THROWBACK THURSDAY--The 5 Color Rule

I'm lovin' this linky! Thanks to The First Grade Parade!

For those of you who asked for a copy of my Survival Guide to Second Grade, I have not forgotten about you! I just haven't been to school yet this week to get it off my computer, due to my husband's surgery on Tuesday. Hang tight, and I'll get it to you soon!

Today I want to share The 5 Color Rule with you, originally posted on September 12, 2012.

Quality, not quantity.

Raise your hand if you have ever had a kiddo rush through a coloring project. It seems like it's getting worse and worse every year, doesn't it? Especially now with Common Core, we hardly do any cutesy art projects anymore. So when I give you the chance to color... BUNNIES, SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY!! Instead they scribble on the paper a few times and announce, "I'm done!" Ummm... no you're not. OK, hands down now.

Enter The 5 Color Rule. 

The 5 Color Rule states that students must use at least five colors in all their drawings. The purpose is not so that drawings are pretty and colorful (although they do end up this way). I want my students to take their time and produce quality work. Nothing is more disheartening to me when a student sloppily scribbles on something that I intended to be a keepsake for another student or themselves. An added benefit is students understanding the term "at least." I can usually take a quick glance at a drawing to see if the kiddo has used at least 5 colors. Now I see more pride when students show me their work before turning it in. I love it too when they point out and count the colors. Sometimes a kiddo will come up to me and say, "Look! I used NINE colors!" YAY YOU!! :)

My poster is super simple to make. I took one sheet of every color card stock I could find (thanks, teammie Megan!), die cut circles and randomly glued them on. This poster hangs on my front board. While I still have a few who race to be the first one finished, The 5 Color Rule is definitely helping my students slow down and take more care when coloring something.
I want to create a new poster and get it printed on larger paper, but I have no idea how to make something on PowerPoint larger than 8.5"x11". Do you just resize the paper, save it on a flash drive and take it to an office supply store to print on a larger sized paper? If you know, leave me a comment or shoot me an email. Thanks!! :)

5 comments

  1. Hope your husband is doing much better. It has been quite a long road to recovery for him. You have had a rough spring and summer between the two of you. Here's to a better Fall for your family. Are you back to playing hockey yet?

    Is it to late to get a copy of your Survival Guide to Second Grade? Many thanks,
    Kathy
    kburch@sjbplymouth.org

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    1. Yep I got back last week and it feels GREAT! Only one more week of physical therapy to go! I will send that out to you next week sometime :)

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  2. I love the 5 color rule and totally have to implement it this year!

    As for your post printing, I found these links for you: http://www.tltc.ttu.edu/posters/how_to_make_a_poster_using_powerpoint.pdf and http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/medialab/tutorials/ppt-posters.pdf. Most suggest turning it into a pdf first then printing it in Adobe Reader. If you do that, then check out http://www.ladybugsteacherfiles.com/2012/10/printing-poster-size-with-adobe-reader.html

    I hope these help you, Angela!!

    Melanie
    Posh Primary

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    1. Thanks Melanie! I probably could've done a search too, but it didn't even dawn on me... HA! Thanks for saving me some time :)

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  3. Hoping for a speedy recovery for the hubs! The 5 color rule sounds super simple and I'm going to try it. Thanks!

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