My classroom video. :)

Love it!! It looks great!

Are the bushels like bucket fillers? I really like the sentence starters for those...

Also, I love the CA flag shirt. :D

I'm curious about the raffle as well, and that board that's divided into four sections.
 
Wow! Thank you all so much for the very kind words and compliments. :)

Raffle: Every month the students (Monkeys) have a chance to wing some prizes in a raffle. They earn tickets by either answering various questions correctly, birthday coupon redemption, collecting enough stars (incentive system), etc.

Xarthonia (the sectioned wall) - a bit longer to explain. :) Basically, many years ago I created a fictional world where there are Regions (Nickadorf - underground; Quibaliff - ice; Calliwong - volcano; Zottylum - jungle). The students are placed in the Region at the start of the year and remain in it the entire year (four groups of eight). I tell stories and the kids have to help their character (each Region has a main character) get through the story (like "Choose your own adventure") or fight monsters by answering academic questions. There are also Region Challenges, contests, etc. The kids EAT it up...and I have seniors in high school coming back and asking how their Region is doing. :) Very cute.

Thank you for your interest in my room! :)
 
Pisces_Fish said:
Loved it! My favorite part was the mirror, too :)

Can you tell us what the bucket-filler apples say?
Click to expand...

Thanks, Pisces! :)

I can't recall here at home what they say, but generally things like:

"I am glad you're my friend because..."
"I really think you're good at..."
"I admire you for your skill at..."

Basically sentence starters for the kids. :)

Giraffe- thanks for the kind words! Yes, there is another upper grade male teacher and he has a minimalist approach (he teaches 5th grade). I sometimes worry that my room is too "cutesy", but I shrug and just figure - if I can't be happy in my own classroom, then how would I expect my students to be?
 
It's awesome, Ted.

What is the top banana thing? It looks like something really fun. It said something about previous winners and this week's nominees or something like that.

I really love the sentence starters for the bucket filling, and will steal them for my class!
 
schoolteacher said:
It's awesome, Ted.

What is the top banana thing? It looks like something really fun. It said something about previous winners and this week's nominees or something like that.

I really love the sentence starters for the bucket filling, and will steal them for my class!
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, Schoolteacher! :)

The top banana - well, actually, this is something new. I saw the "Top Banana" awards at Oriental Trading Company and thought they were very monkey-appropriate. So then my wheels spun and I came up with the following idea:

Each week, I'll be taking nominations for the top banana (for the following week). This will be on merit (courteous, respectful, honest, hard worker, team player, etc.) I will most likely get more than THREE, so I will probably just randomly choose THREE and let the others know they were nominated ("Keep up the good work!"). The students will then vote on Friday for the TOP banana and that person, the following week, will get the statue, his/her name in the "high part of the tree", and be line leader for the entire week.

Edit to add: once a student has one TB once, they may not win it again the rest of the year (in my hopes that EVERYBODY will have an opportunity for the honor). :) Thus the "Previous Winners" listing.

Beta stage...so we'll see how it goes. :)

 
Oh, I am really liking that! Is that where you got the banana trophy - at OTC? And when you say they get the statue, do you mean they keep it on their desk, or they get one to keep?
 
schoolteacher - Yes, I got the statue (set of 12, so I bought 3 sets) at OTC. They will keep it as a memory. :)

smalltowngal - thanks so much! I think the kids liked it today. I hope! :)
 
Teachling said:
I tried to click on the link but it said video is unavailable. It sounds like you have an awesome room!
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Hmm...odd that it doesn't work for you. Seems to work for me. :(

Sorry about that...but thanks for the compliment, nonetheless!
 
Ted said:

Xarthonia (the sectioned wall) - a bit longer to explain. :) Basically, many years ago I created a fictional world where there are Regions (Nickadorf - underground; Quibaliff - ice; Calliwong - volcano; Zottylum - jungle). The students are placed in the Region at the start of the year and remain in it the entire year (four groups of eight). I tell stories and the kids have to help their character (each Region has a main character) get through the story (like "Choose your own adventure") or fight monsters by answering academic questions. There are also Region Challenges, contests, etc. The kids EAT it up...and I have seniors in high school coming back and asking how their Region is doing. :) Very cute.
Click to expand...

This is AWESOME!! Definitely something your students will never forget - what a fun way to build community!

Great room!
 
MissScrimmage said:
This is AWESOME!! Definitely something your students will never forget - what a fun way to build community!

Great room!
Click to expand...

Thank you, MissScrimmage! :) Yes, Xarthonia is quite the hit... although this year's group is coming very close to losing it... it's quite an immature group (across the grade it seems). :(
 
I was able to accessed it today. It's more than great, Ted! Love the Cafe idea. You also gave me an idea concerning the mirror. I want to place one by the door and incorporate it with my NY theme some how.

I bet you're a great teacher!
 
Teachling said:
I was able to accessed it today. It's more than great, Ted! Love the Cafe idea. You also gave me an idea concerning the mirror. I want to place one by the door and incorporate it with my NY theme some how.

I bet you're a great teacher!
Click to expand...

Thank you for the compliment, and I'm glad you were able to access it. :)

Love the idea of NY and your mirror. Hmm...I wonder if you could purchase somewhere a simple stencil of a NY skyline or cityscape? Then just put it on the mirror and use glass etching cream? Or maybe find something in vinyl and put it on the bottom of the mirror?
 
Ted said:
Thank you for the compliment, and I'm glad you were able to access it. :)

Love the idea of NY and your mirror. Hmm...I wonder if you could purchase somewhere a simple stencil of a NY skyline or cityscape? Then just put it on the mirror and use glass etching cream? Or maybe find something in vinyl and put it on the bottom of the mirror?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the idea. I'm thinking that perhaps I'll get one of those locker magnetic mirrors and put some sort of border around it like your vinyl idea and them either bling it up or put some of the NY stickers I purchased from Hobby LObby.
 
I love your room! I especially love the idea you have with the different world and four factions. I think that is amazing and unique. It reminds me of a video game I've played. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top