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Sunday, July 01, 2012

Button Bucket - Summer Project #1

I was up early this morning and decided to cross the first summer school counseling project off of my list! A Bucket of Buttons!!!



On Pinterest, many months ago, I saw a Pin highlighting badges that had the question, "Ask me what I got on the test." I knew I wanted to take this idea one step further - highlighting student effort and giving students the opportunity to be proud of, and speak about, their specific accomplishments. I began writing down phrases that I wanted to highlight on the buttons....I must admit, it got a little out of hand.  I quickly realized that there are so many things that can be said on these buttons and the nice thing is, the sayings can be switched out at any time!

Phrases include:
  • Ask me why I had a great day!
  • I was as cool as a cucumber! Ask me about it!
  • Ask me how I made a difference in someone's life.
  • Ask me why I'm a star student
  • Ask me how I used a Tool to solve a conflict
  • Ask me how I did on my classwork
  • Ask me how I calmed down
  • I made a bright choice! Ask me about it!
  • Ask me how I improved.
  • Ask me why I made my teacher smile!
  • I'm a fantastic friend! Ask me what I did.
  • Ask me how I used my noodle.
  • Wow! I worked hard today!
  • Super Star
  • I'm kind and caring
  • I had a great morning!
  • I followed directions
  • I did a great job!

For a few months, I collected all the materials I would need:

#1: A number of do-it-yourself plastic buttons/pins from a local craft store.
  • I purchased large buttons (3.5 inches) and small buttons (2.25 inches)
  • Now is a great time to buy them - craft stores have these buttons for summer kids craft projects
#2: A bunch of decorative scrapbooking paper and cut to 8.5 x 11 - to run through your printer
  • I looked for fun papers that I could make cute sayings up for
  • The print on the paper can't be too dark - so you can read the words printed on it
#3: A fun colored bucket from the dollar store

Then, I made them.
  1.  In word, I created 2 documents - one for the 3.5 inch buttons and one for the 2.25 inch buttons.
  2. I inserted a shape (circle). I set the size to 3.5" x 3.5" in the one document and 2.25" x 2.25" in the other document.
  3. In the 3.5" document, I also inserted another shape (circle) and set that shape size 3.25". On this circle, I inserted text (centered on the bottom) - my name.
  4. I inserted text and played around with all the different fonts.
  5. Using the decorative scrapbook paper that I cut down to size (8.5 x 11), I inserted one piece at a time into the printer and printed one button out at a time. I did this so each button/saying has a different paper background. So, for the 3.5 inch buttons, 2 circles will print out per decorative sheet - one with the saying on it and the smaller one (3.25") with my name on it.
  6. I repeated this process with the smaller 2.25" buttons....but I only printed out one circle per sheet of paper (unlike the larger ones).
  7. Cut out the circles. Insert into the plastic pin/button and snap together. The circle with my name on it was the back of the button.

3.5 Inch Buttons






2.25 Inch Buttons



Store in a Button Bucket!




10 comments:

  1. Love it! What a great idea for kids to repeat what they leanrned to cement it more and feel proud!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was so glad to see your post on my Pulse reader this morning! These buttons are great. I went out to Michael's and AC Moore today, but couldn't find them. (Well, AC Moore had small ones for $1 each.) Where did you find yours?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi!
      I actually got the buttons at JoAnn's Fabrics ($.99 for the bigger ones and $.49 for the smaller ones) - in the kids section! But I have seen them at ACMoore as well in the kids section. You can also get them on Amazon.com....

      Delete
  3. How does it work though with the students? Do they keep the button?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi!
      The students will use for that day...after he/she did something to earn wearing it! As the button is given to the student to wear, a conversation needs to take place as to why he/she earned the button (obviously did something great). But he/she needs to know exactly what that GREAT thing is in order to make the biggest impact and in order to answer any one of the questions when someone asks. The student will return the button to the counselor/teacher before going home that day to reuse with other deserving students. Could send a little note home with the student to let parents know of the "honor."

      Delete
  4. How has this gone this year? Do you have the teachers send students to you? I am still a bit confused on how this works.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Debbie!
      Sure, teachers can send students to me. But, I've used them when I spot a student doing a great job - either in my classroom lessons, in the hallway, for behavior plans I'm monitoring, in small groups, whenever.

      Delete
  5. I'm being incredibly lazy, but could you email me the file, or do you have a TpT store to purchase?

    lauralaiche@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete