Friday, June 27, 2014

Canada Day Blog Hop & TPT Sale! FREEBIE & a GIVEAWAY too :-)

We did it, teacher peeps...we MADE it to the end of June! Congratulations on a job well done. I say this deserves an awesome freebie and a chance to win a product from my TPT store, what do you think?

First of all, thank you to Reading With Mrs.D for organizing this amazing Canada Day Blog Hop! I'm honoured to participate and excited to share a sample of one of my favourite items in my (currently) itsy bitsy TPT store.

Last time I checked, I had around 10 other projects that were all *this close* to being done. I can't wait to actually finish them up now that I'm on vacation. If you aren't already following my store, please do. My new resources are always 50% off for the first 24 hours. And in celebration of Canada Day, my entire TPT store is 20% off until July 2nd :-)

I don't know about you, but I love getting Scholastic READING Club FlyersTM every month. They are right up there with BBC Good Food, People Magazine and Chatelaine for me. I have a ritual I do when I get them which is to take the cover off and staple that to a flyer inside. Then I 3 hole punch it and keep it in my day book. Pretty exciting, right? LOL

When I first started teaching in France 14 years ago, I used to get way too many flyers and I hated to throw them out. I saw how much my students loved looking through them...first they would yell out their favourite picks to everyone, then they'd circle what they wanted, next they'd walk around and talk excitedly about their choices and finally compare wish lists. So instead of throwing these literacy and numeracy rich gems into the recycling bin, I came up with the idea of having my students do an "I Spy" activity with the extra flyers. My hand written creations were an immediate hit! Since 2000, I've become much more tech savvy.

Here is a look at a page from I Spy READING Club Flyers: Alphabet, Numbers & More.

When I'm teaching Grades 1 or 2, my students typically complete them at the same time. However, with Kindergarten students, I work in small groups during Center Time. These make a great partner or bonus activity for early finishers. I've used them with our older Learning Buddies too (ever heard a Grade 8 boy reminisce about his favourite picture book as a kid? It's precious!). I also keep a pack of these in my supply bin at all times.

Another fun activity to do with your students after they are done is have them create cartoons on the back of their page with the extra pieces. Here are 2 that crack me up every time I see them. Recognize the skunk at all? He's from the book Hugs, written by one of my favourite (and local) Canadian authors. Robert Munsch, you make children around the world love reading! Two thumbs up from this teacher and Mom.



And yes, that's Dora being attacked by sharks. This year I had a class full of boys. What can I say?


Before I forget, here's something to add to your TO DO list before September. Call Scholastic and ask them to send you additional flyers so you have enough to hand out and enough to do these activities each month! Or, better yet, look for leftover packs from teachers that have moved but not told Scholastic yet. We always seem to have loads in our workroom that go unused to research and development in my classroom.

Now I know when you check out the freebie you're going to think-it's not even close to Halloween yet and this doesn't look Canadian specific. I know, I know. However, October is my all time favourite month of the year and I just *had* to share my love of all things pumpkin with you, sweet Canada Day Blog Hoppers ;-) As for the second page in the freebie, you probably didn't know this but American book flyer prices all end in .00 while ours end in .99. Now, why is that? Hmm...kinda mysterious. I created that bonus page (only found in the October Sampler) specifically for my Canadian colleagues. Sorry, USA friends.

Click here to grab them.



Thanks for reading all the way to the end. Here's your chance to win a copy of I Spy READING Club Flyers: Months & Seasonal Holidays!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Good luck and Happy Canada Day!

Bryn

P.S. Don't forget to stop by and grab your freebies from the other Canadian bloggers, eh ;-)

20 comments:

  1. I love your ideas on how to use the extra scholastic catalogues! I always end up recycling so many of them... I also saw on a pin a sample of a student's worksheet where he or she sorted fiction and non fiction books from scholastic catalogues. Great Ideas!
    The Third Grade Zoo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your sweet comment, Jessica! I love that idea of sorting fiction and non fiction books :-) Bryn

      Delete
  2. I send home See Saw and Lucky with my 1's and 2's every month. On occasion I will send home the "Special Clubs" and very rarely "Click"

    ReplyDelete
  3. You reminded me to talk about that! In my product I give ideas on how to find extra copies to use but I forgot to mention how in this post. The best idea is to call Scholastic and ask for more to be sent. Otherwise, check your work room for packs from teachers that have left the school but neglected to tell Scholastic. Thanks for your comment! Bryn

    ReplyDelete
  4. I used to send home Scholastic flyers but I find that my gifted grade six students do not read most of the books that are aimed at students their age. I tried the teen program for awhile too but I found that there were some questionable choices for students the age I teach...it's too bad because I think it is an excellent way to get kids turned on to reading at home.
    Sidney
    Teachingisagift

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you so much for Participating and Actually being Canadian!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I send home the Lucky flyer each month! I had a great group of parents that actually ordered a lot for their kids this past year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's funny how some years are so good and others, not so much. Glad you had a great one this past year! Thanks for your comment. Bryn

      Delete
  7. I send home SeeSaw!
    Thank you for the freebie and your GREAT idea. I'm definitely doing that.
    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers Blog Designs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the compliment! I hope your students love the freebies. Bryn

      Delete
  8. This is a GREAT idea! I've pinned it and taken the Freebie. Thanks. I don't always send the book club orders, since my school is in a disadvantaged neighbourhood. And if there is a Scholastic Book Sale in the library, I don't want to conflict. mrsrastin@rogers.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the sweet feedback, Debra! I completely understand the financial piece. I always try to buy the $4.99 free book coupons at Christmas that Scholastic sells just so every one of my students can order a book at least once a year. Bryn

      Delete
  9. I found your blog through Ruby Slippers Blog Designs and the blog hop. I'm so glad I did. What a creative idea for the Scholastic flyers! Thanks for sharing.
    Chrissy
    First Grade Found Me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahhh thanks Chrissy! I'm your newest TPT follower. Bryn

      Delete
  10. I send home Elf and SeeSaw. I sometimes send the special offers. My kids will love doing these activities! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the sweet feedback! I'm sure they will too :-) Bryn

      Delete
  11. I had grade 4 last year and sent home many at a time as there are littles and bigs at home that also order :) Elf, Seesaw, Special Offers, Technology, Lucky, they loved that, I would just staple them all together to manage them.

    ReplyDelete
  12. As a kid that would have been my dream come true! LOL

    ReplyDelete