Tried It Tuesday: Foggy Writing

I've been BOOed!

My buddy Gary from Scrappy Guy is having a linky to talk about whether we celebrate Halloween in our classrooms or how we handle this time of year at our schools.

I'm going to share an idea that I've TRIED for the past 12 years around this "time of year".

Linking up with the sweetest Holly from Fourth Grade Flipper to tell you about my idea!

 

 

See this picture?

What do you think I do with all these props??!!

........

Let me set the scene: While my students are at lunch, I set up my room for an unforgettable experience!

I start up that fog machine right away so the entire room is filled (it looks pretty eerie) by the time they return!

**I'm always nervous I'll set off the fire alarm (even though it's not heat).

When my students come back I tell them it will be dark and a "little" foggy inside. They can opt out if they don't want to enter....

I hand each student a glow stick as they enter our classroom-it looks so awesome!

The first students in get the first look, and by the time the last student enters, they're all sooo excited!

They walk into a dark, fog-filled room with spooky music playing. They go to their desks and start their quickwrite (short 2-3 minute writing piece) using their five senses-lots of stimuli! They use their glow stick to light their paper while writing! Writing using glow sticks is loved by all!!
After about 5 minutes (takes a little while to get them settled and quiet), I have my friend kick the door and run and scream wearing a clown face/wig through my classroom. Of course, they scream their heads off! It's an event I look forward to every year and I always have a few teacher guests that ask to come too! I'm hoping my students from last year don't tell!!!

 

It may be a little "scary", but I get the BEST writing from this experience. We all laugh about it afterwards and my students talk about it ALL year long!

So, I don't really celebrate Halloween in my classroom because I usually have at least one student who doesn't celebrate, but I like to do some activities and read some mentor texts that would fit the season! How do you celebrate this time of year?
 

My friend Jess from I Heart Recess (we've met up twice--love her!) is celebrating a year of blogging and having an amazing giveaway! I'm so excited for her and to be part of this amazing prize package!

Go check out all the ideas at Holly's, Gary's, and enter the giveaway!

Monday Made It: Halloween and New Products

I'm so excited to share some crafts and new products for my friend, Tara's Monday Made It Linky Party!

Bugs & Kisses

I made these sweet treats for the wonderful ladies that work in our front office for Halloween. It's a small cylinder vase, Hershey Kisses, and spider rings. I found this cute idea here. That's where I got the free printable too!

Aren't they cute and creepy at the same time??!! 

 Check out my studded pumpkin! I love it! I spray painted a regular pumpkin (2-3 coats) then just simply made rows of thumbtacks down the creases-doesn't it give it a modern look?

Warning: I tried painting it with acrylic paint, but it would not adhere. The spray paint worked awesome!

 

Next up is a super easy Halloween decoration and I've been doing this for years!

  

 Put candy corn in a vase, spray paint some twigs...voila!

**Another warning: If you have small children, they will eat your décor! This vase was fuller...I think 3 children may have stuck their hands in it!!!

 

I also made three new products this month!

The one I'm most excited about is my Reading With Post-Its II! I use my first set for whole group, guided reading groups, and centers all the time! I love post-its and my students do too! I want my student to be interactive with text and these are perfect templates to hold their thinking! 



 Need a fun, hands-on activity to build vocabulary that will keep your students engaged?

Try this Building Words Pack-if you use one a week, you'll have 25 weeks of centers!

 

I had some requests to make a Mastering Division Facts Incentive Program...so tada!

I have 6 students who have graduated from their multiplication facts, so I think I'll challenge them with this new program!

My TPT store is on sale until midnight tonight if you have anything on your wish list!

 

OR...

 

We can play PIN TO WIN!!! Pin any of the products you'd like to win, copy the URL address, and paste in the comments. You can pin one or all...I will be selecting a winner for EACH product!

 

Go check out all the other great made its!