Sunday, February 24, 2013

Reading Week Celebrations

I know that Dr. Seuss' birthday is coming right up and many are celebrating reading week....and do I dare say the words....Read Across America.  I am a little confused by what I can do and what I cannot do when it comes to celebrating reading Seuss-style.  I have a million Dr. Seuss books in my room (well almost), and many Seuss characters I have collected from Kohls.  I am still planning on letting my kinderkids dig in and really explore those early readers.  I have been saving them for just this occasion. 

We will have a low-key school-wide reading celebration (partly because our school reading specialist position was cut two years ago and no one is stepping up to take charge) the first full week in March.  We will have a visiting author, Green Eggs and Ham breakfast, and dress up days.  Any other activities seem to be up to the classroom teacher.

We will have a wonderful truffula tree forest in our reading center.  I made  these wonderful trees last year after reading about how to make them on Mrs. Lodge's Library Blog.  She gives a great, easy to follow tutorial.  They are inexpensive, quick, and easy to make.  Most of mine were whisked away to grandkid bedrooms...this is the only one left for my classroom.  So I will be making a new forest this week.

Last year I found these wonderful white boards at Target Dollar Spot.  I have been waiting a whole year to use them.  I also scored some You Did It and You Are a Star certificates.  I don't know if Target has anything wonderful this year...I just don't live anywhere close to one (and haven't been to the big city since New Years), but I would certainly stop by to check if I was close.

Then looking through my things I noticed I had these squirreled away to make games.  Not sure what I am going to do...But I have a week to come up with something brilliant.  Any suggestions?

We have a striped hat die cut and I will be making little books this week for my students to complete.  I will have them draw a picture for each of the books I read to them, or they read themselves.  In second and third grade I made them think of a quote from each book they read and include that on their page.  The little instruction page is from third grade.  I may try finding a quote (favorite part) with my kinderkids.  Even the simplest Dr. Seuss books have great words of wisdom.  I have to admit one of my favorites is from Red Fish Blue Fish..."I don't know, go ask your mother".
 

We will also make silly daisy hats for one of our school dress-up days.  I used the styrofoam plates and pipe cleaners to make the daisy.  I wore the fake flower on the headband as my hat.


We will make these wonderful treats.

(We practiced at home today so I could show you how easy they are).  
Gather your ingredients...Oreo cookies, marshmallows, red sugar.
 Start by separating the cookies...tell your little ones to eat the side without the creme.
Look...I have the same plates as last year.  Just a few, they must be leftovers.
 
 Dip one side in water....then the red sugar.
 Turn them over, then the other.  Yes your fingers will turn red.
 Place on top of the creme.  If you have any white frosting, sometimes it sticks better with a little dab of frosting.  


We will make these silly blue hats...at least I hope that is still okay.  Last year I cut school blue butcher paper into strips, folded them in half lengthwise and drew a line to show how far you should cut.   A couple of staples will hold the two halves steady and makes it easier for little fingers to cut.  They cut on the open side and the folded side becomes the bottom of the hat.  See how cute we were.
Here is a quick look at the measurements to make these silly wigs.


 

I'd like to show you the wonderful things I used from Deanna Jump, Vickie Plant, and Kathleen Pederson last year.  But sadly I cannot.  Check out the new things they have created to celebrate a silly week of reading fun. Just click on their name to go to their store.  Then try Deedee Wills and Rachelle Smith.  They also have some wonderful things to go with your silly week of reading.

What are you planning?





16 comments:

  1. Just found your blog. Love all your cute ideas to celebrate Read Across America week. Thanks for sharing.

    Happy Blogging!
    Ann

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    1. I hope you have a fun week celebrating reading of all sorts!!

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  2. WELL, in a happy coincidence I have every hope of making a Target run tomorrow afternoon while the older boys are at school, so if I see anything Seuss-related in the Dollar Spot I'll let you know!! :)

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  3. OK, I love those blue thing hats! But I'm curious why they wouldn't be ok now?
    Thanks! Aine

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    1. Aine...I got nervous when I read NEA's article about Read Across America and their guidelines. They said you can order a cake that says Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss, but you can't put any Seuss characters on the cake because of copyright infringement. You can read the article here: http://www.nea.org/grants/13150.htm

      Teachers who sell on TpT were warned not to use Dr. Seuss, his name, his books, or images in their products. I was a little worried about referencing his characters in my blog. But I am making the blue hats anyway.

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  4. what are the measurements on your blue hats? how may strips of paper did you use?

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    1. I went back to school this morning to check on the measurements....The length of the blue paper is just the width of the roll of butcher paper (36 inches). Each students got only one piece of paper (folded in half). I tore off 18 inch strips and folded them in half. So the width of the wig is 9 inches. I drew my cut line 2 1/2 inches from the fold. I had my students cut from the open end to the cut line, then I wrapped the wig around their head and stapled. I added a picture of the paper I used to the blog post. I hope that helps.

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  5. just curious about the red sugar. Did make that or buy it that way (such as sprinkles?) Very cute!!

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    1. Just bought the read sprinkles....I think I may have picked some up after Christmas last year. This year my kiddos used my supplies for Valentine's Day. Red sugar is on my shopping list before Friday (that's our big wrap up the week day).

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    2. *red....I can type. :)

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  6. Hi, where did you get the "Thing" tags on the kids' shirts?

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  7. I'd love a copy of your "Thing 1 and Thing 2" tags. Do you have it available? Such cute hats.

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    1. I wish I could give you a copy of my Thing 1 and Thing 2 tags. They are not mine to give and the seller who created them had to pull them from her store because the Dr. Seuss people told her she couldn't give away or sell anything Dr. Seuss specific (trademark and copyright restrictions are huge!). My best advice is to look at the picture and make your own. It can be done. I am so sorry if that sounds harsh. I wish I could be more helpful.

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  8. Can you please tell me what the 18" strips are for on the wigs? Thanks :)

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    1. The pieces of blue butcher paper are 36 inches wide (the width of the roll), and I cut the paper off the roll at 18 inches. So my paper started out as 36" x 18". I folded the paper in half lengthwise, so now my paper is 36" x 9". I drew my line 2 inches from the folded edge, to give my students a stop line. When they had cut the paper into fringes I stapled the length of paper into a circle that fit their head. I hope that helps.

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