Classroom Mascot

Classroom Mascot

I love all of the cute and clever themes that I see posted for classrooms. They are color coordinated and keep a uniformity in decorating a classroom. Long, long before Classroom Themes became all the rage, some of us were doing something similar but different.

Ever since I started teaching decades ago, I have had a Classroom Mascot or Character instead.

And...yes, you guessed it, it is...

SILLY SAM

I have always loved having a little character with a personality to encourage best behavior & best efforts and caring about others.

When you have a little guy or character in your class it is easy to have students acclimate and feel like they belong to something special. Giving your little mascot some human qualities can be beneficial as well. Many of us have created our own classroom incentive programs based on our classroom mascots. 

When students are displaying some specific behavior goals that need to be addressed, we just add that quality to our character as a focus for that year. For example, I once had a year where "Coping Skills" became our major goal for the classroom. That's when the Silly Sam Let's Make Lemonade Program was created. Then another year, the group needed to focus on becoming more independent and our awards and incentives reflected that. Another time, Blurting was our main issue and the blurt chart incentive was born.

Having a character can also take some of the pressure off of us too. A brilliantly talented special education teacher that I worked with many years ago, told me to use the "Clock" instead of myself when reminding students of what they need to do. For example, "The Clock says it is time to clean up", etc. I loved making the clock the bad guy, and letting them know it wasn't me that wanted all the fun to end, it was our dreaded enemy...THE CLOCK!

Well, with a character, I don't want him to ever become the enemy, but with a well established back-story and personality, they can encourage the behaviors that "they" want to see. "Remember, Silly Sam is watching for the quietest worker, nicest friend, neatest handwriting...whatever skill or work habit you are working on.

Now, Silly Sam is absolutely available, as well as the entire classroom management system to go with him. In fact I am so thrilled that Silly Sam has entered thousands of classrooms around the world since we have joined TpT. 

However, if you decide to adopt a Classroom Mascot, you may want to find something special for you. My wonderful colleague uses Sunshines in her classroom. Another wonderful colleague created Chip the Dog for her classroom, and modeled the personality after her actual pet. I have seen Frogs and Monkeys and Ladybugs too. Many times a mascot and a theme can go together hand in hand. 

Even if your character or mascot is not part of a theme per se, they can still make your classroom special and make your students feel like a part of something special!

So, answer below...

Do you have a theme or a mascot for your classroom?

Let's share!

Anyone interested in checking out the Bundle of Silly Sam items,

 you can find them here at

 Silly Sam Productions at TpT.

Silly-Sam-Classroom-Management-System-BUNDLE

Welcome Back to School!

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!

Depending where you are Back to School time is already here or quickly approaching. 

Stop by TeacherspayTeachers site for the awesome Back to School Sale for up to 28% off on great Back to School Bundles and items to help kick off a great year! Tremendous Savings!

Use promo code BTS15

Here is a wonderful welcoming activity to use at the beginning of the school year for students to introduce and celebrate themselves! This is also a wonderful introduction to Common Core Writing Skills for an "ALL ABOUT" unit. If your All About writing unit comes later in the year, referring back to this project is a perfect way to open up your in-depth unit in a way that students can relate to.

ALL ABOUT ME BOOK

There are templates and patterns for students to easily create their own ME BOOK filled with important facts about their lives and interests. The books create a student and they can add details and be creative. Have yarn or other craft items available for them to make their hair or specialized clothing.

Each page can be worked on one at a time as a whole group with brainstorming ideas. Another option is to set this up as a center or station. Brainstormed ideas can be written as an anchor chart for students to refer to for ideas and spelling. More advanced students may want to just put it together and write away.

Sharing their finished ME BOOKS is a wonderful way to address the Common Core Speaking and Listening Skills! Sharing can be done in partners, small groups or the whole class. This is a great way to begin establishing a Caring Classroom where students acknowledge and celebrate commonalities as well as differences!

ME BOOKS make a spectacular interactive BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT Bulletin Board too!

You can have students illustrate with artwork and photographs as an option. Parents love to peruse through their own child's Me Book display, as well as get to know other students in their new class!

OK, so you get through your first day and first week, you even made a big splash with your awesome bulletin boards and presentation for your Back to School Night Open House!

Now, you are in the throws of lesson planning, scheduling, assessing, and don da don...

TEACHING!!!! YAY!!!! :)

POINT OF VIEW Differentiated Reader's and Writer's Workshop Unit

Here is my by far top selling #1 Teaching Unit!

POINT OF VIEW is a DIFFERENTIATED & INTEGRATED Reader's and Writer's Unit of lessons to last days or weeks.

In order to teach POINT OF VIEW this unit uses the well known and easy to find story of the 3 Little Pigs. Adorable graphics are included.

Included in the pack are recommended children's books to read to students and focus on the differing POINTS OF VIEW of the different characters. There are differentiated templates provided to help students break down the story and analyze the events and feelings of the characters throughout the story.

After students have worked with the 3 Little Pigs Story and are comfortable with telling that story through the POINT OF VIEW of the piggies or the wolf, or even the mom, then they move on to personalizing these skills!

Now, you either read them the KISSING HAND by Audrey Penn. You have them think back to their first day of school and brainstorm a bit. Share some personal stories. Here is where you can Introduce them to a "BED-TO-BED" STORY in a Personal Narrative. Ask them to fill out a template that walks them through their first day of school from the time they wake up until the time they lay down to go back to sleep. Bed-to-Bed is a great strategy to get even the most reluctant writers believing that they can in fact..."DO IT"!

Then, using the template that includes details about emotions throughout the day, weather conditions, time order words (first, next,...), adjectives, etc. they start to write their own story about their FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

This template makes it so easy to break down their day and build a wonderful, exciting, emotionally charged, well written story just by taking it one tiny step at a time. I once had a first grader with advanced skills that thought it was impossible for him to ever write a WHOLE STORY. It was completely overwhelming for him and he was driven to tears and shut downs whenever writing was mentioned. With this template, he never had to "write a whole story on a blank page", he just had to fill in one space. That he could do! Well, after putting together his whole story, this same little guy would be the one not putting away his writing folder at the end of writing time. My helpers that were collecting materials would come over and tell me that he is not packing up. I would just tell them that sometimes authors just need that extra minute to get a final thought down on paper. That it would be ok and I would help him be ready on time. 

I promise you this is a true story!!

So at the end of this unit students have a BEAUTIFUL engaging story of their first day of school! Of course we hit those SPEAKING AND LISTENING Common Core Standard and we share those stories like crazy! 

BUT... we are not finished yet!! After sharing their PERSONAL NARRATIVE stories with a SMALL MOMENT included in the middle of the story when they no longer felt nervous on their first day, THEN...

They have to write their story one more time...

But this time they have to pick a character mentioned in their first story (mom, dad, teacher, baby brother or even puppy or kitten) and tell the story through THEIR EYES!!!!! 

So, they have to imagine how Mom, or Dad, whoever they choose, spent their day!! Were they nervous for their FIRST DAY OF SCHOOLER? How many times did they think of them and wonder what they were doing? How about the cat or dog or guinea pig at home, wondering where their little playmate is when they are used to them being home with them on summer vacation?

These stories come out AMAZING!!!!!

There are templates to create a Published Book about the Personal Narrative and Small Moment of their FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Now, I am excited to get back to school! Hope you have an outstanding year and if you need some different ideas, motivators or time-savers, I would be honored to be able to help you with that. Come on by my TpT store at Silly Sam Productions. 

So, share a Small Moment of your first day below in the comments and email me at sillysamproductions@gmail.com and I will send you a Back to School awards pack of your choice from my store for free!

Welcome Back to School Sale!

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!

Depending where you are Back to School time is already here or quickly approaching. 

Stop by TeacherspayTeachers site for the awesome Back to School Sale for up to 28% off on great Back to School Bundles and items to help kick off a great year! Tremendous Savings!

Use promo code BTS15

Here is a wonderful welcoming activity to use at the beginning of the school year for students to introduce and celebrate themselves! This is also a wonderful introduction to Common Core Writing Skills for an "ALL ABOUT" unit. If your All About writing unit comes later in the year, referring back to this project is a perfect way to open up your in-depth unit in a way that students can relate to.

ALL ABOUT ME BOOK

There are templates and patterns for students to easily create their own ME BOOK filled with important facts about their lives and interests. The books create a student and they can add details and be creative. Have yarn or other craft items available for them to make their hair or specialized clothing.

Each page can be worked on one at a time as a whole group with brainstorming ideas. Another option is to set this up as a center or station. Brainstormed ideas can be written as an anchor chart for students to refer to for ideas and spelling. More advanced students may want to just put it together and write away.

Sharing their finished ME BOOKS is a wonderful way to address the Common Core Speaking and Listening Skills! Sharing can be done in partners, small groups or the whole class. This is a great way to begin establishing a Caring Classroom where students acknowledge and celebrate commonalities as well as differences!

ME BOOKS make a spectacular interactive BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT Bulletin Board too!

You can have students illustrate with artwork and photographs as an option. Parents love to peruse through their own child's Me Book display, as well as get to know other students in their new class!

OK, so you get through your first day and first week, you even made a big splash with your awesome bulletin boards and presentation for your Back to School Night Open House!

Now, you are in the throws of lesson planning, scheduling, assessing, and don da don...

TEACHING!!!! YAY!!!! :)

POINT OF VIEW Differentiated Reader's and Writer's Workshop Unit

Here is my by far top selling #1 Teaching Unit!

POINT OF VIEW is a DIFFERENTIATED & INTEGRATED Reader's and Writer's Unit of lessons to last days or weeks.

In order to teach POINT OF VIEW this unit uses the well known and easy to find story of the 3 Little Pigs. Adorable graphics are included.

Included in the pack are recommended children's books to read to students and focus on the differing POINTS OF VIEW of the different characters. There are differentiated templates provided to help students break down the story and analyze the events and feelings of the characters throughout the story.

After students have worked with the 3 Little Pigs Story and are comfortable with telling that story through the POINT OF VIEW of the piggies or the wolf, or even the mom, then they move on to personalizing these skills!

Now, you either read them the KISSING HAND by Audrey Penn. You have them think back to their first day of school and brainstorm a bit. Share some personal stories. Here is where you can Introduce them to a "BED-TO-BED" STORY in a Personal Narrative. Ask them to fill out a template that walks them through their first day of school from the time they wake up until the time they lay down to go back to sleep. Bed-to-Bed is a great strategy to get even the most reluctant writers believing that they can in fact..."DO IT"!

Then, using the template that includes details about emotions throughout the day, weather conditions, time order words (first, next,...), adjectives, etc. they start to write their own story about their FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

This template makes it so easy to break down their day and build a wonderful, exciting, emotionally charged, well written story just by taking it one tiny step at a time. I once had a first grader with advanced skills that thought it was impossible for him to ever write a WHOLE STORY. It was completely overwhelming for him and he was driven to tears and shut downs whenever writing was mentioned. With this template, he never had to "write a whole story on a blank page", he just had to fill in one space. That he could do! Well, after putting together his whole story, this same little guy would be the one not putting away his writing folder at the end of writing time. My helpers that were collecting materials would come over and tell me that he is not packing up. I would just tell them that sometimes authors just need that extra minute to get a final thought down on paper. That it would be ok and I would help him be ready on time. 

I promise you this is a true story!!

So at the end of this unit students have a BEAUTIFUL engaging story of their first day of school! Of course we hit those SPEAKING AND LISTENING Common Core Standard and we share those stories like crazy! 

BUT... we are not finished yet!! After sharing their PERSONAL NARRATIVE stories with a SMALL MOMENT included in the middle of the story when they no longer felt nervous on their first day, THEN...

They have to write their story one more time...

But this time they have to pick a character mentioned in their first story (mom, dad, teacher, baby brother or even puppy or kitten) and tell the story through THEIR EYES!!!!! 

So, they have to imagine how Mom, or Dad, whoever they choose, spent their day!! Were they nervous for their FIRST DAY OF SCHOOLER? How many times did they think of them and wonder what they were doing? How about the cat or dog or guinea pig at home, wondering where their little playmate is when they are used to them being home with them on summer vacation?

These stories come out AMAZING!!!!!

There are templates to create a Published Book about the Personal Narrative and Small Moment of their FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Now, I am excited to get back to school! Hope you have an outstanding year and if you need some different ideas, motivators or time-savers, I would be honored to be able to help you with that. Come on by my TpT store at Silly Sam Productions. 

So, share a Small Moment of your first day below in the comments and email me at sillysamproductions@gmail.com and I will send you a Back to School awards pack of your choice from my store for free!

First Day Tried & True A COLORFUL FIRST DAY!

First Day Tried & True

A COLORFUL FIRST DAY

1st Day of School Activity!

OK, I love this one. Right after we take attendance, find our seats and get those cute little name tags on, we do this first day activity.

 CRAYON-BANNER-Colorful-Bulletin-Board-Display-BACK-TO-SCHOOL
Click above for a FREE BANNER!

 3-D CRAYON Bulletin Board Display Pattern FREEBIE!
These 3-D COLORFUL CRAYONS are on our outside bulletin board as our new students enter the room. This year I have added a COLORFUL BANNER to accent the bulletin board!

When students get settled at their desks, they find a piece of white construction paper and some crayons on top. Their first assignment for my first grade class is to draw a SELF-PORTRAIT.

We talk about drawing the features of their face and hair, their first day outfit and any other details they can think of.
They draw themselves in the center of the page.

Next, they draw pictures of their favorite things all around the border.

We brainstorm and discuss the kinds of things that they may draw; like ice cream, baseballs, rainbows, dogs or cats, etc.

Then we meet in a circle and share their portraits and borders. This is their first opportunity to start practicing those SPEAKING & LISTENING Common Core Skills!
I keep a stack of index cards with me to write up a mini-interview with favorites about each kiddo.
The last fact is what they would like to be when they grow up.

I staple their portraits and index card Me Facts to colorful construction paper and hang them up for display. This GET-TO-KNOW-ME bulletin board will be up and ready for Back-to-School Night!

We also work on reading some great books about Colors and Numbers like,
*MOUSE PAINT &
*MOUSE COUNT by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Then students create their own COLOR BOOK with NUMBERS book that they illustrate and practice reading. We leave this out on their desks for parents to bring home with them on Back-to-School Night. We tell them to ask their first graders to read it for them when they get home, (or in the morning!).

My Color Book with Numbers

OK, now the BEST part!
On or near the LAST DAY of SCHOOL, I ask the kiddos to draw a SELF-PORTRAIT again.
They also draw their favorite things all around the border again. 
Only this time, I pull out their FIRST DAY of SCHOOL self-portraits and when they share this time, we can see the amazing growth that they have experienced throughout our year together! There are a lot of laughs too when they see how they did things almost a year ago.

I put their FIRST DAY & LAST DAY Self-Portraits, with their 1st & LAST Day photos and their interview card all together in a Keepsake Display for their families.

Tried & True 1st Day of School Very Special Activity!