I know it is summer and I hope you are relaxing and recharging. But as teachers, I also know we have a hard time making our brains shut off from school stuff! I have been thinking about bragging on students! This is my Bright Idea for this month!
I needed an easy way to be able to write brag notes about my students. For me it needs to be a way that is quick, inexpensive, and easy to manage. I went to a craft store (Hobby Lobby this time) and picked up a package of cardstock paper that was on clearance- $2.99 for the whole pack!
This pack had lots of pages with 6 different designs. I want my notes going home to be colorful and different so they will stand out and hopefully parents will notice them and read them. Also, the colorful pages jazz up the brag notes more than regular paper or Post It notes.
I measured and marked the pages for cutting.
Next, the pages were cut using the paper cutter.
One management tip is to use your class roster to go ahead and address the brag notes to the student or to the student’s parents. This is an easy way to be sure all students get notes sent home. Relying on my memory to keep track of who all has already gotten a note and those who haven’t means someone would probably miss out.
This is what the note side can look like after adding a sticker if you wish and your note. The front will be the colorful side.
Find a plastic container with a lid to store your brag notes in and keep them in a handy place where you can easily grab one or two and jot a quick note to send home. Students and parents love to hear positives and this makes it so much easier to be sure it gets done!
If you want to jazz the notes up a bit, add stickers or trim the edges with fancy scissors ahead of time. During the summer is a good time to do this while you are relaxing and then you will be ready to go when school begins!
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Fern Smith says
I love this, what a wonderful idea!
~Fern
Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas!
Fern Smith's Pinterest Boards!
lorivines4 says
Thanks so much Fern!
Mrs. Wheeler says
Great idea! I just went through all my old scrapbooking stuff {from when I actually had time to do it} and was going to give it away! Not now! Thanks!
Megan
Mrs. Wheeler's First Grade
Mrs. Wheeler's TPT
lorivines4 says
I am glad you hadn't given away your old scrapbook papers yet, Megan! Now you have a use for them!
Owl Things First says
I love this! I can't wait for fall! Actually I can, but I am going to make these today so I don't forget about it!
Jenny
lorivines4 says
Thanks so much, Jenny! Hope making the brag notes ahead of time helps you!
Mrs. Jones says
I love this tip! Especially the idea of writing names on ahead of time so you know who has not received a positive note yet. We ALL know it's easier to come up with positives for some kids more than others. Thanks so much for sharing!
:o) Sarah from Mrs. Jones Teaches
lorivines4 says
Glad that you liked the brag notes idea, Sarah! Thanks for stopping by!
Anisa says
That's an awesome and cheap way to do it! I did something similar last year and made them on the computer, printed it, and then just checked them off on my roster when I had written it to make sure I got to everyone 🙂
Anisa @ Creative Undertakings
lorivines4 says
That's a great way to do the brag notes too, Anisa!
Barbara says
I absolutely love this idea Lori! Thank you. I'm pinning it!
lorivines4 says
Thanks so much for the pin, Barb!
Teaching Little Miracles says
I love this idea! I will have to incorporate it this year! Thanks for sharing! Kristi
Teaching Little Miracles
lorivines4 says
You are welcome, Kristi! I hope you can use the brag note idea!
Tessa says
I never thought of just using scrap paper! Thanks for the idea!
Tessa
Tales from Outside the Classroom
lorivines4 says
You are welcome, Tessa! Using the scrapbook paper is so easy for the brag notes!
April Kreitzer Wolfe says
Love this idea!!
April
Wolfelicious
lorivines4 says
Thank you, April! Glad you stopped by!
Everyone deServes to Learn says
I really like that idea- that would be something my students have never received before!
-Maria
lorivines4 says
I hope you can use the brag note idea, Maria!
Tammy says
I find that I have to be intentional about notes like this. Otherwise my busy teachery ways get the best of me and notes never get sent. Love what you're doing!
❀ Tammy
Forever in First
lorivines4 says
I am the same way, Tammy. If I am not intentional about the notes, they don't get sent!
Pspetralia says
Great idea!!
lorivines4 says
Thank you! Hope you can use it!