SmileMakers is dedicated to providing a place where educators can find quality solutions for their classrooms for grade levels preschool through the 8th grade. We gathered a group of educators and administrators together to form Smile Scholars. We meet regularly to discuss product reviews, ideas for new products, issues affecting educators, and ways of making our catalog more educator-friendly.

Google for Teachers -

Consider a YouTube search for “Aesop’s Fables.” Surprisingly, the search returns only 1,270 videos. As search results go, that’s not much. In the mix were clips of students enacting fables, old cartoons of fables, and storytellers presenting them. One jumped off the screen and demanded attention.

The style of the video was different than anything else amidst the results: it was claymation. What’s particularly interesting is that it was created and produced by 1st and 2nd graders with the help of their teachers.

Recreating a fable through claymation adds a kinesthetic element to the project; filming it makes it not only last longer, it also makes it very easy to share with others. If you have a class enewsletter or send regular email updates to parents (or donors, booster, supporters), including video content showcasing stories recreated by your students might just get the attention of the folks you’re trying to reach.

When you create any art, craft, multimedia or other project you want to share with the world, please be sure to post them to the SmileMakers Facebook Page.

In addition to art and craft supplies, stickers, and room decor, you’ll also find over 650 new items plus hundreds of new products from Staples, too.

Throughout the catalog there are simple craft projects to help foster creativity and give you a turn-key project. For example, to give your students an invigorating kinesthetic experience, try the Make-Your-Own Clay Creations Project in the Arts & Crafts Modeling section of the catalog (in the purple section). You’ll see a couple of finished products along with a suggested supplies list making it easy to find everything you’ll need to launch your project.

While you’re paging through the catalog, be on the lookout for our Smiles Scholars. These are teachers who volunteer to try out new products and give us their feedback on how to use them effectively in the classroom. You’ll see a picture of all of these wonderful teachers when you open the catalog and then you’ll find them individually throughout the catalog. They share insight on their favorite products as well as ideas on getting the most educational value from games, crafts, activities, and more.

School is just around the corner. Please let us know how we can help you get ready for school with lots and lots of smiles!

Start off the school year with Scholastic’s NEW Monsters Back To School Bulletin Board Set. These cute Monsters will brighten up your classroom and give a warm welcome to your students on those first days back at school. We have a coordinated trimmer, chart, notepad, and computer paper too!

Games make learning fun! Check out our large selection of games and activities to use during lessons and recess.

Are you looking for rewards that motivate? You’ll get a stamp of approval from your students with these fun NEW stampers.

We’ve also expanded our catalog by 40 additional pages filled with over 650 new products from Staples to make it easier for you to get all your school supplies.

Though it’s the middle of summer, we’re working hard to help you be prepared for a brand new school year (next month, right?)!

Just add another window! Not much budget you say? Here’s how you can add a window without putting in a requisition or negotiating a budget approval.

After we posted a note about Crayola’s new write-on-windows markers, K.C. Grewe posted an intriguing question on our Facebook Page:

How about framing transparencies? Go to the dollar store for the frames and stick a transparency sheet (maybe 2 for sturdiness) in the frame. Use transparency markers (I don’t know if these wall markers would work) to write, draw, etc and then wipe down when done.

For less, use sheet protectors. Pin/tape them up in different places around the room and create a window-like border around them. Then, have your students create pictures—images of what’s outside—and slip them in the pocket! These can be changed according to the season, theme, whatever you like. [by S Collazo and used by permission]

• Outstanding Pre-School Children’s Series
• Outstanding Writing in a Children’s Series
• Outstanding Directing in a Children’s Series
• Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling
• Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation: Peter de Seve, Character Designer, Abby’s Flying Fairy School
• Outstanding Achievement in Multiple Camera Editing
• Outstanding Performer In A Children’s Series: Kevin Clash as Elmo and Joey Mazzarino as Stinky, Murray & Blogg

The Sesame Street characters add tons of smiles all over the place. Here’s a sample of the products available through SmileMakers:

• Sesame Street Head Shot Sticker Assortment with 75 stickers of 5 different characters
• Silly Elmo Stickers with 75 stickers of 5 different poses
• Scented Sesame Street Beach Stickers with 50 stickers of 5 different designs
• Entire collection of SmileMakers Sesame Street stickers and products

What do you think are the benefits and the drawbacks to going all-digital?

Nashworld, Sean Nash, is an “instructional coach leading a community of learners at Benton High School in Saint Joseph, Missouri who are exploring learner-centered constructivism through emerging technologies.” His blog posts are thorough and well-resourced. Now’s a good time to start watching Sean: next year he’ll be undertaking instruction “unattached to a building,” and will be more closely exploring technology and the “participatory web.”

You might enjoy his well-photographed (270 images) Florida Keys Spring Field Study and his case for classrooms without walls.

If teaching writing is on your agenda, you may enjoy Two Writing Teachers, featuring Ruth Ayers and Stacey Shubitz. In addition to sharing their own teaching experiences, they also foster community amongst writing teachers be aggregating content from the community. Poetry Friday Roundup collects poetry creations and makes them accessible from one central place. Ayes and Shubitz also encourage submissions by way of blog post comments to a weekly Slice of Life Story Challenge. Both give you the opportunity to share your creations with your peers; you might just discover a new friend or two as well.

Many teachers share their experiences, stories, challenges, successes and more through their own blogs. Would you please share with us the blogs of your favorite blogging teachers?