I've been seeing these hula hoop wreaths pop up on Pinterest, and it inspired me to make my own! I've been out of school for less than 2 weeks now and haven't fully hit summer mode, but I was so excited to try this I went for it! I like to have a photo backdrop or prop for the beginning of the year, and I realized this wreath will be the cutest prop. Here's how I did it:
Materials:
hula hoop spray paint balloons cardstock and/or vinyl tape
First, I painted the hula hoop. I used this paint, because I had it and I loved the color, but it doesn't stick as well as I'd like. I'd use this paint formulated for plastic next time. I did several light coats, being careful to get the sides. I didn't paint the back.
Next I blew up the balloons and added them. They are regular sized balloons from the dollar store but I only blew them up a little. I was able to find navy and royal blue in packs, then I got a variety pack to get the turquoise, silver and green. I used regular scotch tape to attach them to the hula hoop, making sure I had really small balloons at each end.
Finally I made and added the signs. I cut the dates from Oracal 631 vinyl and mounted it on cardstock, but you could use paper too.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! If you make one for your own classroom I'd love to see it!
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One of the most satisfying parts of teaching for me is helping students discover the love of reading. I am very fond of saying, "If you don't like to read, then you haven't found the right book yet!" While I've used the term "reluctant" in the title of this post, I also like to think of these students as "picky" readers. They are not going to sit back and read just anything. Like food preferences, I have found some students devour anything and some students would rather go hungry than choose something they don't love.
Here are some ideas for students who read at a third grade level:
Each book in the series is exciting and suspenseful. Students love that, and I love that they get a dose of history each time they read one!
I think what is most appealing to students at first with Stink books is how "easy" they look. Big text and lots of pictures really help reluctant students give these books a try. They keep reading because they love the stories!
Many of my students go crazy for Bad Kitty! They find them hilarious, and there are lots of pictures to help them stay engaged. Many times during readcto self I have heard students meowing as they read these books. So cute!
Some teachers shy away from graphic novels, but I LOVE them, especially for my reluctant readers! All the pictures give good comprehension support, and they really keep students engaged.
This series is most attractive for the girls in my class. Students who love fairies and magic really love these!
These books are a reliable choice for my less confident readers. Lots of pictures, many with labels and captions, help with comprehension. There is even some interesting text support, with some words being colored or enhanced to help students understand what they are reading.
There you go- some of my go-to books for my pickiest readers! Whenever I see students wandering when trying to pick a book, or giving up on other books over and over, these books are my first recommendations. What other series would you add to the list?
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What read aloud to start the school year...many of us spend all summer thinking about it! We want an engaging story that will hook students, but also one that could lead us into discussions about our new classroom community and what we want it to be like all year. Here are some great books I have used to start off the school year at third grade:
This book starts with the beginning of third grade, just like your students! Judy is worried she won't like third grade, so it sets you up to have some great beginning of school conversations.
I love this book to start the year because it creates interest in and excitement for BOOKS. It is fast-paced and has puzzles to solve too. As an added bonus the author has created a game you can do in your own school library!
This book seems to get overlooked a lot, but I love it! It makes a good first read aloud because the characters have to use teamwork a lot, and don't we all want to highlight that at the beginning of the year?!?
This is actually the book I started off with last school year. Like Judy Moody, it starts of with the beginning of third grade. It easily leads to discussions about responsibilities that older kids have, as well as how we treat each other at school.
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AuthorI'm a 2nd grade teacher and obsessive crafter who loves to share ideas! Archives
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