Teacher Idea Factory

Teacher Idea Factory

SUPER STAR BOARD + PIN LINKY

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Word!  It’s going to hit 100 today in little old RB, so I am using this as the perfect excuse to work on my Back to School Unit all day.  After our last teacher workday yesterday, I was “spent” for some reason and napped instead of getting down to business.  We had a retirement luncheon and it took its toll emotionally I guess (I cried . . . surprise . . . surprise).  Mr. Leonard was/is a great man and he will be missed dearly by parents, students, and staff.   

Okay, so I got my shout out in and explained yesterday’s absence from the blogging world . . . now what??  Oh yeah.  I wanted to share my ALL TIME favorite bulletin board that lives in my room.  
Good old Room 13 has what’s known as the Super Star Board.  When kiddos try their best on a paper (it doesn’t have to be all correct mind you – I am looking for a personal best) or go above and beyond in the working process (best handwriting, color it, etc), I add stars like crazy and it goes up on our Super Star board. 
I have had this baby up on one of my walls for the past 5 years and not only does it create an ever-changing bulletin board that pretty much maintains itself, but it also serves as a wonderful motivator for the kids.  
As you can see from the picture it gets pretty crammed up there from time to time.  Yes, it’s a bit messy, but I LOVE to see it like this . . . it means my kids are working hard!!!
This puppy moves and changes colors when I get bored . . . but it always finds a home! 
Super Stars are very easy to manage.  As I correct papers, if a student gets three or more stars, it does not go into his/her mailbox.  Instead, it gets placed in the Super Star bin on my desk.  At the end of the day, I hang all of these papers on the board.  Sometimes these kiddos get a little reward (Super Student Bucks), but most of the time they don’t.  I am trying to teach them that hard work is the reward :).  The papers get layered up there throughout the week and come down on Thursdays after school so they can make it into their Friday take-home packets.  That’s it.  Pretty easy, huh??  There’s just that one extra step of taking them down.  However, I have found that this is so worth my effort!
I haven’t joined up with a Linky in what seems like forever and I am starting to go through withdrawals.  I saw this awesome Pinterest-themed party over at Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher and I couldn’t let it pass me by!  
As Amber stated, Pinterest has been life-changing and we are constantly saying, “I saw it on Pinterest.”  Her fantastic idea was to get together and share those pins that we have tried out or can’t wait to try.  So . . . here are a few of my favorites!
The food items I have pinned are piling up oh-so quickly.  The top dish I tried last week (it goes with my new gluten-free diet) and rocked my socks.  And . . . the hubby even liked it :).  The second picture is on the menu this week.  It looks so yummy!  I am a sucker for anything with chickpeas.  Click on the picts to snag the recipes.  
Sticking somewhat close to the food thing, I found these flavored water ideas. After my surgery they want me to drink what seems like an entire “lake” of water each and every day.  This find is just what I need to keep those liquids flowing throughout my day :).  I need to do this sooner rather than later!  Click on the picture to snag the recipes!
Now . . . on to my most prized possession . . . my school pin board.  The top picture is something that I saw a month or so back and I so want to try this with my class next spring.  It is such a feel-good activity and I think the kids would learn a ton from running a lemonade stand and donating the money! The middle picture was one of my very first pins.  I cannot wait to try this one!  Going to snap my new kiddos’ pictures that very first week and will make these cool magnets for parents/kids that first weekend.  The bottom pin is a sight word game that called out to me the moment I laid eyes on it.  We will be playing this game in Room 13 right off the bat . . . thinkin’ week 2!  And, you can bet that I am going to slap one of those words on my noggin too!
To check out all of my pin boards . . . CLICK HERE.  Don’t forget to check out Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher for more great ideas and boards to follow! Maybe you just might want to link up and share some of your own awesome pins??
Well, that’s it my friends.  I am ready to focus on that unit I keep talkin’ about. I just need to refill my coffee first . . . wait . . . I better make that a water 🙂 See you tomorrow!!

Comments

  1. Lisa R. says

    100 degrees? Stay cool girl! I saw that flavored water idea too, which I forgot about until you just reminded me. I need to ween myself off of soda this summer & I think this will do the trick. I look forward to seeing your unit when you are done. 🙂

    Lisa
    Learning Is Something to Treasure

    • teacherideafactory says

      I got myself off the good old Diet Pepsi about 2 years ago . . . when all my tummy trouble started. It was a long process for sure and there is still nothing like the first sip off of a fresh fountain soda 🙂

  2. Lovely Nina says

    I love your Super Star Board, I would totally want to do this in my classroom, but I don't think I have enough wall space. The bulletin boards I do have get taken up with necessary curriculumn items that need to be hung. But I'm going to try my best to see if I can tweak your idea to make it work for me–like finding someplace to hang their papers 🙂 Thanks for sharing 🙂

    • teacherideafactory says

      Hello from the states . . . how is the rest of your Europe trip treatin' ya? I too have trouble with space. My SS board used to be huge in my old room, now it's much smaller and is hiding in the back corner. However, the kids still dig it and it serves its purpose :). Thanks for visiting!!

    • Lovely Nina says

      Europe (Poland) is good..but the past two days it's been raining–which just means more time for me to be creative 🙂
      I love visiting your blog 🙂

    • teacherideafactory says

      I don't think I am ready for 100 yet either . . . all the windows are shut up tight and I am sittin' in the dark 🙂 The house is pretty cool right now. I am on my way over to check out your linky.

  4. Heather says

    I am loving your super star board. What a great way to display student work and help motivate them. I will defiantly have to incorporate this in my room next year. I'm new to blogging but having a great time and would love for you to check mine out if you get the chance.

    The Busy Busy Hive

  5. Katherine says

    I love the super star board! What a great idea! I love how the papers are piled on top of each other! 🙂
    I am also very new to blogging, too… Check out my blog if you get a chance!

    • teacherideafactory says

      I know . . . this Linky is so much fun. I have already re-pinned sooooo many things. As for the super star papers, I pull them down weekly and send them home 🙂

  8. Jessica Stanford says

    Looooooooooove your pins! (as usual)

    I have a paper wall too! I call it my 'perfect paradise' and I put a boom boom tree near it… would that be suitable for 1?!?! ahhhhh

    Blessings,

    Jessica Stanford
    Mrs. Stanford's Class
    PS I'm having a linky and would love for you to join!

  10. Allie says

    I love your superstar board, and how it's not organized! Such a great idea! I'm sure the kids love seeing their work up there! Such a great way to develop intrinsic motivation. I am pinning this for future use!
    Allie
    The Gypsy Teacher

  11. Rose says

    I love the bulletin board idea. My students always love to have their worked displayed and I have the perfect board to use. Love, love, love Pinterest it's has become one of my favorite things. I like the way it gives me a place to save all those great thing I see online, but can't remember where I saw them. Think I'll check out those favored waters, it's about 90+ here and sounds great for a hot summer day.
    Rose
    "The Wonderful World of Kindergarten"

  12. 2 Crazy Texas Teachers says

    First of all, forgive me if I've said this before but I LOVE your blog design! It is so creative and definitely one of my favorite!

    Love, love the Super Stars board! I can imagine the kids love to be showcased up there!
    Tamara
    2crazytexasteachers.blogspot.com

  13. Mrs. Dwyer says

    Wow! I LOVE this post and finding someone that my classroom has so much in common with! I use my classroom door the same way you use your SuperStars board…I usually label it "WOW Work". I laminate stars and the kids who's work gets featured get to sign their name on a star and because its on our classroom door…it's the first thing they see each time we come into the room and on display for everyone that walks by. I change it out every couple of weeks or so. They love it! I'm sure yours do too! Guess what, my classroom is number 113! Looking forward to hearing more great ideas!

    ~Tanya
    Mrs. Dwyer’s A+ Firsties

  15. Owl Things First says

    I hope you are still in your pjs! 😉 I'm going to wash my hair today!! I feel quite inspired. I've been thinking about doing some different things with my Wall of Wow and you have given me some inspiration…again!
    Jenny
    P.S. Move to Michigan…It may have reached 75 degrees here yesterday!
    Owl Things First

    • teacherideafactory says

      I am still in my PJs . . . it's only 9:15 here, so I am doing pretty good so far today! A hair wash for you, huh? Wow! Now that's motivation 🙂 Thanks for swinging by for a visit.

  21. Heather says

    If you get a chance stop by my blog and check out my “Pintervention” linky party! It is the motivation I needed to complete my mile long pinterest list!! It will also be need to see the finished projects!
    ThirdGradeIsAHoot

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