All About: Making Students Feel Special

Good Morning!

To me, teaching is about so much more than reading, writing, and math. It's easy to forget that in today's world of data tracking, state testing, and teacher accountability. But it's so important to remember that we have responsibilities as teachers to model compassion, empathy, confidence, and more.

I always want my students to know they are valued and important. I do this a variety of ways, which I'll be highlighting soon, but one of my favorite ways to do it is by having an All About Student.

Maybe you call it Star Student, MVP, or VIP.

I like All About because I want to learn all about my students and because when they are the All About Student it really is ALL ABOUT them.

We do it up big in my classroom during a student's All About Week! I'd love to share with you just how we do it.

The Friday before a student is our All About student, I send home a parent-letter and survey for my students to fill out {or mom and dad to fill out for them}. This way, when they bring it back on Monday, we can display their answers for the whole week.

Here are some of the categories from the "Stripes Edition"

I try to come up with categories that will really help us get to know each other. 

Here's another display option

Students share their answers during a short presentation on Friday. I love how it builds speaking and listening skills all year long.

We go over good audience guidelines a lot at the beginning. And I always present first to model what good speaking looks and sounds like.

I also give opportunities throughout the week for students to share more about themselves. They can pick a read-aloud book for me to read the class or bring in a special show and tell item.

"All About" letter and reminder notes

My favorite part of All About though, is the parent letter. I love hearing more about my students through the eyes of people that love them the most. Through parent letters, we get to learn about students as babies, and see how they may be different at home. I've had parents, grandparents, step-parents, and older siblings write some really beautiful letters. And the glow from the All About student, as I read them...priceless!

The students need to get in on the action too! I want them to experience the joy of making others feel special. I always have my students write a letter to the All About student. I also made booklet and list options that I might use as a time-saving option this year.

I've created three different themes for All About to match a variety of classrooms.

There's the Primary Edition. It doesn't have any cursive fonts {besides the cover}, and features adorable scrappy kids illustrations and colorful backgrounds:

There's also a Stripes version:

And an ink-saving Black and White version:

Want to add an All About routine to your classroom? Click here to purchase the unit from Teachers Pay Teachers! It will be such a beneficial experience for you and your students!

Halle

Five for Friday 8-2-13

Happy Friday!


I’m so glad Doodle Bugs brought back one of the best linkies around and I’m diggin’ the new graphic for it!

Five Random things from my week:

First and foremost, we closed on our first house! We’re officially homeowners!!!!!!!!!



God bless my sweet husband. We closed on Tuesday and he’s spent every night {including closing day!} in the house calking, spackling, and painting…and that’s after his 8 hour work days as a pipe insulator {which is pretty labor intensive}.  The house is in pristine condition but it’s very outdated.  In the words of our home inspector, “You guys bought a time capsule.”

Safe to say we’ll be busy for a little while….but I wouldn’t have it any other way. My husband on the other hand…

Two: I jumped on the classroom décor pack bandwagon. I wasn’t gonna do it. I was not gonna do it. Then I stumbled upon this adorable bird clip art and I lost all common sense.  Speaking of labor intensive, this pack totally was!  If you buy it you get my blood, sweat, and tears for free! {Is that gross? Sorry!!!}. I am in love with how it turned out though, so it was worth it. 

The best part? Many parts of this pack are editable!

{Click any of the pictures to check it out on TpT}

{Damn you, Starbucks}

Three: Starbucks has been draining my wallet ever since they brought back their Treat Receipt. Basically they get you to purchase 2 of their overpriced beverages a day.  If you buy any drink before 2pm and you keep your receipt, you can bring it back after 2pm and get and grande beverage for just 2 bucks! I am embarrassed at the amount of times I have participated in this event in the last two weeks!

Four: I’ve officially started to get back into Back to School mode.  Earlier this week I met my grade partners at school and we cleaned out the 2nd grade shared closet.  When I say we found old stuff I mean we found ooooolllllddddd stuff.  Teachers can be such pack-rats.  It took us ALL DAY but we finally got the whole thing cleaned out and organized. I wish I had pictures but I was too busy getting down to business!

We also got our class lists. Our classes are incredibly small this year…at this point I only have 15 kids! Yes 15!  It’s crazy…but our school is infamous for last minute registration so that number will surely go up. But can you imagine a classroom of just 15 kids?! I’d get SO MUCH done!

Five: Last but not least, you might have heard that Educents if offering up one heck of a deal for the first 10 days of August!

If you teach grades 2-3 {or some high-flying first graders} this bundle is for you. I still haven’t gotten over its awesomeness! {You know I already bought it!}

The bundle is valued at over $200 but is priced at $29.99!!! If you haven’t signed up for Educents yet you can get $5 off your purchase!  You can read more about what exactly is offered by clicking here.

Click either image to head on over and check it out!

There you have it! My Random Five!! Don’t forget to check our my Favorite Things Linky: Back to School for the Teacher. Click the image below to check it out!




Have a great weekend friends!

~Halle