Show and Tell Tuesday- Spring Bulletin Boards and Activities

Hey there!

Has spring fever hit at your school?  It has at ours!!  Right in the middle of March Madness (and we aren't talking about basketball!  The madness of prepping for THE TEST!)!

We both decided to make a bulletin board to encourage our students as we head into spring, and everything spring brings with it!

Stacia:

For me, Spring means baseball season is about to start up! I LOVE watching and listening to my ATLANTA BRAVES!!! :) Maybe this will finally be our year...I can wish! :)

So, a few weeks ago I found adorable baseball clip art from melonheadz and I couldn't resist buying it. I knew I wanted to do something special with it but I couldn't decide what. Then, it hit me- a motivational bulletin board showcasing my students' hard work and positive behaviors...just in time for testing. I put the bulletin board up today, and the kids were so excited! I'm glad they like baseball too! :) 

Also, I use sticker charts as a positive behavior management tool. Students can earn stickers throughout the day for following directions, being good citizens, etc. I created some special sticker charts to compliment my baseball theme. 

Finally, I'm going to feature some of my students who are displaying true "All Star" behavior. Some "All Star" behaviors include helping out a friend in need, using excellent work habits or study skills, showing a positive attitude...I want to recognize my students and boost self-esteem.  :)  So, if they are displaying "All Star" behavior, they will get their name on a baseball that will go up on the board (they'll also earn extra stickers too).   :) 

Amanda:

We just had parent conferences and of course with the big test looming, it's all about getting all the information in that we can.  I had noticed that some of the students weren't feeling very confident academically and this is also the time when they start nit-picking at one another and getting on each other's nerves a bit.  I decided we needed to do a little bit of community building along with self-confidence building.

I was thinking about St. Patrick's Day and the good ole pot of gold.  So I talked to them about how THEY are my pot of gold.  Each one is a gold coin and I'm so thankful to get to work with them (yes, I know it's a little sappy, but go with me on the metaphor).  They are my treasure- they need to believe that they are special and a necessary part of our class.

I typed their names on each of the gold coin clipart from Krista Walden's St. Patrick's Days Clipart Set.  (It's on sale right now in case you are interested!)  :O)

Then, I laminated the coins and cut them out.  I gave each student a class list and had them write at least one adjective to describe each of their classmates.  (I had explained that we want to build each other up.  There were to be only positive character traits written.)  I put up a list of character traits they could use to help them think of words, and then they got writing.

After they were finished writing words for each student, I got the gold coins and put one coin up at a time (one student's coin), under the document camera, and all of the students raised their hands with the words they had come up with to describe that particular student.  I wrote them on the coin.  (The students did not give a word for themselves, they were overwhelmed with happiness from listening to their peers giving sweet words that described them!)  

This took a chunk of instructional time that I should have probably been using to teach since I'm so behind in so many subjects right now, but I don't care.  If you could have seen the looks on their faces when the words that described them were called out and written...it was priceless.  We only got through 7 and we'll keep adding more and more each day.  They are so excited to hear the words that describe them!!

Here is what the "bulletin board" looks like so far:

It's actually in the hall, since the bulletin boards in my room are full of content related material right now (please excuse the stuff on the wall around it that I haven't scraped off from what was there before!)  I told them that we'd keep it up for the next few weeks, and then I was going to take the coins down and I'd put them on their desks so they could always see those words that described them (I was hoping it would boost them up when that dreaded test comes around in a few weeks!)

It's not the prettiest board ever, but it's in the eye of the beholder.  When my students saw I had put it up, they were totally thrilled.  That's all that matters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the finished product:

Sometimes it's the little things that mean so much...(look at all those sweet words!) 

St. Patrick's Day is almost here! (hard to believe) We've created some leprechaun themed games and printables to use with your students. This 77 page download includes 3 games in color and black and white as well as 5 printable sheets for assessment or review. The skills targeted are the "dreaded parts of speech" and "complete sentences." (can't you hear the kids groaning?) But, they will LOVE these because they won't even realize they are doing grammar. The games are perfect for centers, small groups, or early finishers. Click to see more information in our Teachers Pay Teachers Store. 

Click Here

We linked up with Denise from Sunny Days in Second Grade for her Spring Bulletin Board Linky. If you want more ideas on how to spruce up your bulletin boards, head over and check out more ideas.

We are also linking up with Mary at Sharing Kindergarten for her St. Patrick's Day product Linky!  Head over there for more St. Patrick's Day ideas!

AND, we linked up with Diane at Teaching with Moxie for her March Photo Challenge!

Also, if you haven't already, be sure to enter our HUGE giveaway!!  Over 40 blogger donations!!  You can't win if you don't enter!!  :O)  Just click HERE or on the picture below.

  

A few more giveaways going on:

Only one more day for this one!!

How do you like our bulletin boards?  :O)  How do you motivate your students when March Madness hits?