Favourite Find This Summer!

Favourite Find This Summer!

One of my favourite things to do is to peruse through the children’s books at the local bookstore. I am happy to find a comfy spot (or not so comfy spot) as usually I end up sitting on the floor, while reading through a stack of books. This absolutely is a favourite hobby of mine. It’s even better when it includes coffee and Lauren’s company.
This summer, I came across the most adorable and perfect book, Ralph Tells A Story, by Abby Hanlon. I can’t wait to read this book to my new batch of grade 2’s in September. I hope they will find it as inspiring as I did and can’t wait to see what stories they will tell as they become independent writers.

~Jeanine :)

Spring Art & Homemade Water Colour Test

Well here it is everybody!  I finally completed my homemade marker water colour test with our spring art that we did this past week.  Let's start from the beginning.  For my spring art this year I had my students draw their spring flower with pencil on 90 weight water colour paper (I cut it in half).  They then coloured their flower with oil pastels.  When this was done students painted over their flowers with water colours.  Before the paint dried we put coarse salt all over the paper which gives the background quite a neat looking texture.

 

I then decided to try the same art with my homemade water colour markers.  I have to admit I didn't think it was really going to look all that great, but I have to say that I am pretty impressed with the results. It is a bit lighter then I would have preferred but I believe that if I soak more markers in one jar maybe the colour might get more vibrant.  That will be an experiment for another day! FYI the coarse salt also seemed to work its magic on the marker water colour.   See the pictures below for the results:

     
             Water Colour Paint Used                                      Homemade Marker Water Colour Used

Happy spring!

Lauren :)

Pinterest Tested - Water Colours!

A sweet colleague of mine was recently visiting my classroom and noticed my students throwing out our dried out markers.  She told me to stop immediately.  She said that she read on Pinterest that you could make water colours very easily out of dried out markers and water.  Well since I am so frugal and love Pinterest I thought I NEED to try this.  I immediately hit up the sight and found the link.  I was a bit skeptical at first but my goodness gracious we made water colours!!!  And we are now addicted to making marker water colours!!

Here is the original link I found: http://amanda0480.blogspot.ca/2011/05/recycling-old-and-crusty.html

All I did was use one marker and I stuck it in a small amount of water in a baby food jar.  I left it for about 4 days and when the kids and I tried it out they worked like a charm!  The colours aren't as deep as food colouring or actual water colours but for the frugal teacher this is a pin win!  I am heading to Michaels this weekend to get some good quality water colour paper and will post pictures of our marker water colours this week!

Lauren :)

Day of Pink!

Hi Everyone!!!

It feels so good to be back!  Seriously, long time no blog :(.  On another note, tomorrow our school is celebrating the Red Cross Day of Pink.  If you have never heard of this day please read the excerpt following this blog post.  In response to the Day of Pink I wanted to create a bulletin board that celebrated what makes us special.  I used the book The Best Part of Me by Wendy Ewald as a springboard for a writing activity.  Students were asked to choose their favourite part about themselves - it could be absolutely whatever they wanted.  They then had to write about it.  Check out their sweet work below.

 

It`s a quick post tonight!  I am off to paint my nails pink to go all out for Day of Pink tomorrow.  I can't wait to see the whole school in their Day of Pink 2013 shirts!  It is going to be a fantastic day full of meaningful activities.

 

   

 

 

 

I will be back soon, I promise!  I am going to document my poetry writing adventures with my students on here very soon.

Lauren :)

Red Cross Day of Pink

April 10, 2013

 

Wear the Shirt. Be the Difference.

The Canadian Red Cross Day of Pink is an initiative that provides students, staff and the larger community with the opportunity to discuss the impact of bullying and to learn how they can use their power to help create a safe and respectful school environment. On April 10, 2013, students, staff and community members wear pink shirts in solidarity to show that they are taking a stand against bullying.

How did it get started?
It started in 2007 when two high school students in Nova Scotia took a stand against bullying in their school. The students asked all of their peers to wear pink to school after they heard a male classmate had been bullied for wearing a pink shirt. To continue the momentum, the Canadian Red Cross Day of Pink campaign brings together schools and communities to wear the shirt and stand together against bullying.