"Cheeeese!" Ways to Use Student Photos in Your Classroom

During the first days of school I am almost like paparazzi to my students. I’m sure they wonder why their new teacher is taking pictures of them when they don’t even know my name, but I still click away!

Strange happy lady... snapping head shots... saying.... “Smile! Look happy... mommy will be here soon!” This is something super easy that you can even implement at any time during the year, but will make a big difference in student learning and organization. 

WORD WALL

Some of our first lessons are learning our names in print and reading others names in our class. We build our word wall throughout the year, so what a great first addition to the wall. This is a large white magnetic board in the back of my room. This year I have 2 large white boards but even when I only had one, I use it for a word wall! It is important to me to have an interactive word wall that students can read and touch at any time of the day. I allow the students to organize the names so they are learning how the word wall works. Each sentence strip is laminated and I add magnetic tape to the back as well. We use them a lot to take to our tables when we are writing or even sorting activities. 

   STUDENT GROUPS

  I also use the photos to organize my reading groups. These are just wallet sized photos, they come printed on one sheet with 4 photos. I use a push pin so the groups are flexible and easy for me to change. On this board I used a staple because the pins were falling off into the carpet... not a fun find when I am walking around cleaning up without shoes on!! (#truestory) 

   The students can do a quick glance to see what group they will be working in. We started calling our math centers whisper work too because the students loved the name so much. I wanted them to understand it is a talking time, because talking is learning, but it is also time for them to be working without disrupting others learning. It's a happy level of discussion that they have developed with practicing and routines during these work times. These are my most favorite parts of the day because I am able to have my small groups. *There are also times when students develop groups with their pictures!

PARTNERSHIPS

I use partnerships all throughout the day. These are also wallet sized photos with just a small magnetic tape attached to the back. I again can change the partnerships based on the task for the students. I love that the partnerships are visible throughout the room and I can quickly glance to see who should be working together. Some great times for partnerships include: independent reading, games, writing conferences, turn and talks... endless possibilities! 

This year I used Walmart for printing the wallet sized photos. I do love how the photo has an extra white tag so I am able to label each picture with the student's name. With other wallet sized photos you have to attach the picture to an index card for that extra room.

The photos have provided my students with ownership within the decisions made in our classroom. They also make the room OURS! When we have a new student, they light up when they get to add their name to the word wall. 

Do you use student photos in your room? I would love to know how you incorporate these in your room as well. Post a comment below. 

Grab & Go: A Portable LIstening Center

Hi again, it's Robin from Class of Kinders.
I am excited to share a little of my classroom with you.
It seems like there is never quite enough space in my classroom to fit all that I want for my students. I have literacy center time for my Kinders and Firsties because it provides independent practice on skills that I have taught ...and it gives me a chance to meet with my small groups.
The problem is…centers take up space! …valuable space.
The answer for me was a few portable centers!

So,  I created a "listening center" using a shower caddy and an ipod shuffle. 

I just add a book and it is a "grab and go" listening center for my students.
Off they go to find a comfy spot to read!

 My little set up looks like this. I just hang the caddies on the wall:

I got these green and blue caddies from a seller on etsy.com:

You can find her store here at SNAPPYDOTGIFTS.

( I love the READING ROCKS message…don't you? )
You can request which ever wording you wish!

Each caddy contains one book and one shuffle and a pair of ear buds or headphones. 

But if I need more than one student to listen to a story, I can simply at a "splitter." 

It looks like this:

This little green splitter can be found at Walgreens, Walmart or even Amazon. Now, there are two headphones going into one shuffle which allows two students to

listen to one book at the same time. Perfect!

This set up is also wonderful because I can have more than one book available to my students to listen to. It use to be, one book, 4 headphones, and everyone is listening to the SAME story at the SAME time. That's ok, but this works so much better, not to mention it breathes new life into

the listening center.  

I get all of my books on CDs from Scholastic. I usually buy the packs with 4 or 5 books with CDs. These are a GREAT bargain and really good quality literature.

Once I get them from Scholastic, I pop a CD into my computer (I use a Mac), upload it to my iTunes library which saves on my computer. It prompts me each step of the way.

Once it is saved in my iTunes library I click JUST the one book I want. I ONLY put one book on each iPod shuffle…because these little devices can be tricky for little fingers to navigate since there is no window to view the audio selections. One book on the shuffle makes it easy for my students to push play and get busy listening.  And this means less interruptions during my small group time, which is exactly what I need!

Here is the FIRST tab (summary) once I connect my shuffle to my computer:

Then the SECOND tab (music):

And the THIRD tab (on this ipod):

After my students listen to a story in the listening center 

I  ask them to complete a response to the story. (I usually add this part after a while, 

once they get the hang of just using the shuffle and listening to the book.) The response

sheet usually goes with a skill/concept I am teaching.

Here are a few FREEBIES I have found on TpT for your listening center!

Listening Center Report

Listening Center Favorite Part

Listening Center: Beginning, Middle and End

I hope this inspires you to create a portable listening center for your classroom! 

…thanks for taking time out of your day to join us in Paradise. 

'till next time,