Cabin Summer Fever

I don't know about everyone else, but as a second year teacher, being locked out of my classroom has been one of the most torturous experiences of my life. Okay, I'll try not to be too dramatic, but, in all seriousness, it has been incredibly difficult. Aside from the fact that I feel like there is so much more I can do for my students than whatever it was I did last year - it truly was a blur - I'm changing grades and changing rooms. There is so much I could be doing if only I was allowed in my school. Other teachers who I've Facebook stalked kept up with over the summer have talked about how they feel miserable because they went to the store and caved and purchased school supplies. I laugh when I see Facebook statuses to that effect. If only they knew how few days into summer it was when I first started hitting up stores for school things. Truth be told, it's all I can do to make myself feel useful. I even taught summer school to try to quell the feeling, but nothing.

If I were to pretend I joined a Teacher's Anonymous group this summer (think AA), then Pinterest would have been my Sponsor, doing it's best to keep me out of the classroom. We've become best friends, and I'm going to try to post some of the projects that I've done thanks to Pinterest's help to keep my teaching withdrawal under control. Without further adieu, I present to you my story sticks!


These story sticks are inspired by this post over at Sarcasm 101. I skipped the painting and bought colored popsicle sticks. Painting the sticks would be a great idea if you are looking for a way to fill some time with kiddos, but I just wanted to get mine created. I settled on using many of the characters, plots, settings, and extra items from the original post and added some of my own. Throughout the school year, we may add new sticks to the collection based on books that we read in class.

These sticks will be in my 'writing center' for Daily 5. I don't have an area where my friends are required to sit when they do Work on Writing, but I will have an area where I keep items like this to inspire writing ideas. When my friends are having trouble coming up with an idea of what to write about, they'll be able to randomly chose one popsicle stick of each color and create a story using those ideas.



The yellow sticks have characters on them, the red ones have a problem, the green ones have a setting, and the blue ones are sort of a mystery item that my friends can incorporate into the story however they would like.



I'd love to think of a way to create sticks like this to inspire my friends to write non-fiction works. Common core - and with it, my district - is very heavily focused on making sure that students are able to write informative pieces. Maybe I could do one color as text type (list, recipe, directions, letter, information, brochure, advertisement, etc.), one color can be audience (kids, adults, students, teachers, etc.), and one color can be subject. I'll have to keep thinking and see if I can work anything out. If you have any ideas, shout them out in the comments!

Keep watching for more of my summer projects.


47 comments:

  1. Thanks for hopping by my blog, I love this idea. You will never get 2 of the same stories.
    Stop by my blog tomorrow or sometime next week. I will be holding my first giveaway!
    I just joined your blog.
    Jessica;0)
    http://tales-of-a-first-grade-teacher.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! I'll have to remember for tomorrow!

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  2. Thanks for stopping by! I just followed you back. I love your popsicle sticks!
    Layla
    Fancy Free in Fourth

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  3. I love the sticks! I think it is amazing how teachers can take an ordinary object and turn it into a classroom object...I guess necessity really is the mother of invention.

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  4. I love your story sticks! I hope you can get into your room soon. Besides finding you through the newbie linky party, I am now following you and am giving you an award. Stop by my site and pick it up.

    Joell
    Totally Terrific Teaching

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    1. Oh wow! Thanks. I hear that we're actually able to get in this week, so that's very exciting. I'll have to stop by your blog!

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  5. How did you get the line through the word cabin. I don't know how to do that.I’m your newest follower. Please check out my blog if you get a chance “Calling Plays in 2nd Grade”.
    Thanks, Shanell

    shanell3@msn.com

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    1. Shanell, thanks for visiting! To cross out words, use the strikeout feature.

      < strike >Insert text here.< / strike >

      You'll need to remove the spaces for it to work. Unfortunately, it seems like it doesn't work in comments. Another option is to click the button in the formatting section when you create a blog post. The strikeout option is at the top right next to the underline button. It looks like a crossed out ABC.

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  6. I'm a new follower!! Thanks for buzzing by my blog! I really like the story sticks. I am going to have to use that in my class this year:)

    Heather
    The Busy Busy Hive

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Heather, and good luck with the story sticks. I'm hoping they're a hit with my little friends!

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  7. what a great idea! I love all the color coding. It will also be great for teaching subject/predicate.

    Jessie
    Look Who's Teaching

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    1. Thanks for visiting! I'm very excited to use them!

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  8. I can't imagine not being able to work in my classroom all summer. We only have about two weeks that we aren't allowed in and that's just when they're cleaning our hallway!
    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I'm now your newest follower!

    Erin
    First with Franklin

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    1. It's a major bummer. Luckily, just a little after I posted this, I found out that our principal and secretary are back and we're able to come in! I'm so excited and already have a trip planned for tomorrow!:) Thanks for stopping by.

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  9. This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing. I'm your newest follower! :)
    Tracey
    Third Grade All Stars

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  10. I know how you feel - I also can't get into my classroom over the summer! I saw the colored popsicle sticks the other day in a store and thought of all the projects I've seen where the sticks were painted. Why waste the time and I'm a messy painter as well, so colored sticks are the way to go for me! Thanks for following me, I'm now following you!

    Mary
    Teaching Special Kids

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    1. I'm probably a decent painter, but not much for taking more time than I need to. :) Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. The not being in my room is killing me too! I'm at a new school, so I don't even know room setup, what materials I have, NADA! As of Monday I should *fingers crossed* get into my room. A 2 week timeline is frightening!

    dede
    A Series of First Grade Events

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    1. That's terrible! You're in Chicago, right? Are you in the city or in a suburb?

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  12. Thanks for following my blog:) I'm your newest follower. I love your story sticks. The color coding is great! Good luck getting everything ready for school!
    Kelly
    Kelly Teach

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  13. Thanks for stopping by my blog. You had a few questions and I'd love to answer them? Do you have an email where I can reach you? I am now your newest follower!!


    Christa
    sweetlifeofsecondgrade

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    1. I emailed you! Thanks so much for following up with me!

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  14. I love the story sticks! That is the first time I have seen them and they would work great for me. Thanks for sharing!

    Thanks for joining my blog! I am excited to follow! :)
    Leah
    Learning 4 Keeps

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    1. Thanks for visit! Hopefully we can find more fun things on each other's blogs! :)

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  15. Kristin...Yes my crates are rectangle...I bought them at Walmart. You have to make sure that they have an inner ledge so that the top will fit. Go to Home Depot and take a crate with you. They will cut your wood to fit on the inside. Then I bought that egg carton bedding from Walmart (it's what you put ontop of your matress to make it softer). I only needed one. You cut 2 of the pads to fit the wood and just lay them ontop. My friend hot glued hers but I didn't. Then you they the foam and wood facedown on a table cloth. I bought this at Walmart too, because they have felt on the back. Cut the table cloth about 2 inches bigger on all 4 sides. Then you just use a staple gun and staple the table cloth to the wood. Make sure that you pull it tight and also makes sure that the corners are pulled in because it will be really tight to fit in the crates if you don't. If you have anymore questions you can call me at 214-384-7010 or email me at moorel@lisd.net. Good luck!!!!

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    1. Wow! Thanks for sharing. How many did you end up making? I'm mostly worried that it will be too expensive also. But I guess it depends on how many you do... I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks for stopping by!

      Kristin

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  16. Kristin! Thanks for stopping by my blog at My Tales of a Fourth Grade Teacher! Your blog is so cute! I wanted to let you know that I do have the third grade CCSS checklist available in my TPT store! I have grades 2-5 available! Thanks again for stopping by and I will be following you now!

    Jessica
    www.mytalesofateacher.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks for joining, Jessica! I will have to swing by TPT and check that out!

      Kristin

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  17. Kristin,
    I'm your newest follower! What a cute site and I love your story sticks...I will be adding that to my list of things to do.
    I found you after you left a comment on my site and I'm so glad that I came over to visit!
    Diane
    schoolhousetreasures

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  18. Oh my gosh I have that little owl sitting on my couch in my living room right now! I LOVE him!! I am your newest follower :)

    Mallory

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    1. It's a cutie! My little friends love reading to stuffed animals! My husband actually bought this one for our class. :)

      Thanks for visiting!

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  19. I have nominated you for an award! Come check it out on my blog! :)

    Ms. G In Grade 3

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  20. Hi! I am a new follower through the hop and I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog award! Come to my blog and check it out!
    Lesa-s.blogspot.com

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  21. WOW! I love those sticks! That is such an easy and creative idea!! Your blog name is HILARIOUS! I nominated you for an award! Come check out my blog to grab it! I will be teaching ELL student's this year and I don't have much experience in that area! Any advice would be helpful!!!!

    Laughing with Lane

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    1. Thanks so much, Sarah! It took such a long time to come up with a name, but I'm really loving it now! If you have any specific questions, feel free to email me, otherwise, keep checking for updates! I'm sure I'll talk about it from time to time. :)

      Kristin

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  22. I love this idea! Stealing (I mean borrowing) it for my Work on Writing Center.

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    1. Glad you like it! I loved the idea when I saw it too!

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