Making Connections

I always look forward to Pat Pavelka trainings because I know there will be something that I immediately implement into my classroom.  This year there were several ideas.  One of my favorite ideas this year was a student created, constantly changing, making connections bulletin board.  It has helped my kids comprehension and retention with story information. 

My students use stickys to attach their connections to our bulletin board.  They love sharing what they have in common with the book or what the book has in common with another book they have read & then placting their sticky on the board. 

The third section will say "Text-to-world" but since I started this so late in the year and since a first grader's world really is their self, I decided it would be best (less confusing, stressful and chaotic) to just leave it out until next year. 

Do you see the lone red sticky on ts?  It is my FAVORITE!  When we make connections as a class we use several different colors.  When students are at our classroom library and they make a connection on their own their only option is a red sticky.  I love looking over and seeing red stickys and my kids are sooooo proud of themselves!!! 

I love seeing 6 & 7 year olds take initiative.