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Sunday, August 4, 2013

The Laces Club and a giveaway

Do you have students who come to school in shoes they cannot tie? Are they distracted on the rug, focusing on their laces instead of your lesson? Are you and the students who can tie getting tired of tying laces for others?

I had the above problems until I created the The Laces Club!  One little boy this year was particularly inept at shoe-tying, yet he was sent every day in shoes with laces. If he was one of the kids who walked around not minding his floppy strings, perhaps things wouldn't have come to a head. BUT, this young man would ask me, other students, volunteer moms, even other teachers MULTIPLE times a day and DURING LESSONS! He just could not do ANYTHING else until his shoes were tied. I was going NUTS so even though shoe-tying is not a standard, I felt this was a life skill that needed to be addressed.
I did not spend a lot of class time but the kids were so motivated they spent their free time practicing.
What to do:
1. Demonstrate how to tie shoes (a document camera gives a nice close-up.)
2. Read the included poem together several times.
3. Explain that anyone who can show that they can tie their shoes will get a certificate to take home and a badge to put on our bulletin board display. This was a great ego boost for a few children who don't usually excel academically but were one of the first to get up on the board.

I had a shoe-tying book from when my kids were little
 but so many kids were motivated to practice I made extra practice boards.
These practice materials were available for early finishers or recess use. I was lucky enough to have parent helpers available to "test" the students who were ready. I also was often asked during recess duty. Seeing names go up motivated others to keep practicing so they could join. Club members became the experts, helping their classmates to learn. Watching them encourage each other out at recess was absolutely adorable!

My question for you is which method of shoe-tying do you use? Bunny ears or the traditional? Have you heard of the Ian knot? I found this video and showed it to my 5th grader and he thought it was SO much faster he now uses it daily!

I was thinking of making some real practice shoes available this year.  I could continue to feed my chevron addiction...
or it might be cute to match the theme if you have one.
I put these materials together for only $2.50 in my store. If you'd like to win a copy enter below.  
a Rafflecopter giveaway 
If you didn't enter my Daily Editing Word Problems giveaway it only has 2 more days so click here to go enter.
 

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21 comments:

  1. I follow you thru google friend connect!

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  2. I also follow through google friend!

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  3. I love the idea of a Laces Club! I also have "Shoe Tying Experts" in my room so I'm not the only one tying shoes all the time!
    Mrs. James’ Jungle

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  4. I follow through Google. I tie my shoes the old fashion way. I am going to give that new way a try! Looks fun. Love the idea of The Laces Club. I hate tying dirty laces.
    Maria
    First Grade Carousel

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  5. I follow you through Feedly. I'm so going to try the Ian knot with my own first grader.

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  6. I always use traditional, but I have to try the Ian knot now!
    Maria
    meemsickle@gmail.com

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  7. I follow through Blog Lovin'!

    Krystal
    krystalranda@gmail.com

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  8. What a great idea! I currently teach the traditional, but I'm thinking of giving the "new" way a try with my first graders.
    Rita
    rita@serendipityschool.com

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  9. I follow you through Google Friends. I had a shoe tying club but I your is sooo much cuter!

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  10. I follow you through Bolglovin'. I LOVE this idea. The shoelaces dragging through goodness knows what and then they ask ME to tie them? Um, no. Thanks for the idea!
    emma
    egoliff@earthlink.net

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  11. I am already following you! I use the traditional way to tie shoes...this pack looks great!

    kellybrown28021@gmail.com

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  12. I follow either through Google or judeeastman@gmail.com. I lime to teach the traditional way first and bunny ears if that doesn't work.

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  13. I follow you through Bloglovin! :) I use the traditional way to tie my shoes. I really like this idea!

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  14. I follow you through GFC and Bloglovin'. I use the traditional way and the bunny ears way for students who really struggle. This pack looks great! I'm going to tell my OT about it too! :o)

    œKaryn
    A is for Apple B is for Blog
    Kideducator@comcast.net

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  15. I follow you through Feedly. I use the traditional way. Sometimes, I resort to the bunny ears way.

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  16. I follow you thru bloglovin'. What a cute way to reward those who master shoe-tying!

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  17. Love this! I follow you through google reader. I haven't done anything as wonderful as this. Just practice at home and then sign a special chart when they pass their test.

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  18. Having a son with fine motor issues, I've had to learn to try all the ways mentioned! Btw, a really good way to practice on real shoes is to put a pair at each table on the legs of the table. When students are finished they can practice!!

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  19. I follow through Bloglovin'. I do not have a method yet...so this will be great for me!!

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  20. I follow you through Bloglovin'. I'm a traditional gal when it comes to shoe tying. :)

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