>
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<div style="color: #2b2b2b; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Intake & Progress Notes Forms</span></div>
<div style="color: #2b2b2b; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Check In Form</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Student Schedule Form</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Small Group Lesson Template</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Counseling Referral Forms</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Phone Call Log</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Meeting Notes & Notes Page</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Weekly To Do List</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-And more!</span></div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/CounselorPlanner" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpyc1Tr-xQze5Ky2zA0hmKKhWcoBzdyCaEFMvZN7YoCqIqD27d8FZA8wH2c8I8me6WkGDQss-oMiVWe7QBiMTMRTdEZgBFBu2o8N8BgEiCiT6Xhkj4o4k08_vjB8X7Y70K82Fa2rzuPj3/s320/Cover.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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My School Counselor Planner is a practical, ink-saving weekly planner for documenting sessions, lessons, meetings, and more! Each two-page spread contains a weekly view for you to document your daily events. The day is divided into 15 minute intervals (7:00-4:00) with additional space to record events before and after school. My planner has free yearly updates!</div>
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<br />Interested in the documentation pack AND the planner? Check out my <a href="http://bit.ly/SCBundle">BUNDLE</a> to save $$$. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: center; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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If you love using Google Drive to keep you organized, check out the resource above. It contains 70 Google Slides files to help you organize your school year!</div>
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Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-76361002079231976442016-06-26T13:17:00.001-04:002016-06-26T14:21:24.845-04:00Summer Reading for School Counselors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Summer is the best time for me to do some professional development reading! While I have the best intentions of keeping up with PD books during the school year, it just doesn't seem to happen as often as I would like it to. In the summer, I love being able to leisurely make my way through some PD books with my coffee in hand... and a notebook, <a href="http://amzn.to/28QXmt4" target="_blank">Flair pens</a>, and post-it notes at my side...and likely a cat on my lap! <br />
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((This is why I get nothing done))</div>
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Throughout the school year, I gather books that sound interesting and add them to my Amazon wish list. I discover the books from school counselor blogs, the Elementary School Counselor Exchange on Facebook, and ASCA magazines. This summer, my goal is to make it through five PD books. I've heard great comments about each of these books and am excited to gather some new ideas for the school year. <br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1452290253/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=204db8c643d38514fa19598161a1de8a" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Summer Reading for School Counselors" border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1452290253&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" title="Summer Reading for School Counselors" /></a></div>
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I am most excited about reading <a href="http://amzn.to/28QiAH6" target="_blank">The Use of Data in School Counseling</a> because it will help to shape the framework of my school counseling program. I am hoping this book will give me more ideas about using data to support the needs of my school, which will help me to be more intentional about planning lessons. Here in Ohio, the Board of Education has decided that every school must adopt a standards-based school counselor evaluation system by September of this year. Something tells me that I am going to need to start collecting data, data, data.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1501101498/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=0758f26cd241161c388800cd63572658" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Summer Reading for School Counselors" border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1501101498&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" title="Summer Reading for School Counselors" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/28NDA2k" target="_blank">Lost At School</a> was recommended to me by the parent of one of the students I worked with last school year. The little guy was a 2nd grader with very low motivation and desire to come to school. His mom started reading the book in the spring and brought it to my office to share it with me (with tears in her eyes). She was only two chapters into the book and had already compiled a list of traits that described her child perfectly. I was sold and purchased the book that evening.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1629147753/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=f829cbc708b67a41f36054dae7e87d77" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Summer Reading for School Counselors" border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1629147753&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" title="Summer Reading for School Counselors" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eduandins-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1452290253" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/28MESry" target="_blank">Parenting Tough Kids</a> is a workbook filled with practical strategies for parents to use at home. I often have parents stop me to ask for advice in dealing with their child's challenging behavior. One of my future goals is to lead "coffee with the counselor" chats and I would love to be able to do a book study with parents. I am hoping that this may be a book I can recommend to parents for an easy, strategy-filled read. Chapter 7 is titled, "How to Build Your Child's Emotional Resilience" (I might be starting with that chapter)! If we can start to build more residence in kids, we can begin solving many problems.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470505168/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=6297fe1447eb0903e84b1e168c8e185a" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Summer Reading for School Counselors" border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0470505168&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" title="Summer Reading for School Counselors" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/292HGTH" target="_blank">How to Reach and Teach Children with Challenging Behavior</a> is a great resource for teachers and counselors. I purchased this book mid-year because we have several new students with challenging behavior and our teachers are in need of resources and strategies! I am almost finished with this book and have found some practical strategies to share with teachers. I really like how the book examines common functions of students' behaviors (pg. 19). Here is their list:</div>
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-To get attention or reaction from peers or adults</div>
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-To get something tangible</div>
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-To get power or control</div>
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-To meet a sensory need</div>
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-To communicate feelings, wants, and needs</div>
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-As a result of a lack of understanding</div>
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-To escape or avoid something</div>
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So good! Another part of the book that I love is a section with strategies teachers can use with students during writing lessons (pg. 102...if you've been a classroom teacher, you know that writing assignments are often when you get some extreme behaviors)! I also really like the list of reinforces (pg. 124) and strategies for using reinforcers to motivate students. I am excited to finish this book! </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1483332330/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=li3&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=5fabee5e07436c273e0f681a5c8055b8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Summer Reading for School Counselors" border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1483332330&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" title="Summer Reading for School Counselors" /></a></div>
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My last summer read is <a href="http://amzn.to/28ZZqyy" target="_blank">Brief Counseling that Works</a>. When I was working on my <a href="http://edukateandinspire.blogspot.com/2016/06/goodbye-2nd-grade-hello-school.html" target="_blank">clinical counseling</a> degree, solution-focused brief counseling (SFBC) was my "go to" theory. When I saw that there was a SFBC book designed for school counselors, I had to get it. SFBC is a great technique to use with elementary students because they are <i>forward</i> thinking. They want to talk about their problem and then solve it! This book offers good background knowledge about the effectiveness of SFBC and also goes much further in presenting practical techniques for school counselors. </div>
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There you have it, five books I am excited to read this summer! I have two more books that are on my summer bucket list, just in case I get all five of those read (slim chances...)! I haven't bought them yet, but I checked them out from the library to get a sneak peek. I've heard great comments about both. Here they are:<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eduandins-20&l=li3&o=1&a=1629147753" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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Happy reading, counselor friends! </div>
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If you have any books on your summer reading bucket list, please share them in the comments!</div>
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<i>Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link for Amazon. By purchasing an item on Amazon using this link, I will receive a small commission. All recommendations are my own.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlX3cviz1q-EUv2wq64mslXCNiXNJPdRbhMrhWYwMUkh8sDlipsSADs10ngRfYys1W_ypIHx9G51pOIbQYQK1HaMBZ-Q3WN76_owCPUuOYquxsm8C7SCrY1mG7Conm_a7n_YmDp48_51ud/s1600/Goodbye+2nd+Grade%252C+Hello+School+Counseling.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlX3cviz1q-EUv2wq64mslXCNiXNJPdRbhMrhWYwMUkh8sDlipsSADs10ngRfYys1W_ypIHx9G51pOIbQYQK1HaMBZ-Q3WN76_owCPUuOYquxsm8C7SCrY1mG7Conm_a7n_YmDp48_51ud/s400/Goodbye+2nd+Grade%252C+Hello+School+Counseling.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Oh, hello blog. It's been <strike>a few months</strike> a school year since I've been here. I decided to take an extended blogging vacation during the 2015-2016 school year because I made an exciting career change. Did you notice the title of this blog post? That's right, after after 8 years as a classroom teacher, I stepped out of the classroom and into a new position. I am excited to officially announce that I am now an elementary school counselor! <br />
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This past school year was a whirlwind. It was basically like being a first year teacher all over again. One major advantage I had for the new position was the ability to stay at the same school where I've been teaching. I've taught 2nd grade at my school for the past six years, and when our veteran school counselor announced her retirement, I decided to apply for the job. I never expected to leave the classroom this early in my career (it feels strange writing that since I'm in year 10 of education... I guess it's not <i>that</i> early!), but I couldn't pass up the opportunity of being able to be a school counselor in a community that I love. I had already built rapport with students and staff and had a good handle on our school culture, so I was able to start the new job with a solid foundation.<br />
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In case you are wondering, my educational background is a combination of teaching and counseling. I received my bachelor's degree in early childhood education and am licensed to teach pre-school through third grade. I spent 6 years teaching second grade, 1 year in first grade, and 1 year teaching a pre-primary class at a Montessori school. I've always been interested in the mental health field, so I decided to pursue graduate coursework in counseling. My master's degree is in community counseling and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Ohio. When I completed my internship, I was able to work with many populations. I did everything from play therapy with children, individual counseling with adults, group counseling with at-risk teenagers, and even some marital counseling--nothing like providing marital counseling when you are a 20-something single counselor! Throughout my coursework, I specialized in play therapy and art therapy and would like to become a Registered Play Therapist one of these days. Although I am not currently practicing at a mental health agency, my community counseling degree gave me a great foundation in counseling. <br />
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Because I wanted to stay in the schools full-time (for now!), I decided to pursue my school counseling license. The University of Toledo has a great endorsement program that allows you to add on a school counseling degree to a previous counseling license. I completed a few more classes and did an internship at my school, and finally became dually licensed (which means I can practice both in and outside of the school). <br />
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I share all of these details because I have talked with many teachers who have a passion for the social-emotional development of children. Teachers tell me that they want to pursue a counseling degree, but don't think it's possible to obtain a license while working full time as a teacher. I won't sugar-coat the truth... it was very challenging, but it's possible! <br />
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All of that leads me back to here, my blog! The educational blogging world has both inspired me and challenged me professionally. I love being able to network with other educators who are innovative and always looking for new ideas to implement. Taking a vacation from EduKate & Inspire this past school year allowed me to focus on building a strong foundation for my new job, but now I'm ready to step back into the blogging world and start sharing ideas with other counselors (and teachers)! <br />
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<u>To all of my teacher readers</u>: Please stick around! Although I am no longer a <i>classroom</i> teacher, I still get to spend a lot of time teaching lessons in classrooms and small groups. I hope to be able to share ideas that you can implement in your classroom to help build community and increase social-emotional awareness. Plus, I still have a lot of ideas from my 2nd grade classroom that I would like to blog about one of these days! If you are a teacher and are curious to learn more about pursuing a counseling degree, feel free to ask questions in the comments!<br />
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<u>To all of my counselor readers</u>: Welcome! I hope this blog becomes a place where we can collaborate about fresh ideas and continue to raise awareness for our profession. I plan on blogging a lot about my first year as a school counselor and how I was able to build a strong foundation for our school counseling program. Upcoming posts that I have in mind include:<br />
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-School counseling office tour<br />
-Scheduling students, intake, progress notes, and documentation!<br />
-Using data to drive your school counseling program<br />
-Organizing your office, files, and lesson plans<br />
-Interactive "meet the counselor" lessons<br />
-And more!<br />
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Which topics above are you ready to read more about? Do you have any specific topics that you would like me to blog about?<br />
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If you are stopping by my blog first the first time, please introduce yourself in the comments or visit my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EduKateAndInspire" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page! I am excited to meet you and connect with you in the blogging world! <br />
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<u>One final word</u>... If you are reading this post on your favorite blog reader, take a moment to stop by my real blog and check out my new design! I started with a template from the amazing <a href="http://georgialoustudios.com/" target="_blank">Georgia Lou Studios</a> and then customized it to meet my needs. I am loving the simple and clean look of my blog! <br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
-KateKate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-79788093166634223562015-02-08T17:07:00.003-05:002015-02-08T17:07:57.911-05:00100th Day and Valentine's Day ProjectsHave you reached the 100th day of school yet? If so, perhaps you live somewhere warmer than Ohio. Here in the Toledo area, we received the lovely gift of 12 inches of snow last week ((in one day))! Awesome. I think we are up to 7 snow days now. I'm not truly sure because I lost count. Last school year, I think we missed 13 or 14 days, so I guess 7 isn't too bad.<br />
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Back to the point... next week, we are finally going to reach the 100th day of school! For the last few years, I've been doing a technology project with my 2nd graders to help us celebrate the 100th Day. If you are looking for a fun project, you have to check out the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/agingbooth/id357467791?mt=8" target="_blank">Aging Booth App</a> (it's free)! Basically, you can use your iPhone or iPad to snap of photo of each student. Then, you quickly line up their chin, eyes, and smile with the sensors and the app transforms your students into darling 100 year olds! It's priceless. Wait until you see the looks on your students' faces when they see their photos! Here are a few of my favorites from previous years. (Photos shared with parent permission)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0chzgorugbaoZmcFf3f8HFptSDglBI9pdJQp9Nx9iSZ1MjWkRCNBifoC0bnFmCBVws7Jv-dkZc4126K8s70_ErCIHAAS4MYEe7fOsOsIDHswh5x4Dd_fx0nyzVmFRtPkF12dzoT2S8Ibm/s1600/100th+Day+of+School+Project.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0chzgorugbaoZmcFf3f8HFptSDglBI9pdJQp9Nx9iSZ1MjWkRCNBifoC0bnFmCBVws7Jv-dkZc4126K8s70_ErCIHAAS4MYEe7fOsOsIDHswh5x4Dd_fx0nyzVmFRtPkF12dzoT2S8Ibm/s1600/100th+Day+of+School+Project.png" height="328" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once I have their photos taken, I have my students complete a rough draft using the prompt, "When I am 100 years old..." It's hilarious to see their perceptions of age! Next, we edit their rough drafts and publish their writing with a Google Doc. I get their photos printed at a local store and then they glue them onto their final copies of writing. It turns out to be an adorable project!</div>
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This Friday, we will also celebrate Valentine's Day in 2nd grade! I always enjoy our Valentine's Day party because it is a nice mini break from teaching/assessing and allows my students to work on social skills as they deliver Valentines to their classmates. And let's just be real... I also love it because there is candy involved.</div>
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For the past few years, I have been having my students work on a clever Valentine's Day gift for their families. It started 3 years ago when I had a very techie class. They were interested in ANYTHING involving technology! They inspired me to make <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity-467780" target="_blank">All iLove About You</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity-467780" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmOWbVk0WEoZ_59BwmH-Oy2GAeySJa8dj4V3zui4YtV-lRmc3tVVuN5W0yJKTnvtWxtUcgOaBv7Q9DckU41RH2lpE0TzbLqpktEECMUOGvCBdxAxjhfN7Dfh3c9UI8nOHAbRZL7AKWo-d/s1600/Slide1.JPG" height="400" width="308" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #3a3a3a;"><span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">All iLove About You has several activities for your students. In the main project, students think of 12 reasons why they love their families and then create a tiny app picture for each reason. I have my students turn these into a big </span></span><span style="color: #3a3a3a;"><span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;">card. Here are some samples:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyFJjsfyAp12yxk2VhZqzaKjU0IyqQXuXVGrZmtz-ggxxgUdJx5qyBo1knKO1TijheD0CZYxk_1ygToI0OhXEOmlEjmzutwIR8qwogmqCLumYMY-x5Btw7kKAVlDHfBJIUMq30gMv8Ybw/s1600/Valentine's%2BDay%2B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyFJjsfyAp12yxk2VhZqzaKjU0IyqQXuXVGrZmtz-ggxxgUdJx5qyBo1knKO1TijheD0CZYxk_1ygToI0OhXEOmlEjmzutwIR8qwogmqCLumYMY-x5Btw7kKAVlDHfBJIUMq30gMv8Ybw/s1600/Valentine's%2BDay%2B1.png" height="400" width="291" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuf8u02Rzc5n8PIH0XDq24af1SszTH4oIAB-HT7XxPpUzQ1z0ybDzYrv0b3eKECK_KXcn33qUams9gOex_FYhdqyECS6eALKiO_EXYjBc23CtHvdqPwmDUuxNL-jtoLn9mAbOa-4LF0mcC/s1600/Valentine's%2BDay%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuf8u02Rzc5n8PIH0XDq24af1SszTH4oIAB-HT7XxPpUzQ1z0ybDzYrv0b3eKECK_KXcn33qUams9gOex_FYhdqyECS6eALKiO_EXYjBc23CtHvdqPwmDUuxNL-jtoLn9mAbOa-4LF0mcC/s1600/Valentine's%2BDay%2B2.png" height="640" width="344" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMThnmueFHoxKKx8cuNPwFsdMrVKRpBqXtnCemfhA2c72aa8VcK1vhI-m68yMHaTApV1A_rfa-vrsd20Y5-l4_KFDdqUNpg_v2KlTEL5vhIVrxmDfyoeyP8ZO48-EZ13mSDqbwROGC5TN0/s1600/Valentine's%2BDay%2B3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMThnmueFHoxKKx8cuNPwFsdMrVKRpBqXtnCemfhA2c72aa8VcK1vhI-m68yMHaTApV1A_rfa-vrsd20Y5-l4_KFDdqUNpg_v2KlTEL5vhIVrxmDfyoeyP8ZO48-EZ13mSDqbwROGC5TN0/s1600/Valentine's%2BDay%2B3.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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{Here's a close up of one student's tiny app pictures. Too cute!!!}</div>
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Most importantly, here are a few samples of the writing that goes along with the app pictures.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUB52QqkR2QeVGlYqtgC5fNX5bwdOa24FLmDDYJB0udpAk3-eOoxnH_wXiYSFhvmkV8aPWgfHoqMDn3syltpyuMGn67hinY8JKz7T43q9V6ckSA-bIblNztmgHjrfQZ_GHdKoh8n6ud-9-/s1600/Valentine's%2BDay%2B4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUB52QqkR2QeVGlYqtgC5fNX5bwdOa24FLmDDYJB0udpAk3-eOoxnH_wXiYSFhvmkV8aPWgfHoqMDn3syltpyuMGn67hinY8JKz7T43q9V6ckSA-bIblNztmgHjrfQZ_GHdKoh8n6ud-9-/s1600/Valentine's%2BDay%2B4.png" height="640" width="482" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb87v4Jw8La8BDE94N14QwCKzDmkTGlWsMqkAX4Ck4_6bkQQBOaz8yP_TM1Adbh-nEzjlKV0CYil_EPoCJi5guOBGze2QDjuygpJp4HLPIqT7cD3Y5UmAN78AP-U9ER6Tqb9od3ab5-vH/s1600/Valentine's%2BDay%2B5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb87v4Jw8La8BDE94N14QwCKzDmkTGlWsMqkAX4Ck4_6bkQQBOaz8yP_TM1Adbh-nEzjlKV0CYil_EPoCJi5guOBGze2QDjuygpJp4HLPIqT7cD3Y5UmAN78AP-U9ER6Tqb9od3ab5-vH/s1600/Valentine's%2BDay%2B5.png" height="640" width="481" /></a></div>
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{Check out Reason #5... so sweet!!!}</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20.799999237060547px;"> Also included in All iLove About You are some techie Valentines for your students. Here's what I'm passing out this year {with candy attached, of course}</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity-467780" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1j3r1Pcqw8ElT2QAMMZhY4jF4p4j6kV_nrk_8fG-7RLOFiHSUkXUgFx3fop8YEuvKatJiysEgmHJk0fw1qANliSco7OiCKZrN3LAJh2_Dn9YrAEuW4VOVMkX9BM-JSQC1no_-A7mNDe8/s1600/Slide16.JPG" height="307" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Here is everything else the file includes!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w3AEHqaxra-va80fTHgZnmP4az3kIywsc3bbh-NSmDaeOzNxLu8Eauf3Q3m5VbemMfQjpCOM2FK8ZdnR49jGKQNVvEC4MqN3SHoBlAmo-7hMJpvYdidelUIgQaau-ivIJL4PSxSlMwaL/s1600/Slide3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7w3AEHqaxra-va80fTHgZnmP4az3kIywsc3bbh-NSmDaeOzNxLu8Eauf3Q3m5VbemMfQjpCOM2FK8ZdnR49jGKQNVvEC4MqN3SHoBlAmo-7hMJpvYdidelUIgQaau-ivIJL4PSxSlMwaL/s1600/Slide3.jpg" height="400" width="308" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09_RcOxEStPIf46OHz0MftTc44JRY9KUbXn2p1fxGUhSrDa0xvr9EXsL38oNoK-MSoDMhPwOULqxr6HMNOy9ln_e0ujauYinmyHV1SyENaYTSg078yn4eoW89D0uW-uRT6WG37w79iLJS/s1600/Slide4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09_RcOxEStPIf46OHz0MftTc44JRY9KUbXn2p1fxGUhSrDa0xvr9EXsL38oNoK-MSoDMhPwOULqxr6HMNOy9ln_e0ujauYinmyHV1SyENaYTSg078yn4eoW89D0uW-uRT6WG37w79iLJS/s1600/Slide4.jpg" height="400" width="308" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpbYWvz5jMdr1jqVHNBdr7l1MU5dtnftBmRzNJ4eqVVqVuNQ0gRLSsLgaVGrKX-f3tpnHilh8osr7PZGBPCjLjdhjPqm94z83oAbUmzOeiSDXEivYBwm3Yxvz0yAmZbMdOPExU8qvCZgE/s1600/Slide5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpbYWvz5jMdr1jqVHNBdr7l1MU5dtnftBmRzNJ4eqVVqVuNQ0gRLSsLgaVGrKX-f3tpnHilh8osr7PZGBPCjLjdhjPqm94z83oAbUmzOeiSDXEivYBwm3Yxvz0yAmZbMdOPExU8qvCZgE/s1600/Slide5.jpg" height="400" width="308" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fHgLeNUbD-NmySJxCbBZulH_fHBb5IPwADaEg-jYmTiZ9MYu3mP9MZkn4ByOO_mdr2bhxX47Nsy5MOVBq67bXfFYCbX8rHBlDg6EPVqtlhAPdcfjoKCOwLgjpLNEJIQdMKsO7TrPC5Yx/s1600/Slide6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fHgLeNUbD-NmySJxCbBZulH_fHBb5IPwADaEg-jYmTiZ9MYu3mP9MZkn4ByOO_mdr2bhxX47Nsy5MOVBq67bXfFYCbX8rHBlDg6EPVqtlhAPdcfjoKCOwLgjpLNEJIQdMKsO7TrPC5Yx/s1600/Slide6.jpg" height="400" width="308" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can purchase <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity-467780" target="_blank">All iLove About You</a> over at my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Edukate-And-Inspire" target="_blank">TPT Store</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can also stop by my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EduKateAndInspire" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page for your chance to win a pack!</span></div>
Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-46072287510544195852014-09-25T19:23:00.003-04:002014-09-25T19:23:46.551-04:00Guest Post: Building a Classroom Community with GoNoodleHi. It's me. It's been awhile!<br />
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I have been treading water this school year, so blogging has hit the back burner. I am hoping to be back this weekend to play catch up, but I may just spend the whole weekend sleeping! :)<br />
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I wanted to stop by quickly to tell you that I am guest posting over at <a href="http://blog.gonoodle.com/2014/09/building-a-classroom-community-with-gonoodle/" target="_blank">GoNoodle</a> today! Stop by to see how I build a classroom community with GoNoodle. I have a VERY active class this year, so GoNoodle brain breaks have been a life saver {for both me and my students!} Click the photo below to read my post.<br />
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<a href="http://blog.gonoodle.com/2014/09/building-a-classroom-community-with-gonoodle/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveWUiHaER3ZbnKoEdSXpkY4mA4bu75tOa25MXy2lDRVo7cSZzps76Jb8k8Hy7R0IP6ljo4qrgXMU6WHWEbk18p3LNrqTVtwLGBpnbRyB-KKlpN1-etI2j0WiO_Y2C6VYmyah6Vd-bSbfM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-09-25+at+7.17.17+PM.png" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you would like to help my very active kiddos, I also have a <a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/project/move-to-learn/1352938/?rf=link-siteshare-2014-09-teacher_account-teacher_1174005&challengeid=214839" target="_blank">Donors Choose</a> project posted right now. I am asking for Hokki stools, wiggle seats, and fidgets to help my students improve their focus.</div>
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<a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/project/move-to-learn/1352938/?rf=link-siteshare-2014-09-teacher_account-teacher_1174005&challengeid=214839" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpr8XzI1JtYFHZVVqe3uNLI9h2WkPXyz_m66CXltfJos5UKSULkH1V9joBYmXzIFFi5PT0hBCOqp1-C2FBV8L_In4Ke8UJCoskH500yZZVms6xWbvNwNct5OOujJexB-Zy0TbpFY8Oflg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-09-25+at+7.21.08+PM.png" height="273" width="640" /></a></div>
Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-15266478522850194622014-08-24T14:44:00.000-04:002014-08-24T14:44:10.803-04:00Wandering through Wonders: McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Overview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxnHgE4jKineLWoy_ILJ-fd0r0xidsk_OxxWwHrBZ9K8yW-SA6I42DfrWyHWW684hZSMH2eC43USrbvmhVIdaQzOzHgvyiMOCudoWrEEhQbPLRyBcOVNVIhTS6Y13Bv29kJ5p06r8qpT9/s1600/wonders.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxnHgE4jKineLWoy_ILJ-fd0r0xidsk_OxxWwHrBZ9K8yW-SA6I42DfrWyHWW684hZSMH2eC43USrbvmhVIdaQzOzHgvyiMOCudoWrEEhQbPLRyBcOVNVIhTS6Y13Bv29kJ5p06r8qpT9/s1600/wonders.png" height="400" title="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade" width="356" /></a></div>
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My school district recently adopted McGraw-Hill Wonders as our new K-6 reading series. Previously, we were using a variety of series and resources to meet our students' needs. In my 8 years of teaching, this will be the first year I've had a reading curriculum that addresses {most of} our standards! If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you might know that using a basal to teach is not exactly my style, so this is a HUGE change for me. In an ideal world, I would use a reading workshop model to teach whole group mini-lessons with trade books and then differentiate with leveled readers in small groups. I am still planning on using a reading workshop model, but I will be integrating Wonders into the model. I hope to blog about Wonders throughout the year to share about the integration process. <br />
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According to McGraw-Hill, Wonders is the first and only reading program designed specifically for the Common Core. This is a definite improvement over our previous series; however, this does not mean the curriculum is without flaws. My colleague, <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Amanda-Vanness" target="_blank">Amanda</a>, and I spent A LOT of time this summer aligning Wonders to our 2nd grade CCSS and developing a scope and sequence for the year. Throughout this process, we discovered many things we loved about Wonders, as well as a few things we were not impressed with! I will start with the things we loved! :)<br />
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1) <u>Literature</u>: The stories in the literature anthology of Wonders are very good! I've worked with a lot of basals that had really dull stories, so I am excited that Wonders includes stories that are engaging and high-interest for my students.<br />
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2) <u>Instruction Model</u>: The 2nd grade curriculum of Wonders includes 2 textbooks. You use the Reading/Writing Workshop textbook to pre-teach the comprehension and vocabulary of the week, as well as model close reading. Then, you have students apply these skills to the weekly selection in the Literature Anthology. I really like the concept of being able to pre-teach skills and apply them to quality literature.<br />
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3) <u>Multiple Selections</u>: Both textbooks include multiple selections each week. The selections are a variety of genres to allow for multiple ways for students to practice their skills. <br />
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Now, onto the main problem we are having with Wonders... scope and sequence! {a large problem, I might add!}<br />
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<u>Scope and Sequence</u>: I emailed the folks at McGraw-Hill multiple times to see if they could provide a matrix that indicates which CCSS are being focused on each week. (Because my district uses standards based grading, it is important for us to see the scope and sequence of the standards we are teaching and assessing). The best McGraw-Hill could do was tell me to use the online Weekly Planner resource to pull up the weekly standards. So, I tried it. Unit 1, Week 1 lists 44 standards for the WEEK (12 of which don't pertain to 2nd grade). Clearly, that's not going to work for us! Like usual, I decided to create my own resource to meet my needs.<br />
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My friend and colleague, <a href="http://4thworks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mary</a>, created a template to use to map out Wonders for 4th grade. Using the template, I worked with my friend, <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Amanda-Vanness" target="_blank">Amanda</a>, to create a scope and sequence that showed the CCSS that were truly being focused on each week. You can download the FREE checklist by clicking on the image below.<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/McGraw-Hill-Wonders-Second-Grade-Standards-Checklist-Free-1411507" target="_blank"><img alt="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglUHaltDO_Ym_5eDrOtZNv3o4-2e_bK4wWO-YI6MmU_6wTfyoC9hpUcnV93VGPjGoEF-ScTuI5Z98MZ7z-ghIq-cgkj_AmzxtVdD_XW1FP6DRDsAWl6DQqqdMiYoyTnN6qFuIBOVrN4eZ4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-24+at+2.03.53+PM.png" height="400" title="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade" width="308" /></a></div>
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{Full Disclosure: We worked on this at 2 AM on some nights, so I make no promises that it's 100% accurate, but it's a start!}</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pmkV5zhFY0UpkwBWPcoSbX459s8s6vJM6CGidRevZwTMUWqTAbxfRnqhafm2RMK9qdExAlPelFicFmLtfNCR-QrI9RsnDSs5zUrcGws8vDubuSrl0xdlhDAB1xJjZaPcPdOJeTkfol9E/s1600/nyame+dua+border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pmkV5zhFY0UpkwBWPcoSbX459s8s6vJM6CGidRevZwTMUWqTAbxfRnqhafm2RMK9qdExAlPelFicFmLtfNCR-QrI9RsnDSs5zUrcGws8vDubuSrl0xdlhDAB1xJjZaPcPdOJeTkfol9E/s1600/nyame+dua+border.jpg" height="34" width="320" /></a></div>
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Throughout the year, I will be creating additional Wonders resources to meet our needs. One of the first things I have already created is a spelling unit! Second Grade Wonders includes weekly spelling words based on a pattern. Although the words are provided by Wonders, I found that the curriculum was lacking some necessary components such as:<br />
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1) Organized lists to send home to parents<br />
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2) Word cards for sorting by pattern (Wonders does provide word cards in their online resources, but they do not include sorting headers and their cards are huge... which wastes too much paper in my opinion!)<br />
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3) Most importantly, a guide on how to assess students' spelling!<br />
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Because my team is going to be utilizing Wonders for spelling this year, I decided to create a comprehensive unit for us to use. So far, I have Unit 1: Weeks 1-5 completed and posted on TPT. I am currently working on Units 2-6 and will create a bundle if there is enough interest. Here is what my unit includes:<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/McGraw-Hill-Wonders-Second-Grade-Spelling-Unit-1-Weeks-1-5-1395100" target="_blank"><img alt="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Q9me-QQM29-WhggcWANU10MQpcQxivacnBrfX8UtvFcqX0fjvl10oj2CfbgLND8SHOA_JeIT3li-IxHrLM0vxL132PhWZApU_mOTGOi0SHsX-o_ROtt5jIBzOZzkpBzwTobQmQGFLh8B/s1600/Slide01.jpg" height="400" title="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" width="308" /></a></div>
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{Click on the image above to check out the unit}</div>
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{Download the preview file for a FREE sample of Unit 1: Week 1}</div>
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Click on the images below to see a full size image. These can also be downloaded in the preview file.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3lGMEWT5TOVz5A52tvQT8kRZ_9zyP6VeB_7uJK3NadN9MTUGx-7zu2U0Blcet0Uy79QC0zbjLrQQZOB59Dnm-pz3m4Vd4_JI-RWSkvadiH41MS4cwvTwRlraz1iFlXZNszB6BxMzT2ip/s1600/Slide06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3lGMEWT5TOVz5A52tvQT8kRZ_9zyP6VeB_7uJK3NadN9MTUGx-7zu2U0Blcet0Uy79QC0zbjLrQQZOB59Dnm-pz3m4Vd4_JI-RWSkvadiH41MS4cwvTwRlraz1iFlXZNszB6BxMzT2ip/s1600/Slide06.jpg" height="400" title="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" width="308" /></a></div>
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{How I plan on teaching spelling}</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbjTlBJNSelq1N1MJU8sXx5aLVDMwE47VeuZYTe0GD3GKUPedEDyHqPwQ7wv_GTCJznRIBdviHVMvo-AR4QZci_I621Ix2zwnY2E4_v-Pr32Jk5jIib-xV53OhVqVdlrIEdumYz7zOAEA/s1600/Slide07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbjTlBJNSelq1N1MJU8sXx5aLVDMwE47VeuZYTe0GD3GKUPedEDyHqPwQ7wv_GTCJznRIBdviHVMvo-AR4QZci_I621Ix2zwnY2E4_v-Pr32Jk5jIib-xV53OhVqVdlrIEdumYz7zOAEA/s1600/Slide07.jpg" height="400" title="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" width="308" /></a></div>
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{The weekly spelling patterns and the words that are on each test}</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFmEYnYa1PWC8qPdbzPcvAAeIVgKN49jBjum1xfeC1IiULQ8lN1CmqpRBudZ0JSG2CQ4TtvtohmPLQPkauWJGB3gY4EIwoeLuIbhkWgLXg06rYwKSfUuXcK-_tTOTxImymRJmNQmcieXu/s1600/Slide08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFmEYnYa1PWC8qPdbzPcvAAeIVgKN49jBjum1xfeC1IiULQ8lN1CmqpRBudZ0JSG2CQ4TtvtohmPLQPkauWJGB3gY4EIwoeLuIbhkWgLXg06rYwKSfUuXcK-_tTOTxImymRJmNQmcieXu/s1600/Slide08.jpg" height="400" title="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" width="308" /></a></div>
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{Word list to send home with students... includes lines for handwriting practice!}</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwV18tmC1h3hGM6qIYtTG8EUbSD76m7uLj-6wte3vWKi2f2ky91LwGLOil10_CxhdBh_6oncrjRYo_F86ysY52vc8gnHrZhKncSEYNqJXTVJXvzrZVv86uo-VvX8LLCRNbU63X1mNFQlqj/s1600/Slide09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwV18tmC1h3hGM6qIYtTG8EUbSD76m7uLj-6wte3vWKi2f2ky91LwGLOil10_CxhdBh_6oncrjRYo_F86ysY52vc8gnHrZhKncSEYNqJXTVJXvzrZVv86uo-VvX8LLCRNbU63X1mNFQlqj/s1600/Slide09.jpg" height="400" title="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" width="308" /></a></div>
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{Word cards and headers for sorting}</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSyUKXvGUqVpMueZbUFRyJoXH9Bd_focqKLp2C2VcUhBoWm2OG_fkBe905lrmeUkccDp-oSAkKrRVlWW0caawXEyXgQ-j6P99C7qUW2k_lHEdZFYXYe5Ia4Q1Dp80y5qvZgEHminJiPZh/s1600/wonders+word+sort.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSyUKXvGUqVpMueZbUFRyJoXH9Bd_focqKLp2C2VcUhBoWm2OG_fkBe905lrmeUkccDp-oSAkKrRVlWW0caawXEyXgQ-j6P99C7qUW2k_lHEdZFYXYe5Ia4Q1Dp80y5qvZgEHminJiPZh/s1600/wonders+word+sort.png" height="400" width="322" /></a></div>
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I have my students cut, sort, and glue the word cards on notebook paper.</div>
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I've included a few blank cards to help students think of additional words that follow the pattern.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7w2KiRyo8BqIDgyTu6_I78F5ZsTVSkXE8pNjcuHD3pWNxBAN71QM2ju80gjuTgS56KM1xKSXLMPTflCxjBgskjkKmb3NKThq96wF3xtgGGnYJhAnl0TwCsTCj-ZO0ForAO1yTLFIUNuO/s1600/Slide05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7w2KiRyo8BqIDgyTu6_I78F5ZsTVSkXE8pNjcuHD3pWNxBAN71QM2ju80gjuTgS56KM1xKSXLMPTflCxjBgskjkKmb3NKThq96wF3xtgGGnYJhAnl0TwCsTCj-ZO0ForAO1yTLFIUNuO/s1600/Slide05.jpg" height="400" title="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" width="308" /></a></div>
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{Description of the spelling test}</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgV2yEWdIWqM7Uaa54J2PRpnTUWPmq-PTSyS8eHsIyc89rWCHXNyB8bvNPJpqYV3ZtCi5XvlXwDLVaKxSb_1Brbf7NvN182w9dGxcu_aXLNWscArAjanN8FOVZNQXtvDZf0DfmN9FxA7C/s1600/Slide10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgV2yEWdIWqM7Uaa54J2PRpnTUWPmq-PTSyS8eHsIyc89rWCHXNyB8bvNPJpqYV3ZtCi5XvlXwDLVaKxSb_1Brbf7NvN182w9dGxcu_aXLNWscArAjanN8FOVZNQXtvDZf0DfmN9FxA7C/s1600/Slide10.jpg" height="400" title="McGraw-Hill Wonders Second Grade Spelling" width="308" /></a></div>
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{Example of a spelling test}</div>
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Phew! This was a long post! Hooray for you if you made it to the end!</div>
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Please comment below if you are using 2nd Grade Wonders this year. I would love to connect and collaborate with you!</div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 199px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2130px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 199px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2130px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 199px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2130px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-1904401257447019082014-08-16T10:00:00.000-04:002014-08-16T10:00:03.988-04:00Bright Idea: Washi Tape Trick!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFjARfYUCrqotxap4o7Fyy92dqkom7NQYg3FzdOAnTX8r5ycr6-esFWU7c0lFoIJUFPcHJETGxH8rs4R6q6CklQJUZpFzeQIiEMOBow5hRXSyQxebJgJN1MdViPENbV3Lcm4cWmZctcvw/s1600/bright+ideas+2.001.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFjARfYUCrqotxap4o7Fyy92dqkom7NQYg3FzdOAnTX8r5ycr6-esFWU7c0lFoIJUFPcHJETGxH8rs4R6q6CklQJUZpFzeQIiEMOBow5hRXSyQxebJgJN1MdViPENbV3Lcm4cWmZctcvw/s1600/bright+ideas+2.001.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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Are you ready for the simplest Bright Idea ever?</div>
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It is SO simple, yet it will bring you forever happiness.</div>
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Raise your hand if you enjoy super sharp permanent markers...</div>
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{it's the little things in life, my friends}</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4HiwX5ZpmGgHv8_Rg5PErWD_NFSrYsJwzualnYKetmyTWQ5skhfSen_wduK0seqKeMlvrpC_Fi-5miSPzLmom9AyMju07SSAtXiiOC98pv8lqEPaNSavcdz0DhOeqdXdw0tJRIC2iZ4q/s1600/washi+tape.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4HiwX5ZpmGgHv8_Rg5PErWD_NFSrYsJwzualnYKetmyTWQ5skhfSen_wduK0seqKeMlvrpC_Fi-5miSPzLmom9AyMju07SSAtXiiOC98pv8lqEPaNSavcdz0DhOeqdXdw0tJRIC2iZ4q/s1600/washi+tape.png" height="328" width="640" /></a></div>
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See that piece of Washi Tape at the end of my marker? That's the trick.</div>
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I have about 985972 Sharpies in my classroom, but not all of them are sharp! Whenever I get out a new permanent marker from my <strike>hoarding collection</strike> supply, I wrap a piece of Washi Tape around the end. When I have a job that requires a super sharp Sharpie, I simply grab the marker that has been Washi Taped! When that marker is no longer super sharp, I pull off the tape and Washi Tape a new one. Easy as that. </div>
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Do you feel enlightened? :)</div>
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Do you have an amazing trick for Washi Tape? Share in the comments below! <br />
I am planning on a Washi Tape post soon!<br />
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PS: Here is an outtake from my Washi Tape photo shoot...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88FxUmvOLkMf23FDWcH9-4XQdrMqyF9hYw94EPq6jwSGYNDBm5nVIY08czm_E5r5U1l5w4XnzT7a8sRqoAV6X-iBssduzZ4f3Q1Gdvwaf7fkXKI-pL4r-kFr6I9OQKf-mwlpzmHEKS5SD/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg88FxUmvOLkMf23FDWcH9-4XQdrMqyF9hYw94EPq6jwSGYNDBm5nVIY08czm_E5r5U1l5w4XnzT7a8sRqoAV6X-iBssduzZ4f3Q1Gdvwaf7fkXKI-pL4r-kFr6I9OQKf-mwlpzmHEKS5SD/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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If you liked this Bright Idea, please consider joining me at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EduKateAndInspire" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Edukate-And-Inspire" target="_blank">TPT</a>, or <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/ktbailin/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.</div>
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Visit the link-up below for MANY more Bright Ideas!</div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 203px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 978px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 203px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 978px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-66444818727862945092014-07-21T11:33:00.000-04:002016-07-28T22:01:07.721-04:00Pencil Vase and Apple Print Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2014/07/monday-made-it-summer-week-8.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_tmicN1P0Bkf1Nf1H7pwz3ZTDQClE0bzxKcJEjNL8T66dw5seX8wMJWRHviYRe-5YvDbKspoppcy6piLqRII0h1kyXSuoFqepa8iuhO1gu4hrTBGJdWmI0Sbzmg5O4Y7kNVLSxGojPRo/s1600/Monday+Made+It+.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's been a year or two since I linked up to <a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2014/07/monday-made-it-summer-week-8.html" target="_blank">Monday Made It</a>! I guess I haven't been very crafty lately! I'm pretty excited about my projects this week. They were created at my friend, <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Amanda-Vanness" target="_blank">Amanda's</a>, Pinterest Party. Her party was a great idea. She hosted a private collaborative Pinterest board and shared access with all of the people invited to the party. We all pinned ideas that we wanted to create onto the board. Then, we "liked" our favorite projects. The projects with the most votes were what we created at the party. It was great to finally be able to create some items on my crafting to do list! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1QwRtGrCFWzu3TJj8OZq6XxlPGXAmLNF0tyWEPo0m-9rFyHDRSulbsLexmQgoOSzKMRU3HB-NEWAhipFGu0vR9h46TRCUmZBJ5Q2wCRg7jvR6kXxye81XV-n9fD4LL3UlkTe7ho9MBG8/s1600/Button+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1QwRtGrCFWzu3TJj8OZq6XxlPGXAmLNF0tyWEPo0m-9rFyHDRSulbsLexmQgoOSzKMRU3HB-NEWAhipFGu0vR9h46TRCUmZBJ5Q2wCRg7jvR6kXxye81XV-n9fD4LL3UlkTe7ho9MBG8/s1600/Button+1.png" /></a></div>
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Up first is my apple print painting! It was inspired by {<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/135882113730080004/" target="_blank">this</a>} pin. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGpZk2abVzeqwxpJlBrDdFbPxwyuSdyZTAhg2XCI35T7-nWx0GSc1PcRYk3iEIn2sE-8uH_DcX0pVPwYa66pggMXe1ch-GdsBjKkud4Vdm95__Ya1_-j8SjvaPF9qWJ8lezP3NqIznT6j/s1600/apple+print.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Create an apple print painting!" border="0" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGpZk2abVzeqwxpJlBrDdFbPxwyuSdyZTAhg2XCI35T7-nWx0GSc1PcRYk3iEIn2sE-8uH_DcX0pVPwYa66pggMXe1ch-GdsBjKkud4Vdm95__Ya1_-j8SjvaPF9qWJ8lezP3NqIznT6j/s1600/apple+print.png" title="Create an apple print painting!" width="640" /></a></div>
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I LOVE how it turned out! <a href="http://edukateandinspire.blogspot.com/2012/09/im-baaaack-with-peek-into-my-classroom.html" target="_blank">My classroom</a> has a blue, green, and black theme, so this will be great for some added color. Unfortunately, I did not take any photos while making the project {possibly because we were eating <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/240450067579445473/" target="_blank">these</a> while crafting}. Here are the steps I followed:</div>
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1) Using a sponge brush, paint the canvas black with acrylic paint. The one in the <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/135882113730080004/" target="_blank">inspiration pin</a> has a white background, which looks great too. It took about 20 minutes to dry. </div>
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2) Cut an apple in half. You can use the apple as is, or cut some grooves into it with a knife for a more rustic feel.</div>
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3) Choose your apple print colors. I went with turquoise with an accent of white. </div>
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4) Pour some paint on a paper plate. Using a sponge brush, paint your apple. </div>
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5) Gently press the apple onto the canvas. For some of the prints, I put my hand behind the canvas and pressed against the apple. This helped to add a deeper print and give the canvas some variety. Repaint the apple and repeat the process! </div>
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6) Let it dry and enjoy! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJFWEaFl35NM3ADOCrRpMU52oJLcD8UzYop9-KlSD-1AvEu-B7lZ6VofOh12yTh6ShAfD6FFDt5HW9iS-ZW-eeKlG2ANkq1fcnujMtAdUjdlhU0br4_6c8NQ5PljqFBpSB-us4sLi_TJP/s1600/Button+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJFWEaFl35NM3ADOCrRpMU52oJLcD8UzYop9-KlSD-1AvEu-B7lZ6VofOh12yTh6ShAfD6FFDt5HW9iS-ZW-eeKlG2ANkq1fcnujMtAdUjdlhU0br4_6c8NQ5PljqFBpSB-us4sLi_TJP/s1600/Button+2.png" /></a></div>
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The second project I made at the Pinterest Party is a pencil vase! It was inspired by {<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/135882113732431792/" target="_blank">this</a>} pin. I am thinking about making these as a back to school gift for my teammates, so I wanted to try it out first. </div>
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{If my teammates are reading this post, please pretend you never saw this.}</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5pVbA_HBXQbqUI1pfiKGsNYoEUf17liB733TCqZMfcDQ-OQhNEnIspqJY2Qxr1NdTRCcIOQ4r5gNne0lySBW7Ytfi7jHjmCa_vQTSWhSIrl_7_FlTfwablQXQXcVnyuFeXjz6x8JknR5/s1600/Pencil+Vase.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Create a pencil vase for your classroom!" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5pVbA_HBXQbqUI1pfiKGsNYoEUf17liB733TCqZMfcDQ-OQhNEnIspqJY2Qxr1NdTRCcIOQ4r5gNne0lySBW7Ytfi7jHjmCa_vQTSWhSIrl_7_FlTfwablQXQXcVnyuFeXjz6x8JknR5/s1600/Pencil+Vase.png" title="Create a pencil vase for your classroom!" width="460" /></a></div>
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It was super easy to make! </div>
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1) Grab a cheap vase.</div>
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2) Put a flat rubber band around the vase.</div>
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3) Tuck pencils into the rubber band all the way around the vase. {If you are feeling ambitious, you could also glue or tape the pencils onto the vase. We tried a glue gun, double sided tape, and scotch tape, but didn't have much luck}. The rubber band trick works great, but it's not a very secure hold so your pencils need a bit of adjusting after you set the vase down.</div>
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4) Cover up the rubber band with a ribbon and tie a bow! </div>
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5) Fill with water and flowers. Sunflowers or daisies would look super cute in a pencil vase! I took the easy route and cut some flowers out of my garden yesterday {and they are already dead today... oops}. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7X2QQT3iQR0l0Jm5jXA2Vl20jPNOSACRJ8_3ukEL2qS5zStyHx9OLfq8G1Sk4PgJwqVwXolUxSe5wwjOfaM8LgG01G9t0LJDWkGawFMebdhN0kTO9nd4RK86OmJSYc_nXV6J89fpTztf/s1600/Button+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7X2QQT3iQR0l0Jm5jXA2Vl20jPNOSACRJ8_3ukEL2qS5zStyHx9OLfq8G1Sk4PgJwqVwXolUxSe5wwjOfaM8LgG01G9t0LJDWkGawFMebdhN0kTO9nd4RK86OmJSYc_nXV6J89fpTztf/s1600/Button+3.png" /></a></div>
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My last project this week was a product update! I am in the process of changing the covers on my ugly products. Not only did I change the cover on this one, but I also added more pages to the pack. My students always get very excited to create their iStudent book! They love anything techie :)</div>
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This is my old cover. Very rainbow and slightly busy...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRGOg9Z-AYD_1q8qEbO_4IaHK91CxyY966KvO-9jrMEmDVTptxf5yzkXC9Y1OzbxI-MvvaqjbyCLt0LQJvgI_A0nehs6EptpJZWKiQnEaFy9VIxWaSW1Yh1dttIqpwjLkFQyaN8BsOzbu/s1600/old+iStudent.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRGOg9Z-AYD_1q8qEbO_4IaHK91CxyY966KvO-9jrMEmDVTptxf5yzkXC9Y1OzbxI-MvvaqjbyCLt0LQJvgI_A0nehs6EptpJZWKiQnEaFy9VIxWaSW1Yh1dttIqpwjLkFQyaN8BsOzbu/s1600/old+iStudent.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here is my new one! </div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/iStudent-All-About-Me-Book-301484" target="_blank"><img alt="IStudent All About Me Book" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdR9Duic5Dg65gyGkPs3C6QC_5JQ6MwmrK8YlmMd4Zpn0C9PoJ_gu2jdue5AbOM1X_wLA-Deu3C3zJMf1wZtO43yztmazfsf6kn_m0Sw5JAeloYHRTXr7q5S8ObrtuNhasTArWQN0qQs_v/s1600/iStudent+Cover.jpg" title="IStudent All About Me Book" width="308" /></a></div>
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Much better.</div>
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You can check out iStudent {<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/iStudent-All-About-Me-Book-301484" target="_blank">here</a>}. Check out the preview to see examples of all of the pages. </div>
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It's on sale for the next few days! :)</div>
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Happy crafting!</div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 199px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3834px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 199px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3834px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-13478157748087286382014-07-20T00:01:00.000-04:002014-07-20T00:01:00.663-04:00Elevate Empathy: A Book Study of What's Under Your Cape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0QxqARidN900bN4NBJhNsEg8tXgSg7eo59NalaVH1IAV8zwJTFwOVBaLZ1l3GDR7xwTkE5d0pTOkvxQbaftbIiIzVbEXMkEWKit75ev9BIHZisg3Ayz3Yd-MZvG32k3RfyJex1vlDOM1/s1600/empathy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Elevate Empathy: A Book Study of What's Under Your Cape" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0QxqARidN900bN4NBJhNsEg8tXgSg7eo59NalaVH1IAV8zwJTFwOVBaLZ1l3GDR7xwTkE5d0pTOkvxQbaftbIiIzVbEXMkEWKit75ev9BIHZisg3Ayz3Yd-MZvG32k3RfyJex1vlDOM1/s1600/empathy.png" height="262" title="Elevate Empathy: A Book Study of What's Under Your Cape" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am very excited to be participating in a book study of Barbara Gruener's book, <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Under-Your-Cape-SUPERHEROES/dp/1938326334/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405814469&sr=1-1&keywords=what%27s+under+your+cape" target="_blank">What's Under Your Cape</a></u>? Barbara's blog, <a href="http://corneroncharacter.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Corner on Character</a>, is a wonderful resource for character education and I have been a long time reader! The summary of What's Under Your Cape states that it serves as, "A guide to help elementary teachers infuse virtues, values, and traits into the habits, routines, and culture of their character-building so that their superheroes can soar." Barbara's Book is a quick read filled with practical ideas for your classroom! I am lucky to be hosting Chapter 4, which focuses on the character trait of empathy. <b>Keep reading until the end for your chance to win your own copy!</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExUtv0thX11OfYowCdXdeV6KCsT-TpFP2wUVutFKSHCsIKqMIoMTmFVdIbemvlsAQBx9sI4RCyN7o4kdswX1lfTZd-wmylyP3TzAO0p3iNJDHx6LF6toFFoJO3Vz1qcQOqivivFdeKUcM/s1600/empathy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teaching Empathy" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExUtv0thX11OfYowCdXdeV6KCsT-TpFP2wUVutFKSHCsIKqMIoMTmFVdIbemvlsAQBx9sI4RCyN7o4kdswX1lfTZd-wmylyP3TzAO0p3iNJDHx6LF6toFFoJO3Vz1qcQOqivivFdeKUcM/s1600/empathy.jpg" height="186" title="Teaching Empathy" width="400" /></a></div>
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As a 2nd grade teacher and licensed counselor, character education is a key component of my classroom. Out of all of the character traits, empathy is one of the most important traits {in my opinion!} If we can teach students how to see situations from different perspectives, all of the other character traits will begin to come naturally.</div>
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One of the first tools Barbara suggests for teaching empathy is children's literature. Barbara states, "Children who read fiction have higher levels of empathy; the more students read, the more opportunities they have to learn about, experience, and embrace empathy." I completely agree with this statement! By using children's literature, we can expose our students to many situations that help them begin to think critically about empathy. Barbara suggests several books for eliciting empathy. Two of my favorites are:</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1935326457/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1935326457&linkCode=as2&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=EAUXHZFB3AIJQGQZ"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1935326457&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eduandins-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1935326457" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0763642843/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0763642843&linkCode=as2&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=S6XBHLYYM5IFO6JG"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0763642843&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eduandins-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0763642843" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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Chapter 4 also suggests some hands-on activities to elicit empathy. I love the practical experience Barbara explains on page 40, in which the teacher presents three shoeboxes containing different types of shoes--toddler shoes, boy's slippers, and women's sneakers. As the teacher opens up each shoebox to present the shoes, she reads aloud a story about the owner of the shoes. For example, when the boy's slippers are presented, the teacher reads a story that describes the boy in the following way:</div>
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<i>"I am staying home today because I have a tummy ache. Actually, I just moved this summer because Mom and Dad broke up, and I don't like my new school because I don't feel safe there yet... My mom says she'll get fired if she has to keep taking off of work to stay home with me. Put yourself in my shoes. What do you think is going on with me? How can I fit in better at my new school so these butterflies in my tummy go away? What do I need?"</i></div>
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The activity continues with the teacher reading aloud similar thought-provoking scenarios that match the other shoes. What a powerful discussion for you to have with your students! I can imagine that this activity would spark your students to share some of their own stories, too. </div>
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Chapter 4 also describes ways to move empathy to the behavioral domain by helping your students seize opportunities to help others both in the school and their community:</div>
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<i>Who might need a playmate at recess today? </i></div>
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<i>Who might appreciate having their leaves raked?</i></div>
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<i>Who might benefit from their dog being taken for a walk? </i> </div>
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Barbara suggests a great visual for empathy--having students use their "empathy switch" to trade places with someone. A practical example of this is to ask your students, "If you traded places with our school custodian, would the school bathrooms be cleaner?" By presenting students with "empathy switch" scenarios, you can help them reframe their thinking and elicit empathy!</div>
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All of the ideas above can be found in just one chapter of Barbara's book! Here are a few more of my favorite ways to teach empathy in the classroom:</div>
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{Great video for introducing empathy in K-2 classrooms!}</center>
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{This is my favorite video for empathy that would be great for grades 2-6}</center>
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{Wonderful short poem about empathy for upper grades}</center>
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When I was working on my school counseling internship last school year, I also used a few more activities to represent empathy with some of my small groups. Optical illusions are a great resource! Here are two of my favorite images for discussions:</center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCSzcjcwpDy7FbQn_R-m1cxgZa3GzfZtWv8hhlH_2G0OGQ9KSpSnuE-_62_EV6hyahgJkwndXYImed1-97oIvC76CAowTi8PuviGboMDitSwW28P3gaWUeVSNfltNU-o7fCsi1XR6BoUA/s1600/empathy+6+vs+9.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCSzcjcwpDy7FbQn_R-m1cxgZa3GzfZtWv8hhlH_2G0OGQ9KSpSnuE-_62_EV6hyahgJkwndXYImed1-97oIvC76CAowTi8PuviGboMDitSwW28P3gaWUeVSNfltNU-o7fCsi1XR6BoUA/s1600/empathy+6+vs+9.gif" height="275" width="320" /></a></div>
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{<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/135882113729004779/" target="_blank">source</a>}</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL_SQx0epWb-tIB7VERD0CzVMzmwNsJ0clDPx1axxEO8s0jyAdnU0K4_NxoHLAMC-gCxytRjhj61TG0bHgq08OOvvXKD4u_m0lrX7UcwcQLndHirQr3JOmY9sM1GpSQ_GMUW-39Xc1wE3/s1600/duck-rabbit-graph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL_SQx0epWb-tIB7VERD0CzVMzmwNsJ0clDPx1axxEO8s0jyAdnU0K4_NxoHLAMC-gCxytRjhj61TG0bHgq08OOvvXKD4u_m0lrX7UcwcQLndHirQr3JOmY9sM1GpSQ_GMUW-39Xc1wE3/s1600/duck-rabbit-graph.jpg" height="400" width="295" /></a></div>
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Love love love this graphing activity to go with the book Duck! Rabbit!</div>
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{<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/135882113732394871/" target="_blank">Pinterest Source</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Rabbit-Amy-Krouse-Rosenthal/dp/0811868656/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405818507&sr=8-1&keywords=duck+rabbit" target="_blank">Duck! Rabbit! Book</a> on Amazon}</div>
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I highly recommend Barbara Gruener's book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Under-Your-Cape-SUPERHEROES/dp/1938326334/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405814469&sr=1-1&keywords=what%27s+under+your+cape" target="_blank">What's Under Your Cape?</a> Check out her book on Amazon to read more reviews or click on the links below to check out other reviews from this book study! Chapter 5 of the study will be reviewed on Tuesday at <a href="http://www.time4kindergarten.com/" target="_blank">Time 4 Kindergarten</a> and <a href="http://mrslabrasciano.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Learning Lessons with Mrs. Labrasciano</a>. Stop by their blogs on Tuesday to read about Respect! Feel free to participate and add your own review of the book to our link-up to the widget below the Rafflecoptor!</center>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1938326334/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1938326334&linkCode=as2&tag=eduandins-20&linkId=M74JP6RFNXORT7Z7"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1938326334&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=eduandins-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=eduandins-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1938326334" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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Last, but not least, how would you like to win your own copy of What's Under Your Cape?!! <br />
Enter to win via the Rafflecopter below!! </div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c240646a12/" id="rc-c240646a12" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
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<!-- start LinkyTools script --><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=238161" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end LinkyTools script -->Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-14246906270880496782014-03-09T07:00:00.000-04:002014-03-10T17:14:02.426-04:00Bright Idea: Shaving Cream Snowmen!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6BbL1D1VQhx5hJkxHg5NBSVXZ14_6GPXA3YFtXpM61j1Iy4nSvJYbpUVlNQ1n8KsHuEO37kggTbsbUMW6SdtzWD5WgScTKpmVx5KgqXU21YC0QJItVd1J_sLxrO_1-5KB3rnmwic0OFe/s1600/BrightIdeasButton1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6BbL1D1VQhx5hJkxHg5NBSVXZ14_6GPXA3YFtXpM61j1Iy4nSvJYbpUVlNQ1n8KsHuEO37kggTbsbUMW6SdtzWD5WgScTKpmVx5KgqXU21YC0QJItVd1J_sLxrO_1-5KB3rnmwic0OFe/s1600/BrightIdeasButton1.jpg" /></a></div>
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I'm excited to be able to share another bright idea with you today! I absolutely loved reading everyone's bright ideas during the last blog hop! You can read my post from last month about using a Super Improver Wall to motivate your students {<a href="http://edukateandinspire.blogspot.com/2014/02/whole-brain-teaching-using-super.html" target="_blank">here</a>}. <br />
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Today, I am sharing one of my favorite integrated art projects that I use in my classroom every year: Shaving Cream Snowmen! It is always a favorite! It feels strange blogging about snowmen in March, but here in Ohio, we still have plenty of snow on the ground. In fact, we have already missed 12 days of school due to snow... what a winter! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTKBzNDGKOp4bgSwtQP5-wXOHlfh_A2H5eBxsDOuBhePy91jNuxRtBNSXN-6csSory9uZWLdIF_Trq0U9WUCe9iy6OqXaNsz6CH277nfisAgKJopp9Bw94NYfNzuOPmaRBq247mHnMenS/s1600/shaving+cream+snowmen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTKBzNDGKOp4bgSwtQP5-wXOHlfh_A2H5eBxsDOuBhePy91jNuxRtBNSXN-6csSory9uZWLdIF_Trq0U9WUCe9iy6OqXaNsz6CH277nfisAgKJopp9Bw94NYfNzuOPmaRBq247mHnMenS/s1600/shaving+cream+snowmen.png" height="640" width="488" /></a></div>
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In my 2nd grade classroom, I use this project with the book Snowmen At Night by Caralyn Buehner. It is an adorable story about the adventures snowmen have while children are sleeping. First, we make the shaving cream snowmen art project. Then, students write their own versions of the story. We glue their writing onto the 11 X 18 paper next to their snowman. One year, I photographed each snowman and recorded students' voices reading their stories. I turned the photographs and recordings into an iMovie and posted it on my classroom website... students and parents loved it! </div>
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Here is what you will need to create the shaving cream snow:</div>
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1) 2 bottles of shaving cream {I use the cheap kind from the Dollar Store... 2 bottles is plenty for 25 students}</div>
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2) 2-3 bottles of Elmer's glue</div>
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3) Construction paper for the background</div>
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4) Items for snowman accessories: construction paper, sequins, beads, glitter...</div>
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Here are the steps I use:</div>
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1) Dump colored construction paper all over the floor! Ask students to create their snowman accessories (hat, scarf, arms, nose). We use sequins for buttons, eyes, and the mouth, so students do not need to create those out of paper.</div>
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2) Call students back to the guided reading table in small groups for snowman creation time</div>
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3) Fill a bowl with shaving cream. Squeeze in a bottle of Elmer's glue and fluff up the mixture with a spoon. As the mixture gets low, squeeze in more shaving cream and glue. There is not really an exact science to the the recipe... I just try to use equal parts and fluff it up while students work! </div>
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4) Show students how to spread the snow out onto their papers with the back of a spoon. While the snow is wet, have students press in their accessories and sequins/beads. Students might need to use a glue stick to stick down any big pieces, such as their snowman's arms.</div>
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5) Sprinkle glitter into the snow while it's still wet.</div>
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6) Spread the art around the classroom for it to dry overnight! The snow will lose a bit of its fluffiness when it drys, but it still looks great once it has dried! </div>
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Here are some photographs of our creations this year! We made our snowmen on one side of 11X18 paper so that we could add our writing on the other side. I just love how they all turned out!</div>
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{Yup, that's a Minecraft snowman...}</div>
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{LOVE this photo!}</div>
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{This snowman is too cute... he kept growing and growing as she created him!}</div>
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{Oh look, a Creeper snowman... Minecraft is slightly popular in my classroom right now!}</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">If you've had enough snow for this school year, you could easily adapt this project for spring and use the same recipe to have students create shamrocks, bunnies, or flowers--just add some food coloring to the shaving cream! Can you think of any other uses for this shaving cream and glue concoction? Comment with your ideas!</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">If you are looking for more bright ideas, visit the next blog on this hop, written by The Extra Energetic Educator. Click on the blog button below to read about EdModo and Test Prep!</span></div>
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-60398864460828269512014-02-02T05:00:00.000-05:002016-11-22T14:55:00.114-05:00Whole Brain Teaching: Using a Super Improver Wall to Motivate Students<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OS94bICRLiBwHoiuBmnXx1olJS_7lklzlxQUBDq5Oge9z6V3RNsvbyVKRxnh4vw0wK128HJ1OZY5uiQIJRMmTqQHq_lQfCOsfUBZ4PtCzvbs3HGRqLZHQEPzZ2yexUf1fj41fxITAV10/s1600/super+improver+wall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OS94bICRLiBwHoiuBmnXx1olJS_7lklzlxQUBDq5Oge9z6V3RNsvbyVKRxnh4vw0wK128HJ1OZY5uiQIJRMmTqQHq_lQfCOsfUBZ4PtCzvbs3HGRqLZHQEPzZ2yexUf1fj41fxITAV10/s1600/super+improver+wall.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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As a classroom teacher, the Super Improver Wall is one of my favorite ways to motivate students and build a positive classroom culture. I first learned about the Super Improver Wall at the <a href="http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/" target="_blank">Whole Brain Teaching</a> midwest conference. You can read more about what I learned at the conference {<a href="http://edukateandinspire.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-whole-brain-teaching-conference.html" target="_blank">here</a>}. The WBT website has a lot of great ideas about how to use the Wall. Of course, I have tweaked and adapted the concept to work in my classroom! This post will tell you all about how I use the Super Improver Wall to motivate my students and build a classroom community. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR2cid55tkefhRj-QAtd0FvDDgblL8MyowGncwton5_rTPVNC6JRg22Os3ZY0CIBueZBXmFHsYRPx4vaEofPj0NIAm3T_oMGUhVCoaSoiFq8fICicG4DbNFYW2D7bki5X1V5bxHZOEq8n/s1600/super+improver+wall+picture.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR2cid55tkefhRj-QAtd0FvDDgblL8MyowGncwton5_rTPVNC6JRg22Os3ZY0CIBueZBXmFHsYRPx4vaEofPj0NIAm3T_oMGUhVCoaSoiFq8fICicG4DbNFYW2D7bki5X1V5bxHZOEq8n/s1600/super+improver+wall+picture.png" width="456" /></a></div>
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I used a square pocket chart and construction paper squares to build my Super Improver Wall. This is how the wall looks at the beginning of the school year-- all of the students have white cards. The concept of the wall is that as students make improvements, they move up through the colors on the chart. My students use a star hole puncher to punch a hole in their card. Once they have five hole punches, they move up to the next card color. Here is a close up of my colors and the names I have chosen for each level.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKie4S8amzx6RwQITxHNgfD3SZhmc2D_kfK2tSUJ3EKyPutWFsDGMG9G8I-iPPTL3LoUZrfv2YSkWKP4g-nN40Ew1UqOYUy0nZcLHndfz4EgogNBVTL5lHvYReThHFg-WAcxdrXvtQ4tFh/s1600/super+improver+levels.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKie4S8amzx6RwQITxHNgfD3SZhmc2D_kfK2tSUJ3EKyPutWFsDGMG9G8I-iPPTL3LoUZrfv2YSkWKP4g-nN40Ew1UqOYUy0nZcLHndfz4EgogNBVTL5lHvYReThHFg-WAcxdrXvtQ4tFh/s1600/super+improver+levels.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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{Rookie, Learner, Leader, Captain, Rising Star, Pro, Expert, Genius, Superstar, Legend}</div>
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To add a star on their card, students need to show some sort of improvement-- either academic or behavioral. I either verbally tell the student to "add a star" or I write "add a star!" on an improved paper. Here are some of the ways students commonly get to add a star in my classroom:<br />
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-Improving their score on a particular content standard<br />
-Improving handwriting<br />
-Using an interesting vocabulary word in their writing<br />
-Doing a random act of kindness<br />
-Improving classroom behavior<br />
-Improving their score on a benchmark assessment<br />
-Reading a challenging book<br />
-Completing challenge work<br />
-Going above and beyond on an assignment<br />
-And the list goes on!<br />
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The beauty of the Super Improver Wall is that you can tweak it throughout the year to meet your needs. You can also personalize it to meet individual students' needs. Last year, I offered small incentives when students moved to the next card color. This year, the "reward" is completely intrinsic and the wall works even better! Now, the students are less focused on a small prize and more focused on their own improvement AND the improvements of their peers! <br />
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During the first week of school, I drive home the concept that the wall is not a competition-- my second graders really seem to understand this. When a student adds their 5th star and moves to the next card color, the classroom is at a standstill! I don't say a word about it-- the students just notice and everyone starts clapping for the student! It is truly amazing to see my students celebrate their peers. <br />
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Throughout the year, it's fun to spice up the Super Improver Wall levels. For example, when students reach a specific color, you can add a fun celebration-- not a tangible prize, but something to make the student feel special. I love to let the student stand on my guided reading table and have his or her peers give a standing ovation! It's also fun to take a picture of the student and add it to the wall when they reach Super Star or Legend-- it would be neat to have pictures of previous years' legends up on the wall! The sky's the limit!<br />
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My class had a great suggestion this year to add a classroom Super Improver card. We pick a specific item we want to work on as a class and when we improve, we add a star to our classroom card. We are currently working on packing up faster at the end of the day! {I hate snowsuit season!!!} <br />
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One thing I LOVE about the Super Improver Wall is that I have set it up so the students manage it themselves. Under the wall, I have a desk that keeps all of the supplies. I bought the construction paper squares from Michaels. They came in a huge block of rainbow colors, so the student just tears off the color he or she needs from the block. The silver and gold colors are scrapbook paper that I cut ahead of time. On top of the desk, I keep a cup with the hole puncher and a permanent marker. When students move to the next color, they simply grab the color that they need next, write their name, and place their new card in the chart. I encourage students to take their old cards home to place on the refrigerator! <br />
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The picture below shows what our wall currently looks like {you can see that students really enjoy creating their own cards!} We are midway through the year. As you can see, all of my students have made improvements, but they are not all on the same color. I love the Super Improver concept because it gives attention to ALL students, instead of only focusing on the "high" students who receive a lot of praise and attention. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BPc2lvBCKFe1Beipgl9nBa9BIuUUBFfWGlJ77NODqTZBOGN9lW82n0h531y1bFxur90qcvEByhtpQ-R7C_Oa6eO6T_0ZSP8gw8BIyW3wxKapU6qnpSjEbcIDxWuVXH2oJDSY3_s09DZh/s1600/super+improver+wall+progress.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BPc2lvBCKFe1Beipgl9nBa9BIuUUBFfWGlJ77NODqTZBOGN9lW82n0h531y1bFxur90qcvEByhtpQ-R7C_Oa6eO6T_0ZSP8gw8BIyW3wxKapU6qnpSjEbcIDxWuVXH2oJDSY3_s09DZh/s1600/super+improver+wall+progress.png" width="481" /></a></div>
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The Super Improver Wall has truly helped to build our classroom community! Please let me know if you have any questions about implementing the wall in your own classroom!<br />
<!-- end InLinkz script -->Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-87795297522028963862013-02-13T21:13:00.001-05:002016-07-23T23:23:09.455-04:00100th Day of School with Aging App and Shaving Cream Snowmen!Today's post is a catch-up post to tell you about 3 fun projects we've been working on in 2nd grade! First up, is a super cute writing project I do every year for the 100th Day of School.<div><br />
</div><div>I love the 100th Day of School because it is a great milestone for all of the progress that has been made during the school year. One of my favorite 100th Day activities is a writing project called “When I am 100 years old…” We begin with the phrase as a sentence starter and students' imaginations go wild! To spice up my students’ writing, I use an app on my iPhone called <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/agingbooth/id357467791?mt=8">AgingBooth</a> to transform my students into grandmas and grandpas! OH MY! We certainly get a kick out of this app!! Here are a few examples:<div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEw7a4QiOfAPPP75n40jaMWtQO_Tlts_bS98VRCf3ibBBHFStywc2EUWc-y1j61Br80QWONkNp7y74v4PZ0H8fkByzd4lrJHWs6ZqjdiMKxXTz6rRJIlJS3sa6McXKUYI1D4BuwohWIkv/?imgmax=800"><img alt="100th Day of School: Writing Activity with the Aging Both App" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEw7a4QiOfAPPP75n40jaMWtQO_Tlts_bS98VRCf3ibBBHFStywc2EUWc-y1j61Br80QWONkNp7y74v4PZ0H8fkByzd4lrJHWs6ZqjdiMKxXTz6rRJIlJS3sa6McXKUYI1D4BuwohWIkv/?imgmax=800" title="100th Day of School: Writing Activity with the Aging Both App" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhgcG4Ts4I5NAEEIqJi7kt-1SO60jMHYwnSEr04SqKsGg5EYGYL-UuQIHOrcpuVtzV0nZqZIb9G_8gRzHrwTfE3cLJ1r370AoDY6fQuYRV6_GpNVXBlngmM5AcJxcKV87h2gLfxC0y23_/?imgmax=800"><img alt="100th Day of School: Writing Activity with the Aging Both App" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhgcG4Ts4I5NAEEIqJi7kt-1SO60jMHYwnSEr04SqKsGg5EYGYL-UuQIHOrcpuVtzV0nZqZIb9G_8gRzHrwTfE3cLJ1r370AoDY6fQuYRV6_GpNVXBlngmM5AcJxcKV87h2gLfxC0y23_/?imgmax=800" title="100th Day of School: Writing Activity with the Aging Both App" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="100th Day of School: Writing Activity with the Aging Both App" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1GGwd5dZqOpxicirdm9vem2UtnC6H5MtC2TqVFd4qnM28C46MmVmIJD5Ex_QAsBHrLqFMES8rbu-FQdVqqi-fPzEqYEUKMjoCzBQLrq7trN726S-4GIa38YklMmZAd2KXHgVS1cnOqYy/?imgmax=800" title="100th Day of School: Writing Activity with the Aging Both App" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4_JEdAMBbncJRP5DuCebrGELnhWUwOMjSiivtTZ-8FFeUY3Y-Pd4WMfQ-RUeJqttWSLDHzjKQ-0p9e9DYxsKPUlafWfDQFPlxRQE7v2WLA3jeEuHBrJe1s0EfHaRTA0DkftcjLj11UMB/?imgmax=800"><img alt="100th Day of School: Writing Activity with the Aging Both App" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4_JEdAMBbncJRP5DuCebrGELnhWUwOMjSiivtTZ-8FFeUY3Y-Pd4WMfQ-RUeJqttWSLDHzjKQ-0p9e9DYxsKPUlafWfDQFPlxRQE7v2WLA3jeEuHBrJe1s0EfHaRTA0DkftcjLj11UMB/?imgmax=800" title="100th Day of School: Writing Activity with the Aging Both App" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aren’t they priceless?! {Student photos shared with parent permission} </div></div><div><br />
</div><div>We finally got some decent snow in Ohio, which means we got to do one another one of my favorite activities of the year—shaving cream snowmen! First, we read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0803730411/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0803730411&linkCode=as2&tag=eduandins-20">Snowmen at Night</a>… loooove this book! {As an added bonus, you can project the digital version of the book for free at <a href="http://www.wegivebooks.org/">www.wegivebooks.org</a>} After reading the story, students wrote rough drafts of their own snowmen at night stories and typed them using Google Docs. Next, students used construction paper to cut out all of the decorations they wanted to use on their snowman. And yes, the best way to give your students color options is to dump out all of your construction paper scraps all over the floor! :) </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aCrQYwFZLdA/URxHU_IZx_I/AAAAAAAAEaM/LUMNOVs34HM/s1600-h/IMG_0548.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_La5bvZ_W5_9A958qoGADogzlSa6-MCgPy6RJBIUZaSvferFYlTisRN3Z73408gaUOzg8-G4AbxkByXxPUVP56YocAsLDfaRLu7vp8f8dtYRMC-upRTq6-77A31wDnD7dcn_Lx4JbKTZ/?imgmax=800" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Next up, let the shaving cream craziness begin! There is not an exact science for this process… basically, just squirt about half a bottle of cheap, white shaving cream into a bowl. Then, squirt in a bottle of liquid Elmer’s glue. Finally, take a spoon and whip it up! Students used plastic spoons to spread the shaving cream onto the black construction paper. They decorated their snowmen with sequins, beads, and the construction paper pieces they cut out earlier. As a final step, I sprinkle some of that super-fine-sparkly-glitter-that-gets-EVERYWHERE-for-17-days-including-your-hair on top of each snowman! The snowmen will be very puffy at first, but if you do this in your classroom, warn your students that some of the puffiness will be gone the next day… just tell they their snowman melted a bit and they will not be as disappointed ;) </span><div></div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GHzlHuRJ1yLzD-KlCAEnflIkFPeSvY1zSIiRNkuooRIYMvbCfsr_7F7CbDJcRqXI_Dk_PYlmFoB-X-H8aPHHD0NxJEwZc2BhlGH5EFYd91uX_tO0obQMSUAR3f7XM3mYQdth75c4Oe4o/s1600-h/IMG_0550.jpg"><img alt="Snowmen At Night: Shaving Cream Project" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNPpMX5Qh2Xru5wsrf-tgQ_vh6GKETjKOgpz2in_7RjKB8SgM3UmBrapHySp9b8UQ1VjzvSHObz__w81Nmd93aGvDlH4du25cD68bW-6-WaYQUJ8fNOdhDiME7c9gUZxaor1Qgl4dbLF7/?imgmax=800" title="Snowmen At Night: Shaving Cream Project" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Here are a few of the final creations:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeaBXmCRwtBaplAAWutnXBljWhWLyeQMXU4rhjOtwthWuc_WdQL0wGmKLeZ9D5J1N6QoxW4LYKCcivxsQzFHtP0wSrePCo9pWHqNvpijEsXKnhEdlphl_6mfPIkpG4LtSRqaxIgmPol3A/s1600-h/Picture1%25255B4%25255D.png" style="text-align: start;"><img alt="Snowmen At Night: Shaving Cream Project" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbEsUtJN9GYSFdT4_9y28Vyjyj5CpeCZDDg70xIGx9O3BN4rDg9vbGshEBP2tRR8AaZ3Nr4rLiX6Q85I3NFVI3WBIUQsK5J4CduMQAy4hcBfs0pgkrZhQEooRdvSLd4HTlyAsE-J06rCp/?imgmax=800" title="Snowmen At Night: Shaving Cream Project" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNte4WJJTJsu9_Hfx4rGOBy1jK7eLur05LezykLgmB7G74p43YE_m-pv2xxskFr9t5-egjUsQYdT7ZgJzhIrijZYyyqJfnvB_R3c71dDyuuD35j7G4W5kiY-YRMqVcEMF5ez5TVjfqTooQ/s1600-h/Picture2%25255B3%25255D.png" style="text-align: start;"><img alt="Snowmen At Night: Shaving Cream Project" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghHOoywrdWo8ELBI6mXutZGYEVDhRAjNmn2PUtF1APlS4Ng4aXISCMQLeQ-OjVuzutnIyLLJ7rE3t2_ZT7ozWRc6mBK5g4hZyuqL_wrbVb-Q900vzwGOxWsgK8w1R3aRSDRAagGQU5jx6/?imgmax=800" title="Snowmen At Night: Shaving Cream Project" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliXwJnjlAyBK_yI3Ect78MMulPOzBtBW1JqYrCnCvpExSf6vpzziYjoE84k-wH8-AFqCC7QXHo_WWNv2r_mo0xqqONSpp03QDClIipTiM0l3Ey4TtoHfgpruTNBobSYILZOxZeBZFdhEv/s1600-h/Picture3%25255B3%25255D.png" style="text-align: start;"><img alt="Snowmen At Night: Shaving Cream Project" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjX_URA9NUQrwHwp2Iyy53nu1S5DD-q3P3jWETq9BC6S-Kyuo2ZAssyyqZdlLpINpkAS9RyWG_tzt1TrKSYvD-w93ufs40ITZaUiazChf7VH5u-kLnVbaODccjnR17VwXv9rtdDdTbnN8/?imgmax=800" title="Snowmen At Night: Shaving Cream Project" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br />
</span></div>Last, but not least, we started working on our Valentine’s Day projects this week! My class is OBSESSED with technology, which is the reason behind my latest file, <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity">All iLove About You</a>. The challenge was for each student to think of 12 reasons why they love their parents and then create a tiny app picture for each reason. Students got a kick out of creating the teeny tiny app pictures! And their reasons are priceless!! I think their projects turned out darling!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpsonPIP-hGABhW3fGAaI5AyMS7pB4t8uW7amFQbZYD4jfAKBsL_iBSf9ChSAzMZktInD-VR1IPeetU4GNXX9zDlylyDf-t_ozLRdxhOUMj9BYDX_9ItVsgpfpEurNj5FVTbxX1xu3uv3/s1600-h/IMG_0583%25255B5%25255D.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><br />
</a><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity-467780" target="_blank"><img alt="All iLove About You: iPhone Writing Activity" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSlH-OGIqLml_NYg8XPF4Sl1LNjnDmTf2vt2EAOJueytqLtdAbuOUPZ8JA80SxTKqeDyjMUX1_6tc-o_yH9Fwq7pIP7Lx_b-kPlIuMhugYyKtDDM65JoWaEJE_y2Dj4Qph4nlEe7PXqhlr/?imgmax=800" title="All iLove About You: iPhone Writing Activity" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity-467780" target="_blank"><img alt="All iLove About You: iPhone Writing Activity" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vqLukbdu1ocGSLueR3TBdEr3x0iJ_WzJprI7BQP-WBT1wrZBtoXfZLSTckt3tN3QunaS71ERpmrMBbj1eYycGBGIWzX9fdM3r3kE1WhxIosQIMEPgMu3VmGfCqbcxFj8nWimdA1xU9a8/?imgmax=800" title="All iLove About You: iPhone Writing Activity" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity-467780" target="_blank"><img alt="All iLove About You: iPhone Writing Activity" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEkRHDTox2g1F4_hpcVi48Gk4agZzF99RBi4XI84G85TTH3hzqZQWyuZC4CS25I2Mr-8OBvXyoQi61_dD5ds9yHRgH2Bt8TOzDAiwAkQnQnCDfcPft9qMz14LRenjHmQ15nS3b2cjVYGO/?imgmax=800" title="All iLove About You: iPhone Writing Activity" /></a><span id="goog_478621281"></span><span id="goog_478621282"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{I love this student’s tiny little pictures!}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity-467780" target="_blank"><img alt="All iLove About You: iPhone Writing Activity" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BAqJGq2a-L7SnfYGZqW_fey9Cb6HLwDWIdiowBcWmX9nbPTJF60JiIiLJvp56MlAoPg0CozWJi5qRClMButAVqwIzjqWmYTaNf9CxGOjQNtuDU4fYCNcrY9Ewcw2pWXXvN18h5m2WZcT/?imgmax=800" title="All iLove About You: iPhone Writing Activity" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">{Check out #5!!!}</div><br />
Tomorrow, we are going to mount their creations on 11X18 construction paper for them to take home! I hope their parents like them! For Valentine’s Day, here’s what I’m passing out {with candy attached, of course!}<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity-467780" target="_blank"><img alt="All iLove About You: iPhone Writing Activity" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo82gYvX2gVJ_y8lTitssJAx0UiDYc6XIkm8P-zLB2CwCElU0Pbyp8091hrgm2dOGFARcglxd99uAbVaqwpqsNiV_N77ZRU2tyPQhyzpcUIMh1Wq6dMPPs5s_EwekU2PxcsQuDt1PM9u3c/?imgmax=800" title="All iLove About You: iPhone Writing Activity" /></a></div><div></div></div><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 143px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 4265px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #bd081c; background-image: url(data:image/svg+xml; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: bold; left: 143px; line-height: 20px; opacity: 0.85; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 4265px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span></div>
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-->Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-35139913719022384862013-02-02T23:59:00.001-05:002013-02-02T23:59:51.044-05:00Maybe my New Years blogging goal should have been once a month…<p>because I’m pretty sure I failed my “once a week” goal during the first week of the year! Oops! :)</p> <p>I have been lost in the land of benchmarks, RTI, grade cards, meetings, grad school, more meetings, tutoring, and sleep! Speaking of sleep, I should be in bed right now… but I just wanted to stop by for a moment to share about the big sale tomorrow. I’m sure everyone in blogging land already knows about it, but if not, here are the details:</p> <p><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Edukate-And-Inspire" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="super_sunday_sale_34" border="0" alt="super_sunday_sale_34" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qmFAVd5vMX4/UQ3uvSnGeCI/AAAAAAAAEU0/s0bzhB0qA98/super_sunday_sale_34%25255B7%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="370" height="370"></a></p> <p>Everything in my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Edukate-And-Inspire" target="_blank">TPT Store</a> will be on sale on Sunday AND Monday! Be sure to stop by to check out my latest Valentine’s Day creation, <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity" target="_blank">All iLove About You</a>! My students are obsessed with iEverything this year… hence the reason for all of my iProducts! One of these days, I’ll post some of my non-techy creations! Maybe during a week where I don’t have 17 meetings… oh wait… </p> <p><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity" target="_blank">All iLove About You</a> contains a variety of writing pages, techy design pages, printable Valentines, foldable cards, and even a craftivity. A variety of writing papers are included to meet the needs of K-6 students. Here’s a sneak peak of some of the included pages!</p> <p><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Slide1" border="0" alt="Slide1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6xQwfbXpMcTGnloe77hyif3PyOyE59hj1ZRp0z1R51gopJM436Pbaazo-tWD8nqoLzzxpxakwmp76bbrQGvNkfhDHVMJpodNxAu5DwKXd_28IdJhvWL0heXTgaUrctex2rv7BtNzE1GD/?imgmax=800" width="320" height="409"></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Slide5" border="0" alt="Slide5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSX2S4fO411CIGJ11K8CclNOj-0DFTOZPVdApdF7RQsGO9G-EALstHAmZlLHf4nYVYzuBXr1tmhNJAIBLHH-DRjhvw1Ncf90qcygJ9A7j2inF3DGjlXwa2wOofOGF3plnLxKfmMSjxUec/?imgmax=800" width="320" height="409"></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Slide14" border="0" alt="Slide14" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhi7BnIen-5GQVl_ttBjtldmZ_NzphqY8Ucc3Stl-eXeoY1fn4D9p9U1uZCl5cIkEBtMKs4gdYKbfM1obCp70XZbm_9zgH3cAqFXEXOF_82T_yXtLlvzMvROxzX0EcvYS3H4SauW2Fsn1B/?imgmax=800" width="320" height="409"></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Slide16" border="0" alt="Slide16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9CQDIK1dfI7QvXFTtc8yBKPBebs3wD1ZQd7ljy0dSYJcTO8MLld8L7cx8-QVGuP0hpaTROkMgMLGDEoCndga1qejstjz2gI11zxPTjyDZUqs4iljpmr2dA6R-0AD8XopEjjRJhOWDRS_/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="329"></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-iLove-About-You-Valentines-Day-Writing-Papers-Cards-and-Craftivity" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Slide25" border="0" alt="Slide25" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWqIRB8zZ8dJtrZXkZTP16sUUYI9PoB5Vrda_lmuoZxAs5FXLaO8G_ku55EZH7IH3HoREOtiSOBxR171WfoT7KXSnKd2LhSkFaxfunOyMrqou7hB8YeVrUmyMbQRMXi1686yu3UZ3jp4T/?imgmax=800" width="320" height="409"></a></p> <p>If you are looking for other techy resources, stop by my store for some <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phone-Clip-Art-Bundle" target="_blank">phone clip</a> art or <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/iStudent" target="_blank">iStudent</a>, an all about me book with a techy feel! </p> <p><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phone-Clip-Art-Bundle" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="TOU 16 phones" border="0" alt="TOU 16 phones" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuPainjg6lOaF64Tc1B4cHSd36c4RYL1xVdeSlpjBGwNex2zZDcJiUHp97ikRK_RB5LKeOE6bp-PpSzuGWTIPeZ2Z5UCLMB5ujvkC86-n2EFJTLffU3VWEbpiBfKNTPuFaKMjnkqIDiSy/?imgmax=800" width="320" height="409"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/iStudent" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="iStudentcover" border="0" alt="iStudentcover" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIp05_MQHMxQZQDxXsvSOCPIqFXZxdB-YPIoDoYnzChqjB6cocLtbod3AJYhdxjdcvf0TmwBOivlhyphenhyphenRmkCY6JtW_YopENMhe-xl2-gwOnrW4zGCACZGOF7bxx9Z03E5PgIsAYsncTlYwwd/?imgmax=800" width="320" height="409"></a></p> <p>Happy shopping!!! </p> <p>PS: Thanks to <a href="http://www.theschoolsupplyaddict.com/1/post/2013/02/friday-freebie-8-and-a-sale.html" target="_blank">Ashley</a> for the cute sale button!</p> Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-29915100465187109062012-12-22T13:25:00.001-05:002016-07-23T22:40:10.234-04:00Santa's Beard Countdown and Elf on a Classroom ShelfHappy winter break!!! (I’m hoping most of you are on break by now!) My last day was Wednesday, so I’ve been enjoying some serious relaxation time!! The busyness of the holiday season has cause me to slack on my blog, so without further ado, here’s what we’ve been up to lately!<br />
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At the beginning of December, we made Santa’s Beard Countdowns! These were a huge hit with my students! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnv2dzMOebf7-gmxr1JrCJWnzxIW6CRbeHDeDcMdOHWu8GpID3yS6nhIjXR6zaQa-RBodH4icv5t_VxfW3-9R7bqzNPVBawH4-qG1W37XVvTaDvqw8qp_isfPIL6pdcJaI7zisN2qWdaS/s1600-h/026%25255B22%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKS1vZY-WFOlvMKVJoiQcvwJ5bs4M8PrEytuCHBc4VBTlzRIZfz35vL59GWmklR9NsnLECMTs94bljFh4qgIowsggsAfk0p7JYnfmNJm8o13ZLbFCmosm0syPipA57e_HRso1UsM0ZoNw/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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Click on the image below to snag the freebie for your class next year!<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Santas-Beard-Countdown-to-Christmas-Freebie"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_-OaLS5o2PqO4sV0KqMXDx8bCIC5tNDGUfkJU0tlCP-vrGWtemmP-SMKFUT0e3nl9TGcTnHQoKRuEhxnKtmfLLXd2ssknQJhzsXIxfywkoU8IRwzlsuFKH4ar3hCgv72sTVb14F6-_IO/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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I used a combination of fabulous resources from bloggers for my Holidays Around the World Unit. The majority of goodies came from Halle and Jenna’s {<a href="http://www.acrossthehallin2nd.blogspot.com/">Across the Hall in 2nd Grade</a>} wonderful <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-and-Other-Holidays-Too-Around-the-World">Christmas {And Other Holidays Too!} Around the World</a> Pack. Here are some of my students with their suitcases, ready to board Santa Express Airlines! <br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iQXkE5MxTro/UNX6x9YamiI/AAAAAAAAD-o/VZrccNTz5wk/s1600-h/019%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bRDjdL_lsWr-WJanG742mobjUC5CpcCAcwllalYcfCeOxMq3HtpyP3f4qN0j0qsEF5PWCpMPUpARansMRQ_uEFG8sgL9TNrXzZFMLB-4mprZfvFQ2VtGzTHG4UEju0YokDysvWVUPtkY/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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Besides staying busy with our Holiday Around the World activities, we also worked hard on our <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elfie-Antics-A-Classroom-Elf-Adventure-1559322">Elfie Antics</a>: A Classroom Elf Adeventure Journals<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmTB875lVhl5cb6dUsfj4lGjDaajDg72MEkIJXckGlt5oEtTorG645SUH4PGPmjGHwU1nk3IB0Rx5SATBZKqBTpKcaom-Agx9ah_i-I3CZFXRuQsVLFDtRFuVhuDC-K0te-7g019Zc0vl/s1600-h/033%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-YNrH6vEqd6MadN4lzpID-bYvPa8Kd0L6ZP6xlE2pI8klF_KPymwqEfZhQmyK9ENN3aomvBKJhaZxdVj-7K5aOqrMFslBKCy-J3X2VzwqvYJYGYi0G7daLs7-duPHDUEU8PhGwLm-LNA/?imgmax=800" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CgTxOUxxSjf2bb8oB3J_leUfJDw9n0_IDSz-A9T7h9kXWQNGfuOWiKyx1UkLhUvwgukYOenhCUrCzoWi0Sw1Dm9_dN6GTF4N0VXWOEwZON2W77GQSOuHTIAfNzoPy9Sjfwh6CEoidCtx/s1600-h/032%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7moGVoHodoUf-RCutHPK8IDA-20JC77d_FZvMqooaGxMOrDybn-1TgxDCJXZd8Cz0rpxtXOj6TL-d-Kg_yLlW1ieM1bM2AffKcBQzYjiXYeDwQM63tAvqsYBNmQvjcK9ZxU4bNCTzkpi/?imgmax=800" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZZB389e3bFJ2kxbUrjMAOiJSQxSURJgvwT60xGmynK_nhCGeba9NzpNCRF5HPP3jeYQCbRKnpUYcUq_AFM1UEsq6CNXq5Jwfmn-5gLC5Ih9cczC3vXLtXIX2q7KDK1HYPHYy-hx6DIQz/s1600-h/036%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9rVT2KRbYxwu_uFW19mtGfsE8zXD5nVadqTTfdXovrfKdjdL1sjACfOV6XFme75-KzBSXyNvDLsIa_eu9f8Yg6oPZ1v9KOFzQyTH6HY2AX_7WG_kLmPthSkW9wRgQ1-1hGK_JPGFzNeq/?imgmax=800" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGzGIJMS2SuCMWQu6VkKvoA7-Fg26pbvB8FkIHDpCBCpc8jvXLj7RJdE4PBandUZxuSfr-7VSrYCKSPJF9sD4CzN5MNoLC-fwIxNUkvbuf5Q1DPT8CM0pOIubhFf7OysdSedPPFuBVnaf/s1600-h/034%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDZ_E0_-rG2ZD0oCPrc-NzyBhnWl1Dv-FpO9btjD7rv2xK-DF-6oRGZ7jjEYMnRhZsOLUhQHL1OuTUc4aMcZClyNiwz-yxy33zShnWuhK5QQnuYoUQTDH_xOZOm8FmnW2U53P0pewjO4G/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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(Yes, out of all of the cute Elfy names in the world, my lovelies voted on the name Tommy!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3H96GOg3g2jc-6A7y63XvO1T7gb18q0h5B7QSnQrbsFTvzBhOOgE3A7o0vnA39dRorGcN1rCutt-_2O3bm4V_DursoSqNMDUGE7YbfQm4iwz_fg9P7x4pLCNT5veCjE0Q7uZ4DPgavCQ/s1600-h/049%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDl0OtzOJeaTzoUmGoevKNjNcRqS1pIlWG-kFXygXAgyzwSHStsOmczDHyuL99rY3spaeYh4uCEfWGqkFnxsyGYUj_U1VvtR9VD1AsPBKAeZJoS2ci5RYmlFfo73uDtM6tkngdSwlnczb/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlg4tK9N8SvS3B1gjzXRz96Z6TjZlxZnK2LPc1u8QBVDzPCP94xnePzBW38dDrNlTyzhEQt3gGEBKP4Ts7B_v1GEFb-DiN_CMSMponHR_Xj2wpobbWYFY68iOzXZn9K5HlwYqdeJCLRPrm/s1600-h/051%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHgo8hDgzi4YN5YveqW2nisnN5YYXgl5_axlbNmo3FMFHDSFKUVQAWPyYcqFXFRBpGGxHTkyvwkhDkanlTueof7agTIHczVGS9hCx9jS8_RWxkcZHLRVicJzo3ZDY3QwMTwNNpQw5a8ZU/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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The Elf journals proved to be a fantastic motivator to keep my kids writing right up until break! I used the journals as a part of my students’ morning work routines. Each day, they came in and discovered what Tommy did overnight and then wrote about his adventures in their journals! The journals turned out darling and will be a great keepsake! Here are some of Tommy’s antics:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrJwieBpETkioJ2ZGJEl69RNfIjZHSKn5Rdljd4XH6AEcWIlimeI7snOY4R9SJju0o-yfwWjxymChjFwLGlUSiDr0ERBcxdbREFKBHPKQhj7bScgBQgX0vQZh_LiatJ90Ilqnonf3iBXe/s1600-h/001%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSHSSRbb1_KtwDv9p42f_FCAVrNXULtKSiiAe447kaZ-ewXVpkl-_AONhJSSJ6v9JbRrOqsKX7l-kOzddodbL3V42DZIyGmLANykvn52LBwc-v_S3emto7Kll0Z2I9MBvpHGzv9WWA76d/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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Tommy spelled his name with our word building materials the day after we named him!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzjvEvRj924tJU0OKvoS1MgH8dVDak97zCFGsPlOjH_NrXL6bwQDklWzN_nWesNrb18eerGAz4dYERL4TQU0O7feu61XzCs6YPQmLJosRMIg4GpUYNwBEfX-R_49M-EEVVs2a0hPwYjFc/s1600-h/001%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9Dp4_BqlRzq0ejL89m1if7hrya3f77uHgyn3dPSFu7f4qbbd5ypdkbtmB-H2g4iWxrusNRiqUoiC-PwGnKgczywCwf9OU-OgHgY4h8uh8DCTk291cWARYKTH-pUf5UBUWV0kiqvhb8MM/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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Taking a nap with a Care Bear on top of a tissue box… we must have worn him out the day before!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAYLnlMXowc8GyzuLoyA3VBo3nihjQOkshE28kYjbjlOrpXAZrbVxKggPNXMakkVEo0-dEft96OHWTgt0QLQIoVs2cQdXF73-zmJ4lHApTCpr0o3BBXTRfrnphyoohRBymhujXQcO3uF9/s1600-h/011%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmu5rlwpXXAp4LIuGviLhc2c60NDAyQvGtI1Ea-XTZZ0KC-U1Tp6yhKxLhJCf_eKcZFEOhIe6I8d7xBqv9a8MptW7tkeSgN5C4CeWKzHEvkHCi7FUb5II4T74B2SFkWeBnEOOdcIGJw0cn/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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Giving a lesson to some of his tiny friends! He also ate the candy cane a student had left for him!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUFZkFMuq3_xR6sFQGeYEOiZc-N8xCqhrluT7a_BLcoZQ-N4v6_9LRIJFYYtpYebg8DFiJMY1jEmtAU9s5tii9dEPjgSJnwy5zwSYl1Mqt4KgvJssXLEa-AlqGA874tyjsutZZBlciSot/s1600-h/012%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpWqwLE1dkPxtNeYq3mPmkKD4Sh4b_z956tO4GbdRorV6f4CSsW4uw5_MxF91aB37Xfng0nVZoyAM84GPmhFvXrEZnUXdZ1dk1tVkpNeA4QSRtOl5fITAcSjzGYtuAD5de0lRkbNhyphenhyphenFHx/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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Oh dear! He made himself a swing and is hanging from the ceiling fan!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIyXJjcQAM9MR_AVJ2ZwX7Fybs5eXjYJwcXhJ9baNUkH595PY82wP0C3HUY9bTzjJ-jdRFDtd2d-HA7bB4b2pGPq8hm1NyqNZhnWgPXoftxGhDXSf_OHK-E7WX2oEaUmwj9p_owtLZ2V9u/s1600-h/015%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDfs1arpDLWaVufreQ1sRnWtXiXpgmYIDfEw8ABMn6uo7FoWOg7n84cOP6GyqurFl2-ki1j8kEGLJMPMOMpDnEqrX31yjkAaVdmjkedmIplTdIwUl187-HnYYiwO8QqVU2rMSSnefxIUNy/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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We found him sitting on top of the SmartBoard and noticed that he put red polka dots on our lunch count!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljexIYr6mjeBAaRLHPEJUtoK9cjD9yjHhGGPjBSQPQC6Wo41FmiWlZ715zSUe8H3Nl-mjAQdCEpqfwjLNBWyzxa2L_fqipyheSrOJDVd9KDGtUcMus8_TJokLSQL_POpf4uTthm1g7KYG/s1600-h/046%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-3xGSaexEDmdrhmHtm8xtxnFiFlATBH4wWCBHFURrOVg0nWBtDmqqpTxQvSrQXrXbgZ8BNoaAqRUzXUgVU91h8waLi2159Cq9DPPqqexUvdQlqPf5SoY3QjW47aYJKJDEFoGOVMWTBAr/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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Ready to check out all of the kids who move to Above and Beyond for the day!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekVSE5RtoZYisRs6FcWg1ZXQTPfxuwNKlDrCrSizcH_oRCpk1aZtvsK-dKn7p9vjV2QKBrzG7g1QbV9F5dK-qdEvW3EEMxfQ6WaDOdEEHXZHeKgbdNygpyRA_B25qkEnhoVNzwBH6U_rP/s1600-h/021%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-xRGZBZtCrLQCtSiO9lGhbWSPCVIqVaYWZMXZDW-dOBmxQOwW4_yerhSxnNU5F-Olvqv9GeNHonmy2RjVCznvJNvLc3NIVbnqauK0YvGmvDZJjBsw_-eyblE3FQJh9pUwJGtEpEVx0KS/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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Ahhh!! He took a picture of himself and turned it into my desktop background!<br />
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If you’re looking for something to spice up your Elf on a Shelf Adventures for next year, check out my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elfie-Antics-A-Classroom-Elf-Adventure-1559322">Elfie Antics: A Classroom Elf Adventure</a> pack on TPT!<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elfie-Antics-A-Classroom-Elf-Adventure-1559322"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmIH4ejGHtI4T1pHfAc5ZP7RBAhbxPCVNtG1VsP9Q_iSAFlvp0A1eX6uFbLlRvyvY5wArRfwWv7IPgGvSC9F4vWh2Xn5Zp9wxK6bo9e4cpF70EVPSUQzIQFdXqoHW-EdLQBoC8rFdvCwk/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="308" /></a><br />
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My class party was on Wednesday. We usually have the actual party in the morning and then spend the time after lunch watching The Polar Express. The kids are allowed to wear their pajamas to school, which is always the biggest hit of the day! I usually run my classroom parties in stations—we have four stations and rotate every 15 minutes. Here’s what we did:<br />
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1) Classic snowman handprint ornaments! I adore these!!!<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-laAn5fDPSVs/UNX7CMsKpeI/AAAAAAAAECQ/aLvsLz7NU-Y/s1600-h/003%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ua4w4htHI4UHGIv5Ksfb9tT6y744-50jIO2fbD5Xn8i4Hrj0RedaMiyRy7CNGAm5NoE5002_yI8PtiNz9f6v15miut-B9RT_4Lg-a7rdh3zhJFgV8y8vtlNjd8GThra4GI_n_8XFhyphenhyphenHj/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kngY5wFI5ZI/UNX7DrRZSGI/AAAAAAAAECg/ZKx0QxL-sp0/s1600-h/004%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-6biSa2gu9SM/UNX7Emx41BI/AAAAAAAAECo/n6jaE8qJDFQ/004_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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2) Reindeer food! {2 scoops of oats and a sprinkle of glitter!}<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PhfDcH6FvIk/UNX7FqeVv9I/AAAAAAAAECw/cM_wEbg73ig/s1600-h/017%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll37gXWixhQklJCumG77YtxO3_KLhsGDde2WskNEqmsKezZ9QOZ5r00iJ0vEyr_fDHYvFkgCDx53KMFVFK19gKHjF9JzIbQA3ds-DJmKX8kC-lpwE19gWNmxT_0CF4BeKbFn7nsqla63j/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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3) Pin the nose on the snowman!<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FVga3SmQjnI/UNX7GkvG0SI/AAAAAAAAEDA/TCza14izG70/s1600-h/021%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-tFavRg6Vk2Y/UNX7HLZPoZI/AAAAAAAAEDI/auehvBxUVns/021_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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4) Cookie decorating!<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-y6oZ60V37CE/UNX7HigQ5FI/AAAAAAAAEDQ/7BZtytAmHLg/s1600-h/030%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-szQkGARNu88/UNX7IXmmNaI/AAAAAAAAEDY/fbcPFuAxs08/030_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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(Priceless!)<br />
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Happy holidays!!!
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Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-19388125116223609812012-11-24T22:14:00.001-05:002016-07-23T23:06:49.173-04:00Elf on a Classroom ShelfDo you use Elf on a Shelf in your classroom? I sure do! In fact, one of my lovelies from last year already stopped by last week to see if the classroom elf had arrived yet! Too cute. My elf usually arrives two weeks before Christmas and adds some major excitement to the classroom. This year, I wanted my students to document the elf’s adventures by keeping an elf journal. I browsed TPT for some files and couldn’t find just what I was looking for, so I made it! Introducing…<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elfie-Antics-A-Classroom-Elf-Adventure-1559322" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-ZcD3ouZNy2OJ0fHMjyNkrnH9j0l0TKPk99XIHBZQFEnUHDjlXWr9SbyCQ5aXi7_UNB_39V574fBhIWgzOer6I9ohMJkGLMfO1XoX0ymRIPGpSLyjheNzhy84uvfN0z6PAgNPuvQzIXT/s1600/Slide1.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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{Newly updated!!!}</div>
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The file is filled with activities such as:</div>
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elf-on-a-Classroom-Shelf" target="_blank"><img alt="Elf on a Shelf" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yZXqeNrNykY/ULGNI7D-h7I/AAAAAAAADu8/cMLWn7efkQ8/Slide7%25255B24%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Elf on a Shelf" width="189" /></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elf-on-a-Classroom-Shelf" target="_blank"><img alt="Elf on a Shelf" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VqngsJBIQA8/ULGNJIXAXqI/AAAAAAAADvA/4SkZycYUqL8/Slide8%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Elf on a Shelf" width="189" /></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elf-on-a-Classroom-Shelf" target="_blank"><img alt="Elf on a Shelf" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tCXsJyj5FCQ/ULGNJkBTt-I/AAAAAAAADvE/Af7yNzrZ_eI/Slide9%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Elf on a Shelf" width="189" /></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elf-on-a-Classroom-Shelf" target="_blank"><img alt="Elf on a Shelf" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sVMLI_uqUXI/ULGNJxqWQkI/AAAAAAAADvI/sqHFcwjkqsc/Slide15%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Elf on a Shelf" width="189" /></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elf-on-a-Classroom-Shelf" target="_blank"><img alt="Elf on a Shelf" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SvKr-rsP-wY/ULGNKLMZY6I/AAAAAAAADvM/61zth2c8vw4/Slide16%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Elf on a Shelf" width="189" /></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elf-on-a-Classroom-Shelf" target="_blank"><img alt="Elf on a Shelf" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QIyLNzpGKxc/ULGNKnfuUQI/AAAAAAAADvQ/AwgidhveGnc/Slide11%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Elf on a Shelf" width="189" /></a><br />
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If you are planning on hosting on Elf on a Shelf in your classroom this year, please consider checking out my file at my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elfie-Antics-A-Classroom-Elf-Adventure-1559322" target="_blank">Teachers Pay Teachers</a> store! Best of all, I will be joining in the Cyber Monday madness by placing all of the items in my shop on sale this Monday and Tuesday!<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Edukate-And-Inspire" target="_blank"><img alt="TPT sale button" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xgbiqKbtWy4/ULGNLMZz9qI/AAAAAAAADvU/N_niQMmBXjM/TPT%252520sale%252520button%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="304" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="TPT sale button" width="304" /></a><br />
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{Super Cute Button by <a href="http://www.theschoolsupplyaddict.com/" target="_blank">Ashley Hughes</a>}</div>
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Enter the code “cmt12” at checkout to receive 28% off my products! Here are two of my best sellers:<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Techie-Super-Bundle-1369809" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmm7e1TMU-No0ahwWQ7PB_01airvuMOAeknRI5UWlAVsROH5Fv-NDQRrta0EsxN9DK-wh5y054_wghwm-JjoCwrF5Nw3wmhCyd3ylCMRPU4XeZ-0sv2-EUNa9O-TDaMCT5tmX72MWES_O/s320/Techie+Super+Bundle+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/iStudent-All-About-Me-Book-301484" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72bbKTxriVNe5YlcJ1VbisaHqg1aDz8o6I3QWY2LOYFFoB70XEOcyvgptAhrK5kbe69v2YgcN2Yh0QZylUZoUzavPUa3jfa2i1Hy_XGdF6zEnTGl0dmpuYNSJ5S9AxIhkJOzeQF1B8gFf/s320/iStudent+Cover.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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I have one last thing to tell you about! If you are going to be doing any other Cyber Monday shopping, you will want to check this out!!! (I feel like this is one of the best kept secrets for online shopping!)<br />
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Have you ever heard of <a href="http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=sLDETeWeeFxfyMKtJqmdbQ%3D%3D" target="_blank">EBATES</a>? EBATES is a site where you can get <span style="font-size: large;">paid</span> to shop online. It sounds like a scam, but trust me, it’s legit! I’ve gotten paid several times in the past! Basically, the way it works, is that instead of going directly to the website you want to shop at, you access the website through EBATES. For example, instead of going to www.target.com, you first log-in to your EBATES account and click on <strong>their</strong> Target link. EBATES has a partnership with over 1,500 stores! Each store has its own percentage that it credits back to the buyer just for shopping through EBATES. Unfortunately… no TPT just yet :( … however, here are some of my favorites and their current cash back rates: <br />
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1) Target: 2% cash back<br />
2) Sephora: 8% cash back… wow!!! <br />
3) Amazon: 4% cash back on toys<br />
4) Office Max: 4% cash back<br />
5) Kohls: 6% cash back<br />
6) Groupon: 3% cash back<br />
The percentages may not seem like a lot, but it definitely adds up if you do a decent amount of online shopping! Click on the button below if you want to check it out! Happy shopping! <br />
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<a href="http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=sLDETeWeeFxfyMKtJqmdbQ%3D%3D" target="_blank"><img alt="Ebates Coupons and Cash Back" border="0" src="http://www.ebates.com/referral/2012/global_files/images/ebates_logo.png" height="31" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="171" /></a> <br />
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<strike>What’s on your Cyber Monday shopping list?? Leave a comment with what you’re hoping to buy (can be from TPT or anywhere else!} and I will choose a winner at random to receive my new Elf on a Classroom Shelf file! {Ends Monday at 9 pm} Don’t forget your email address!</strike> Winners chosen! Congratulations to all who commented… you are all WINNERS!!! Check your inbox :-)</div>
Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-31585407754732683122012-09-16T11:51:00.001-04:002016-07-23T23:17:25.665-04:00Internet Safety Lessons for Elementary StudentsIf you are looking for some ways to teach your students about Internet Safety, I have some great resources for you! This week, my grade level (2nd) started departmentalizing for the first time. We have 5 teachers, so two teachers will be teaching science, two will teach social studies, and one will teach technology (that’s me)! With five teachers, we had to have a very creative switching schedule. Here’s how it all worked out:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGarvtKy6gYVBTPrF0FVaAsTMlfyJmXWUC4_5RKMqEfL8u1KUZtzIz-dMadKanmLTFagjRVWhChc05zCJu6MActYN_rlUPMn5f9RjpbjlRxJnlIR54TMWy3jY2hJufxESxQZQu7RaZX1L_/s1600-h/switching%252520schedule%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2f1ZRYbLA5uvPdIzb6HTCzPTKYA_J42Gy7xHSt905sV3onRp7oeYIneCtL4EL0oMW6kYocxv8gL93ZBVg-H0kDYICJI0lK6Qo3u4BcLWs2Irj1nxZzHh2FTUXCfa9ysP0rKI5LkyAD6Sk/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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Does that look confusing? It is!!!! Basically, all students will have science twice a week, social studies twice a week, and technology once a week. Every class will travel to another teacher as a whole group, except for mine. I had to divide my class into four sections and each section will join another classroom for traveling time. The great thing about the schedule is that it allows each of us to have one professional development (PD) day per week where we can work on our content area. <br />
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Ohio requires all teachers to teach about Internet Safety before students can use classroom computers. That means that Internet Safety was my topic in technology class this week! Here are my favorite K-5 resources:<br />
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<a href="http://www.abcya.com/cyber_five_internet_safety.htm"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZWxTRwYauq4Smunyw8wq-UTFbC4Yfja3mIUEcbFyMfRipHkxKxJk792JSDh2kiGP20uc_qt9kO98DJ2lY5f9ZmprxUh2mb-T_9V_W0GNFMwZmgLXKArc6JF0RENV13DZTzLQaAudo0Ep/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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Wonderful video from <a href="http://www.abcya.com/cyber_five_internet_safety.htm">ABCya</a>! I used this one this week!<br />
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<a href="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/elementary_poster"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6vHu8V50Mxr1FMH75_6c8Ag_t8lFxHXfLmONEl9QzGIRhkr92gffB1VO8tX-kIwqLINeDN7gc7VstRAMDDcOy1ewvoHRtdyXVaI1WD-wF5iWR53JpgHeo_5F-6WddRiTEUQU2BWpG5Mj/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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Here’s a cute Digital Citizens poster! You can download and print the pdf for free {<a href="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/elementary_poster">here</a>}. The <a href="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/">Common Sense</a> site has a ton of other great resources and lesson plans on Internet Safety! <br />
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<a href="http://www.brainpopjr.com/artsandtechnology/technology/internetsafety/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEF38CBoy8qZslroUZArlSPg-6W6YD5r6Z0ocSgsgDYTyoSj4-5ZwCli_ktuKhBOY45enclaG-ysMWXWoDImzIgv7hvomfmguaKEHWjHlomtsK79Vii6mLVla-U5xO2Pbj4_HscafSayYO/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.brainpopjr.com/artsandtechnology/technology/internetsafety/">Here</a> is a fantastic (and free!) video about Internet Safety from Brain Pop!<br />
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<a href="http://learninglab.org/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzwqwrLVx5wnPJ1BbBP2a0DJOr_LiL6kdoTG85yTxVsREM366mLblDqL6Ng-rvaMMxjHGRd46P21tOlBJbHvcNPaZqhyhAiaiDiBa4xsA8k4Xd-onK_Szlx7GIY0iheQApBo9yCda694O/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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Infinite Learning Lab is a wonderful resource for learning videos on a variety of topics! I have used them in the past for a lot of great social and emotional videos, such as <a href="http://learninglab.org/life_skills/self_esteem/">Self-Esteem</a> and <a href="http://learninglab.org/life_skills/self_control/">Self-Control</a>. They also have two great videos for Internet Safety: <a href="http://learninglab.org/life_skills/online_safety/">Online Safety</a> and <a href="http://learninglab.org/life_skills/cyberbullying/">Cyber Bullying</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://www.childnet.com/publications/resources.aspx"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiR_gI_zOxOm2L-hpXFGJY8K9mbaeKZm3MP19F9oK4cUhp2ZCiy20IdXW9mHRod_9m-aIfpjn0jFmH-TV5csFymbbV7VX56oTak2nIAAbhI19kN2GXc_0ih0B86MFDoGvJyKPMDqxXwdvS/?imgmax=800" /></a><br />
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If you are looking for print resources to give your students and their families, check out <a href="http://www.childnet.com/publications/resources.aspx">Childnet International</a>. There are a ton of pdf’s for you to print, including the poster above!<br />
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Anddd just in case none of the above resources meet your needs, {<a href="http://askatechteacher.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/how-to-teach-internet-safety-in-k-6/">here</a>} are a million more ideas sorted by grade level!<br />
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By the way… you have two days left to enter the Technology Tailgate giveaway!!!!! There will be multiple winners and great prizes including iTunes and Starbucks gift cards!! I donated my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/iStudent">iStudent All About Me Books</a> and <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phone-Clip-Art-Bundle">Phone Clip Art Bundle</a>! Click on the button below to enter!<br />
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<a href="http://www.technologytailgate.com/2012/09/giveaway.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjqzuuCINZ9KITB4xsnQQZ1KWwoPDyZ61xXYqGmYiCgtu533Gd5lBl327NqJxvtuGBHgOlRY9Ybc40GEs1DwlIV-odC7dW2opxlG6BgJZJwDa7RKJXXZXsNfa5X3yMQlqa7OIA0IMtDKJVl7HZyFlwwPEsh2rFlUhUb3Mh3EPlFEdAA4mYTvVQ-VPLdfbwbr3xOHlSRtjhZtGKzqWylUIWB8A=" /></a> <br />
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Have a great week!!!
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Today’s post has nothing to do about teaching… in America, that is! One year ago today, I was in Ghana, Africa preparing to spend three weeks teaching kindergarten. As I sit here on my comfy couch drinking iced tea, it’s hard to believe that I was in Africa one year ago. The trip has made a lasting impact on my life and I hope to be able to go back someday!</div>
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I went to Ghana with an organization called Cross-Cultural Solutions. Thankfully, my teacher friend, Holly, was able to come on my adventure with me. Going to Ghana is something that has always been on my heart, but it took me awhile to take the plunge and finally commit to going for real. A lot of friends and family supported me financially, which made the trip seem much more realistic (buying airfare to Africa is quite expensive)! I had some major fears prior to this trip, including getting multiple shots at the creepy health department, not knowing what strange foods I would have to eat in Ghana, and the fear of being dirty for 3 weeks. I had serious doubts how this all would work out for me, but God came through big time. I could probably write about my trip for hours, but to spare you, I will simply post a lot of photos!<br />
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For three weeks, I taught KG2 (5 and 6 year olds) at Rise Preparatory School. Rise is a private school founded by Eunice, a woman with a disability, who also hired other teachers with disabilities (people who have disabilities in Africa are generally treated as outcasts, so Eunice is pretty amazing). Rise has three classes: creche (pre-school), KG1 (4 and 5 year olds) and KG2. All three classes are inside of an old, abandoned church. There is no electricity... just a lot of natural lighting! The school has VERY limited resources (only a few pencils and pieces of chalk), but many of the kids were doing very well academically! The students loved writing, singing songs, and dancing!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbcNglkJeXbP7LDQ0C7sh2S_NND8beZFL112OHOQqB-C5sZEs_tmxEVRoIQhk2VxJZzicomXbg3CSNWAcDhgwh2IHwVfUDCADpmmKVtqvYFMsblxNMvzo4WS8Z4uvdWDauPg-LsChBRQL/s1600-h/474%25255B7%25255D.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4bmld30aAEsCyWGCZ2cVVZY6B89J2EiNv4MrncvQ-dGKUsy8wNXp9K1eqDbPvXFdHF4hjkrrREjgRO0WvV0IqhAYdYkw-TWroUaeYwnaU2_-W-uaVBbAImDe5hYheGcc2iR3bFOMetWd/?imgmax=800" /></div>
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Here is our school!</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbT_KVFtATGS_QODBZKZowGvj-cBQapUmpIvgmMoB63FENQl0v97TFmPti_scHrMFQRfoMyLENQTAkfYyL7PYVA2qpiDX9i43Mq1d9E3GkMAnV6RCdKeUAf9h5FBCFJCp1WzQmh3FRGkhR/?imgmax=800" /></div>
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Here are our kids! School attendance varied due to the weather and whether or not it was a market day. On some days, there were 30 kids, and on other days, there were 70!</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQFaN8Kju_ABlvJd2lK5-3kKduEkbNSpjj4F6wxf-hoKXzkrVlliqLqfM81nWuSWVP4B_rGP3Ip0s2RIGIpkDZ1R6duRGkocNm8Vbha93p6qjAdxNOV7GbACEGNBcI2LWOt3uhlSkr_gm/?imgmax=800" /></div>
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Here’s my classroom! The kids had amazing focus… no clip charts, no gimmicks, no prize boxes… they just focused.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jpCOZoLERol_PT6PaV7vZgvCbXgbE_0M9nUYW-L84Tyatglex5Yc0JLFmG9KK8gASVLabyPlOvEd4h6jBNnb5np6mwlnSfeFij0J_aWj8HBdgkY_hsNFpZhNlVrYx-ncyxJgmBLJH_Zf/s1600-h/472%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5z8Nn1PD-rX53MGdRPKu57VVUzRlV8hXqqDqhIimvxbcAfXeCDhOuBWxsZJwL7mS3X02n1diozCevQ2r9VyqSMFxX17L2jiViQtboRJL_2yzJQvHDM5sjevzGJn48kzpz_kFlvPcugRTe/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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We were working on writing simple sentences. The pencils and paper were from my home base. Generally, they did not have pencils and had very limited paper.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr0jsloU3nhf0MV4G0fAk9VvvD5rMgVDlUMoeWJijPK2qEUIpCj-z_K1x5LnO28oMpqPrriY-lhAln2JGCJZ3heSKt5e58SyjFr92l4MxUHW0mPj9YZhTYJXGGWuVixWVYjyrkVloMoVe/s1600-h/470%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EEoekjRuVfo6xrQT5yKhJXc9TFGrZ985BOpSuNTkgRrzbHFsCGgiqFyb4ZaeuTHEYp_JJVW3iqeEBuZe4fUAlwppbma8S1n0LXyLV43aryQWpMAIcAAL3tgJu-_IVTscTzcEPnRF9wpn/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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I love this photo. Here are some of my students working on writing, while two of the little ones from the creche slept on the table! {this is a normal occurrence}</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxsECunJ4mcV07S8EZyb2q8HPFzVUKqz9vbQswMMrY9-xpikhe40XsSMPrUpS7s2ZFwZm0AnZ4lNPM5T2RBVl0w-_JOc1GaY8NriFhQrhjmyo0kmsjT36LANV6SDexY1RqVoUt0W0w-ia/s1600-h/365%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMbtTobHr_tcJ13KkZwmIZGYvMDTG4nmMpYwM_hwYXLI7XIkGn4DTyY0zGI4YHO0oGP_QerCQX9gwy8ugvb3uOz8jJ0lRXy9FD4DMLEEWYcbN3-kfvxjN47QSDvSkdiTWndVuMi2r6lFG/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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This is Richard… most definitely my favorite student… shhh!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHp-eVlh28OnVVDg-2gWY7esE1zqdh98x8kADX3p8DpHzNM7P7O8qrYMPaP33KWAENyKvTZO211MotXmCdxHB4dd2iqkHJFzfAhCbV4yNyDkQtdzGRaNqMGdu0Z1qcfEazhpa7b-1xGay/s1600-h/148%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmN4DitdQIoY0r4jjgbuaWF2rDFsMX07QbPLxgOu60YcoVozxn1eF-BJmGHEZcIGfzXYT_YtHzW5eBf10to983w-m336jXWebc927fvQavv2i2E5XHLBl3fUnlFCYVD39WIQN0tnKCPGc/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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So precious!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCQo87SEKruUOnlpTe-bFOEhjvWVR_qOV4T1AYN3dRqiOQCBeOtliFjblwGMOmpowgehxPvgw_MNBfGT-H4WRWFrWUQ745e0bDHEaXCgsB3QUmtZBF-Bh7rxw6-M7Z4QeXR72sMvVNdVZ/s1600-h/096%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xtiYt44Y4YbZxhtHIWuRLNV-yklQ0Vn55zn_b-AJxNwMOqRVqfFA8ocZS4FJKfGGfly_Mjofj2ck3NDh_tC3_QY2rD3U2aJ2ti916Ml8rZjQjdcHmNXkmmci_YWU2A2Sa72hj1mkEEkb/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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One of the headmasters asked me if I could hold this baby for a bit. Umm, yes please!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzuKpi49OFFMDVhQn6-z1v0n9gs-nAZq5JdvDGe-dIZZ7knbFNVFk6wul5MPC0frkWCChkydNH3oCNhAdnTGmUQw4SvaV2pVLw90kbaxi1bQ8AuitwrI0eNySiNpAAuyfAtAq3pzc2If8/s1600-h/296287_2130581217984_1049580719_32389851_4492099_n%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mePsS0h4480jXDj0R3DBoUDrnMzJlFGItTK-bbU5CjguFUkfE8EuNPKcRzxUe83pZ7rCyU2Cu2VpD_7hE3cw4QpJGmhNRC4t_yWr0IeNEhyxpWZWWJLOkrErjkyw0ntYUR1LE8gCaOw-/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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We taught the kids how to play London Bridge! </div>
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They loved it and probably would have played it for HOURS.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7xWsVc4Gq976HCSbNRzYx5d4kcEh7t8ZKlCFKBXEzvAFlH97Lw4LuJeNrkRQFieTSMV1XF8WUypTJCXlySoymhJ3zh5cFOh075R35IH1dFzZldqOpYdfAbvWQFMk07Al0iEgMs1Y9Sxv/s1600-h/149%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwO0leu-HoK0Laj8GzfwAoZDIocuIQ3Ux5eI6kAoax6J7ldIaTibqtz5NgOUdBqbNPJjdLLSncSDGPkfgNqGzXqp0ZQSF7lYobNLc88lZ2QiomlJEyQKs1z7FbNr7N89Ul9JzqwSA_yMQ/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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Hmmm can you spot my classroom trouble maker?!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZzQWd9A5UtBx8nVFkQJfGTUiWVsEtHRKk02AM7V4DLaLARO6LRsX1a2m3A9N_prYIlo9OrxXNtqe_iabmvZIOEjV4vc1-cFeJfBb8oc3IGZUeSPRXszD-HPebakY9f-5gUs3N1xqlpgq/s1600-h/305%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYK8RmpivjuHEIkDL-ZfqqPW6JUNok75d554KXOOZpST7I7XFeAvrYTycBd1cePWG_wSibDMoo_uocaXeTyd-_DUdEDIowgPvPV1zW62lslz3GkpG9lEqA8tSsu_Lu7Qv3Fe_ZIWmeBS4/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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Really makes you rethink how much you love your SmartBoard, doesn’t it? I had to go back to my classroom two days after I came back to America. It was very hard to unpack supplies and start redecorating. I had a very different perspective.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzhCB_galjJpLhIwPzVSha7K4WtkeLaogO60Es648ABlZdS2m7LXsTHK7dOC5zZ0KyfkjdetrXthNTpddNJWE7VUN3N2wxSEpcrf9gRz09AiuM_MK_4WZ6ldlXzzmC_i-YYu1RpzeHXE4/s1600-h/310%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYHG8sSTK5FkNOMCM5zXLTQr3XdgJzB1OCX2gFGyrzW4-04CbLqi82plNF33FcB4dZKK5ddJIu14UICi6td7XYp-Mxwi0-5MI-pngFyaVIGmH9gx9Lu9N0-N2TeSULLwBomqLoX_W-WvR/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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Sweetest kids ever. When we arrived each day, they would literally jump all over us. They loved my hair and were fascinated by my freckles… they kept trying to pick them off of me like they were dirt!</div>
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We were really fortunate to be in Ghana at the end of their school term and were invited to be a part of their end of term celebration. All of the students in the community dressed in traditional Ghanaian clothing and paraded through the town led by a marching band! Each class performed their skills in front of a huge crowd of family members, community members, and local chiefs. Our kids performed an ABC chant, Bible verses, and none other than…. wait for it… Tooty Ta! {The community thought it was AMAZING!} There were a lot of speeches, dancing, and drumming. At the end of the ceremony, students received their end of the year awards and got a plastic drinking cup and small package of cookies… it was like Christmas. Throughout the ceremony, the teachers were served beer! In Ghana, they drink Guinness like it is soda pop!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOrK8soj2dXY9sAiyBS-zNKglugwWVSkaQ8hOMb75Nr-UhZbqHPFtYk5RNbFkTXh2XCPomPc28gflgRVUiAFQggKAUML4hcza5OWiNNMJzxPyJsU_Y19cf5DN1L5tlQ67R2iaQsNiTrT2/s1600-h/313%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaX6mtq7SoiZ4MlpHIc5953thfZYBrANNwcQCzZt2M1bc4iWvzBbvhm1m3C4-F5AHSQF_l_dAZO0vPS7f3_F0qMT1AXqsAhPO-mX9Y1_Zfi3R9KOp20BSgAV5qFa7gIUiPNWewV5VVLC1c/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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Here are our girls in their traditional dresses!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtbo8f-gFdu2Mww6KwON1vrnDUNwSHcP8ZshW6l58-TFEqbMw_42kZcC_Fri4izOYGWVT9L7o0Kktfd_E_4EIhwCJ9mu-W3I1SEFXdM7Ly0f3iEIvxklrwNs4YQvK14B1tdtCmQ88W_V3/s1600-h/315%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-s0LbrKdlnn8LltcmJavr0eFpffyzBV-ZS0ESpUPExf_u1nFrxsOHcwkzqeWom-6FqlW68Ey1LSFWY59CBxRLYLmP53d8ZtExYenCUvn_z49vxPA0qDAGkC3PFpFNSr34ZOUcYadriQx/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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One of the chronic problems at Rise is that students’ family members were not able to pay school fees. Students held these heart breaking signs during their parade through town. One of the goals of the ceremony was to raise more money for schools and people put money in an offering container throughout the performances. We were told that because there were Americans in town, attendance and donations were likely to increase!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmRZzqeisXS1KeUUbLMBsVBS45AQYQRMJ1lCxcpJDB6d7e2Jca_B4_lsNyCM4QGtiYQAzeM5WL4O9RFTphmVv5C-mMg7frkHDp3fqa8YrDD_fASdVTh9sqs8pD2_gflGl-BVVPvJgMhWp/s1600-h/333%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1M8ZqvUt3Qoh8blm6_YGl6hQockllTyg12H9hf0EnBKoJThO8DXmG9IlLJjq_CHtflQcwQKd7waVgT-DdpTKfAZQG4tOGbSdu3QRJvRnVR799q-nS1aXPUvtM8th40wkhZxiCv443X-z/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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Here we are parading through town.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLo9q98_Po-0mpKBAdQylJRO_vEHLA5lOG2pLH5lqZLcW6laY2zUuG9ht8A7-nehtdyNPVA1ZvQ0E5SavkVKxb-LuLiSuWAN0rUvxXJsTEU7D24vssfTFK5lAB-yP9-h8TIWa8JAguYlx/s1600-h/349%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFoKBngR_6LgfCSbOH3EDkDoswYnb7if0kyK-EVpUWWmdkZdJYPb32GNiLsiemtVpSjmqkJ2cbjJk8EJSUVM8gcLMpZ6Qy3kgIPU1cexGFAOdyRhbgZIm_fyW8gR2hmFb_-uqR5Pp0Afz/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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After the ceremony, the community took a TON of pictures of us with the kids. </div>
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Basically, we were the village superstars. It was too funny.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjad634k7lNpTx67gVHNVNrag4aDUCNZ3iLMYKylYenVy7jxdPFmFzMOWd6A_SUrEQQDbbqm2fWYGhujnd2EL_7vO3TgF1M4Ud3Jrn-DZnzGcrRCzFawvaLbe3ZiNgzXuXq6OAIlYkryEtg/s1600-h/353%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8abkUoXWSWlfGu_hkW7JsSoejwsGN9oSLw4yuRRNeco4xnRlSuCXO8g5WDVGjTv4Tx_s1TSX-fy-Oc9w7cXBGsFLnKPYNldiHqosium40-we3savTAkHxYhJHjBw-2UHx5f5ikxZb1LP5/?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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When we arrived to teach the day after the ceremony, we were a bit surprised. Apparently, once the term is over, school turns into playtime! They dumped one box of chalk onto the floor and the kids went to town! Pure craziness, but a lot of fun!</div>
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If you haven’t traveled or taught internationally, I would definitely recommend it. It will change your life. My trip was better than I had imagined it to be. During my first week in Ghana, I felt God’s presence stronger than I had ever felt it before. From the friendly people on the streets, to the children who would jump up and down when they saw me, to the amazing scenery... Ghana was perfect.</div>
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"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYK8RmpivjuHEIkDL-ZfqqPW6JUNok75d554KXOOZpST7I7XFeAvrYTycBd1cePWG_wSibDMoo_uocaXeTyd-_DUdEDIowgPvPV1zW62lslz3GkpG9lEqA8tSsu_Lu7Qv3Fe_ZIWmeBS4/?imgmax=800" -->Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242698021784975973.post-60851306639796669172012-07-07T08:30:00.000-04:002016-07-06T11:34:46.154-04:00Scootpad: Great Common Core Practice Site!Today's blog is about a new website that has been flying under the radar!<br />
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<a href="http://www.scootpad.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Scootpad Review: Great Common Core Practice Site" border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh166dcViaJcWd1pvyvK5gNf30gsdKnw_1oypy0AsVYrMTmYS7LT3Hyc_mSGKCasu0qrZz0BDGNdxTr7g29RHmc4Ab0WV87Ge9i5XK0_VWU6ZQxQvEsZCKz56iWWP9WsFMbARw9CyBEj7IE/s400/scootpad_logo.png" title="Scootpad Review: Great Common Core Practice Site" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Edit (7-6-16): This blog post was written in 2012 and the Scootpad site has changed significantly since then.</i></div>
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1) It's free.</div>
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2) There are no ads {this is a huge plus for any site I use with my class!!}</div>
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3) Students can sign on from school or home!</div>
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Have you heard of it? <span style="background-color: white;">It was created last December and I started using it in March. I first heard about Scootpad from an administrator in my district who emailed us all the info. I think you will love it! </span></div>
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Basically, Scootpad is a site where students can go to practice all of the <b>Common Core</b> standards for math and reading. The site is adaptive, so students can move through the standards at their own pace. You can also modify the content to meet the needs of specific students! As a teacher, you will be able to see data {a lot of graphs!!} about how each student is performing and can also get detailed email updates about students' progress. Before you get too excited, let me mention one quick thing:<br />
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Good News: Common Core math and reading practice is available for grades 1-3<br />
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Bad News: Practice is not available for grades K or 4-5, but the site says it's coming soon!! (Update: K, 4, and 5 will be available by August 15!!)<br />
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So that was the basic info, but let me tell you why my students love Scootpad...<br />
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1) Rewards... of course! I am typically not a big fan of having a lot of incentives for students {in my opinion, intrinsic motivation is always the best}, but they sure were a great motivator on Scootpad. As students complete practices on Scootpad, they earn coins. In your teacher account, you can create rewards and specify the amount of coins that each reward is worth. You can use tangible items like candy or a pencil, or set other rewards like lunch with the teacher or show and tell {I do not do show and tell in second grade, so this was a highly coveted prize!} Parents can also set rewards for their child to earn at home. Here is a screenshot of my rewards page:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyZ5JnN6USpAXw4Ln9Xunu8nHzqK5KEzpXO8-ECKCgkTAiXbwgSu3fx5TWwBY8Dex9dwqE3Foa8IHci4HSJaKizwFy_o0qTAuAseAFM6388scL9n_hA3lrRVr9blYaC3VH2dvAnfpoAAi/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Scootpad Review: Great Common Core Practice Site" border="0" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyZ5JnN6USpAXw4Ln9Xunu8nHzqK5KEzpXO8-ECKCgkTAiXbwgSu3fx5TWwBY8Dex9dwqE3Foa8IHci4HSJaKizwFy_o0qTAuAseAFM6388scL9n_hA3lrRVr9blYaC3VH2dvAnfpoAAi/s640/Untitled.jpg" title="Scootpad Review: Great Common Core Practice Site" width="640" /></a><br />
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2) Social media... students love being able to connect with their friends on Scootpad! They can send messages to each other, choose a smiley face to indicate how they are feeling for the day, pick out their own avatar, check out their news feed (updates about messages from friends and coins they have earned), look at the class wall (with posts from the teacher), and check out the leader boards.<br />
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One nice feature is that the messages are pre-selected, so students can't actually type anything to each other {otherwise, they'd spend all day sending messages instead of practicing!}. As the teacher, you CAN type messages to students, which is great for encouragement. Here is a screen shot of the cute messages students can send to friends:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8NqtGrOs2caZgf8nKN9k3q1FwUH4YcQTpBfT2B7ueRnD_uLpaiZ6N4jntA5sbUd1_zfYYXzgeiEqbvTmOiGyNvNjEhspxEbINHtRBIyaPiYWrv2j2gjmrYBFG9XOUzwtulpNK2RmE_nF/s1600/Untitled2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Scootpad Review: Great Common Core Practice Site" border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8NqtGrOs2caZgf8nKN9k3q1FwUH4YcQTpBfT2B7ueRnD_uLpaiZ6N4jntA5sbUd1_zfYYXzgeiEqbvTmOiGyNvNjEhspxEbINHtRBIyaPiYWrv2j2gjmrYBFG9XOUzwtulpNK2RmE_nF/s400/Untitled2.jpg" title="Scootpad Review: Great Common Core Practice Site" width="400" /></a></div>
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3) Badges: Students can earn badges to show off their hard work! I love the 100% Ninja badge :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrUI56p57OG0lWqj7fVmEW57HGLUBbw8AT1-6TOLadEmgTmW6RUsSeMsmHQYUTq5Jc6BcVnUKwedTVcGd9e3PaUAo3c73VXTFbPhhG5k8UjerbnLI4HXmm43ixJZkiME1uzelRLqPXgDB/s1600/Untitled3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Scootpad Review: Great Common Core Practice Site" border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrUI56p57OG0lWqj7fVmEW57HGLUBbw8AT1-6TOLadEmgTmW6RUsSeMsmHQYUTq5Jc6BcVnUKwedTVcGd9e3PaUAo3c73VXTFbPhhG5k8UjerbnLI4HXmm43ixJZkiME1uzelRLqPXgDB/s640/Untitled3.jpg" title="Scootpad Review: Great Common Core Practice Site" width="640" /></a><br />
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So far, I've only discovered one con to Scootpad:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">It can be very challenging! {Not </span><span style="background-color: white;">necessarily</span><span style="background-color: white;"> a bad thing, but it is something to consider!} I showed Scootpad to my whole class, but I noticed that my average and higher level students played much more often than my lower level students. I'm not very familiar with the first grade content, but for the second grade content, students need to be able to read what's on the screen {perhaps they will add a read aloud feature in the future??} and also spell correctly {I had a little math wizard who became very frustrated when he had to spell all of the 3-D shapes correctly... I ended up giving him a resource to use while he played!} On the plus side, you could always give your lower level students a buddy while they play. Also, don't forget that you can lower the content if needed... I had a second grade student who was on an IEP and I was able to set her content to first grade and her mom played at home with her all the time! </span><br />
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Here is how I used Scootpad in my classroom last year:<br />
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1) Fast finishers logged on when their work was complete {I am blessed to have 4 desktop computers. I also house our level's laptop cart in my room, so I have a lot of computers available!}<br />
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2) Students chose to use Scootpad during centers while I worked with guided reading groups.<br />
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3) Homework! I was amazed by the amount of students who used Scootpad at home for fun! I think that says a lot about a website when students <b>choose </b>to use it at home. <br />
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I definitely think that Scootpad is a site you will want to check out! Click on the button below to be taken to the website so you can explore more and create your own account!<br />
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<a href="http://www.scootpad.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Scootpad Review: Great Common Core Practice Site" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyD21HWMle3dywmPzjTILbhOSu2wUM6r3gVDpCOabCnzWDNTv87XFS-iZyweF7rrCyAqCUXr3lKe9xYr5ua3j53I4mjf_ZyWim6KJpGE_xmfr6cRlNIb2kF23_rHpIJnTzRlyU9ubFjBjB/s200/SP_Square_Logo.png" title="Scootpad Review: Great Common Core Practice Site" width="200" /></a></div>
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***Update: The ScootPad team commented on the post! Check out their response! They also emailed me some more of their upcoming updates. I highly recommend contacting Scootpad if you have any questions or comments. They have been very responsive. Here is the info they sent me:</div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">Two major features we are also working on right now to release by mid-end of Aug 2012 are:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">1) Assignments module - teachers can assign homework (Math practice, Reading practice, Reading Log, Spelling Words etc.), students can complete assignments, teachers can review & grade/correct assignments. This is in response to a significant number of requests from teachers who are considering switching from paper based homework packets to ScootPad (saving over $10,000/year/classroom).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;">2) Free ScootPad App on all tablets (iPad, Android Tablets and Kindle Fire). Teachers, Students and Parents can ALL use the app to access all features currently available online.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pmkV5zhFY0UpkwBWPcoSbX459s8s6vJM6CGidRevZwTMUWqTAbxfRnqhafm2RMK9qdExAlPelFicFmLtfNCR-QrI9RsnDSs5zUrcGws8vDubuSrl0xdlhDAB1xJjZaPcPdOJeTkfol9E/s1600/nyame+dua+border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pmkV5zhFY0UpkwBWPcoSbX459s8s6vJM6CGidRevZwTMUWqTAbxfRnqhafm2RMK9qdExAlPelFicFmLtfNCR-QrI9RsnDSs5zUrcGws8vDubuSrl0xdlhDAB1xJjZaPcPdOJeTkfol9E/s400/nyame+dua+border.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_251797412"></span><span id="goog_251797413"></span>How could you use Scootpad in your classroom? </div>
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What are some fun rewards you would set up for your students?</div>
Kate @ EduKate and Inspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13649621462275576220noreply@blogger.com66