SUPER STAR BOARD + PIN LINKY

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!!