"Say No To Bullying Week" and Rally...

Sunday, September 30, 2012
"Take a Stand, Lend a Hand..."

We had a great week last week with all of the things we did to discuss Bullying.  We made a huge class banner for our Rally on the front lawn.  Below are some pictures of our huge banner, and I also added the pictures I bought from Nikki at MelonHeadz Her illustrations are so adorable!  =)  


Our Huge Class Banner!

Be a Buddy, Not a Bully!


Say No to Bullying!


My 4th graders drew pictures to go with our little slogan "Take a Stand, Lend a Hand."  I got the slogan idea from a great store online called Positive Promotions where I bought some things for my students, like pencils, wrist bands, and our awesome "Bully Jar."  
Heat sensitive pencils that change color.
 
"The Bully Jar" has been a great tool to use to stimulate discussion all week.  We pulled out a few cards and talked about them, and sometimes I had them do a quick write on the prompts.  I am glad I purchased it from Positive Promotions.  I love that place!!!
Very Cute Wrist Bands!


I also showed my students some videos from "Brain Pop."  Here is the link to a great video on cyberbullying:

We also did the "crumpled paper" activity that a teacher from NY came up with.  There are a ton of videos and descriptions of this mini lesson.  I decided to first have my students work on an individual poster about what bullying looks like and feels like.  We made different sections for our posters, then I gave them a new piece of paper, and I taught the "crumpled paper" mini lesson.  After this amazing lesson, I had them cut a heart shape and glue that to their posters.  That way, they will have a piece of this mini lesson that will hopefully stay with them throughout life.  

Here is the description of the lesson the NY teacher used for her amazing lesson:

A teacher in New York was teaching her class about bullying and gave them the following exercise to perform. She had the children take a piece of paper and told them to crumple it up, stomp on it and really mess it up, but do not rip it. Then she had them unfold the paper, smooth it out and look at how scarred and dirty it was. She then told them to tell it they’re sorry. Now even though they said… they were sorry and tried to fix the paper, she pointed out all the scars they left behind. And that those scars will never go away no matter how hard they tried to fix it. That is what happens when a child bullies another child, they may say they’re sorry but the scars are there forever. The looks on the faces of the children in the classroom told her the message hit home.

***Feel free to copy and paste if you would like to stop bullying.  Share it, pin it, use it with your students! 

We had a very emotional, and moving discussion about when others say unkind words, or do mean things, or make us feel worthless; it hurts our heart.  I am so glad I talked about this mini lesson with my 4th graders, even though I teared up during part of it.  They were all so cute, asking me if I was okay.  =)  I told them that I never wanted them to feel unloved or not special.  I want them to know that there is always a person who believes in them, and that I value them and how they feel.  I have the best 4th graders ever!

Here are some pictures of their posters:

Very Powerful lesson...

We are "Bucket Fillers!"  I love this happy little bucket.  We also talked a lot about positive ways to uplift, encourage, and help others around us.  We need to teach Compassion more to our kids!


So true...

They all did a great job!



I love having their posters hanging up in our room!
 



Sorry, this was sort of a long post, but I wanted to share all of the great activities we did last week.  I would love for you to leave me comments about some of the ideas, sites, or activities you use in your classrooms about "Saying No to Bullying." 

Have a great week this week!!!  =)




 








 


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Math trick for Rounding...

Sunday, September 23, 2012
Good Guys and Bad Guys:
I used this little trick with my 4th graders this year, and they LOVE it!  I learned it from a teacher friend, but I don't know exactly where she found it.  

It helps with Rounding.  For example, if they are asked to round 345,762,138 to the nearest ten thousand, they would do the following steps:  First, find the rounding place and underline that digit (the 6).  Next, they look next door at the 2, and draw a box or door around that number.  Then they ask themselves is the 2 a "Good Guy" or "Bad Guy."  If the number is a 0,1,2,3,4 it is a "Good Guy" if it is a 5,6,7,8,9 it is a "Bad Guy."  The 2 is a "Good Guy" and he says, "6, I like you JUST the way you are, don't change, STAY just the way you are."  So 345,762,138 rounds to 345,760,000.  

If we were rounding to the nearest hundred thousand, they would underline the 7, look next door and put a box around the 6.  Then ask themselves if 6 is a "Good Guy" or "Bad Guy." It is a "Bad Guy," so it pushes and pushes on the 7 until it bumps up one to an 8.  So 345,762,138 rounds to 345,800,000.   

My 4th graders LOVE rounding and using Good Guys/Bad Guys.  I made two posters to help remind them of the steps.  Here are some pictures of those anchor charts.  Enjoy, and feel free to use this trick with rounding in your class.  =)












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Love my 4th graders! "Surf Buddies" Art.

Saturday, September 8, 2012
I am so thrilled with the 4th graders I have in my class!  They are all so smart, funny, and sweet.  It has been a busy start to the year...had some class changes, but now things are settling down.  I have 34 students in my class, and they are really becoming close friends. 

I haven't posted for so long, and I need to get back to it.  =)  We have done some fun projects: Personalized our Pencil Boxes, made posters to go with our Read Aloud by Stephen Krensky called "My Teacher's Secret Life," created our "Surf Buddies," Puzzle Races, etc...  

The Puzzle Races we did the first week of school.  I can't remember whose blog I saw the idea on, but it was a really fun activity that helped my students learn how to be a team player.   (If you know whose blog it was from, please leave me a comment, so I can link it back to them).  

Our "Surf Buddies" are so cute too; thanks to the idea from Corrina at Surfin' Through Second

Here are some pictures of my 4th graders Personalized Pencil Boxes, and "Our Way Cool Surf Buddies!"  Enjoy =)

I love how they made them so realistic!

So cute!

My Surf Buddy! =)



Hung them up in the windows...


 Pictures of some of their Personalized Pencil Boxes:

Ocean theme...

How their desks looked for "Back to School Night."

Pretty Flowers...

Space and the Solar System...
Furry Pets...





Cove's pencil box is "Ocean" themed too... =)

Some Angry Birds and Sponge Bob =)

 I had this student when I taught 2nd grade.  He started the school year with a different 4th grade teacher, but now after all of our class reshuffling, he is in my class!  
Sweet little note from Julian...







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