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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Interactive Learning with Ellison- And a Giveaway!

Interactive notebooks are all the rage right now- and I’m trying one out for the first time this year, too! Ellison Education gave me a chance to try out their All-Star machine, and it is PERFECT for truly making those notebooks interactive.

Every school I have EVER worked at has had an Ellison machine in the workroom- and most have had them for years. It’s clear to me that they’re the best in the business and that their machines and dies are high quality- but I have to admit, when I thought of Ellison, I thought of bulletin boards… and that’s about it. Imagine my surprise when I looked through their dies and saw that I could create things like this:

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I mean, a 3-D T-Rex skeleton model? CRAZYTOWN.

So Ellison sent me this incredible All-Star SuperStar machine. It’s a lot like the die cut machines you’ve probably used before, but it’s smaller, lighter, and more portable. I’m keeping ours in our grade level storage (much to the happiness of my team!)- easy access for any of us or our parent volunteers, but it doesn’t have to sit out in the hallway. This machine would be great at home, too, because it really doesn’t take up much space… and I can move it to somewhere comfortable instead of standing in the work room at the end of the day.

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One of the dies I had to get was this tiny envelope. It cuts out one piece, and it’s simple to fold and glue the sides to make an envelope. It was smaller than I imagined at first, but it would be perfect for holding vocabulary cards in an interactive notebook. The tiny envelopes could also be great for adding a little excitement to the classroom. Just imagine if the Elf on the Shelf, the Desk Fairy, or leprechauns left tiny notes for the class!

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With washi tape and a Sharpie, I made some cute tooth envelopes, too. These are easy to make, and it would take no time at all to make a batch of these in the summer to have for all year.

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Now that I have one of these, I’m also planning on using some scrapbook paper or even wrapping paper to make the cutest gift tags ever.

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I mean… tiny envelopes!

So what else can an Ellison AllStar do?

I am in LOVE with this wheel. The two openings are offset so that the things you write or draw in the window never overlap with the outside edge words. And the “window” is perforated to fold or to be torn off. With one cut and a brad, you are all set!

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These would be amazing in interactive notebooks, especially because they’re fast to make- I could probably get a class set ready during one of my DVR’ed shows, easily! The little window is great for self-checking, too. If your kids had a multiplication notebook, they could use a wheel for each fact, like the 5’s… and then they can spin the wheel to study! And decoding using word families works well, too. A picture will help even kindergartners check to see if they decoded correctly.

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And they have SO many uses, especially for me as a science teacher. Think of all the cycles!

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I would love to use cardstock on some of these, attach them to cardboard, and create centers. The kids would enjoy them because they’re interactive- and being able to check their answers means that it’s hard for your students to practice it wrong.

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But none of these prepared my students for THIS.

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Using 3 separate dies (and punching one of them out a second time), I had a dinosaur model.

This was my sample, made with just regular paper. I made another on bright cardstock (which worked better for construction) and let my kids “find” the bones in dirt. Then my early finishers got a chance to work on building it. Even with the directions, it’s a little tricky at first- but having a sample nearby really helped. It was a great culminating activity to our fossils unit and I loved seeing my kids problem solving together. These would be so great in a diorama!

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And I just read that I can use the Ellison machine to cut anything from thin sheets of balsa wood, to an aluminum can or compressed sponge! So… maybe a thin craft foam or balsa wood could make this model even more resilient to be used over and over again. (And if a piece breaks, you’d just need to cut a new one!) The only trouble you’ll have is that if you don’t make one for every student, they will BEG you to let them take it home!

Even my husband (whose college nickname was T Rex) loved it! He insisted that my sample T-Rex stay at home to “guard” the Christmas cards.

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The best part of this is that the machine and dies are a LOT more reasonable than I expected. It would make a great holiday gift or a PTA request, too. And even better? Ellison is letting me give away an AllStar SuperStar cutting machine to one lucky reader- AND these dies, too! That’s a $200 value!

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Do you want to win? Enter below and Rafflecopter will help me randomly choose a winner. Happy holidays from Luckeyfrog Learning & Ellison Education!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

102 comments:

  1. It would be great to use this to make IN pieces...what a time saver for teachers!

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  2. I would use it to make task cards, art projects, bulletin boards, interactive notebooks, and more!

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  3. I really love the T-Rex and I'm absolutely fan of Ellison machines!

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  4. I'd use the spin wheel to practise new English vocabulary as a foreign language teacher, for example.

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  5. I would use it to help with my IN as well! Teaching middle school, it can be a challenge doing foldables for so many students, but this would be fantastic!

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  6. So awesome! I love how easy it is it use! I love your use of it for interactive notebooks.

    What I Have Learned

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  7. I LOVE the envelopes! I can think of so many ways to use them. The cute paper really helps too!

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  8. What great ideas! Love the T-rex.

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  9. I just love all of these great ideas! I can think of so many things I could do!

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  10. I would use this machine and the dies to make reading activities, like the spinner shown. I could use the envelopes as sight word holders for my students. Maybe they'd be more likely to use them at home if they were in a fancy envelope ;)!!

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  11. I would use this machine to make great bulletin boards and activities for my students' workbaskets and notebooks! My special ed students would love the T-Rex!

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  12. I would love to use it for art projects, reading projects, math projects!

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  13. I have had my eye on this machine for some time now!!! To begin with, I would like to use it to support my interactive notebooks and to create Math manipulatives!! Thank you for your generosity and for considering me, Jenny =).

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  14. There are SO many ways to use this machine! I think I'd definitely use it for notebooks, especially for word families (like you did) with my lower students. What a neat giveaway! :)

    Mandy
    The 4th Grade Journey

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  15. I love how you thought to use it for interactive notebooks. That would have never crossed my mind!

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  16. The circle window cut out has a TON of potential! Your examples are a great starting point!

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  17. I would love it for centers and task cards!!!! Also, I could use it for bulletin boards!!!! :)

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  18. I would use then in reading workstations....What a great way to move into a 'read & follow directions' activity station!!

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  19. I seriously need that die for the spinning circle!

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  20. Wow! I would definitely use the circle four my notebooks!

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  21. I would use these for science notebooks, especially the spinner!

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  22. Thanks for the chance to win. I would use it to make creating games easier and for creating nicer cleaner looking bulletin boards. :) mynotsoelementarylife (at) zitomedia (dot) net.

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  23. I don't do interactive notebooks in art but for years I have been creating altered books with my art students...this machine would be perfect for some of the projects we do!

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  24. This would be great to make seasonal shapes to add to the writing center in K/1 classes! That would inspire writing for sure;)

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  25. Love the circle die cut! for science cycles!

    Christina :)
    Apples, Books, and Crayons
    ApplesBooksandCrayons@gmail.com

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  26. I would use it to help my kids learn the letters in their names

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  27. This would be perfect to make cute centers.

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  28. This is just great! I love all of your ideas that go with it. It would be wonderful to win one.

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  29. Love this! My math teachers would have a field day with a portable Ellison cutter!!

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  30. I've used Ellison presses since I started teaching a billion years ago. It would be AMAZING to have my own little personal version It's so cute! And I totally dig that dinosaur. :)
    Denise
    Sunny Days In Second Grade

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  31. I'd use it for art projects, math & sight word projects & more for my special ed kiddos. The dinosaur is awesome, so we could also do some fun science projects.
    Teresa
    Special Ed Shenanigans on TPT

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  32. I would love this! I would use it across the curriculum with the spinners for math, spelling, vocab, comprehension, etc.

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  33. Oh my goodness the possibilities are endless! I would definitely have to find uses for the wheels as often as I could because I love it!!

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  34. This looks SO AWESOME!!! I can think of SO many things to use it for!

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  35. How cool! My mind is racing with all sorts of ideas to do with my class. I'm a teacher in a special education program. The more hands on an activity is, the more engaging it is for my class. Fine motor skills like coloring can be a challenge at times. This would help build confidence in students as they could make some really cool art and not be limited by their skills. We could make cards, circular choice boards for breaks, self monitoring windows and that dinosaur is way cool! Love this

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  36. I need those little envelopes to send lost teeth home!

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  37. My wife is telling me that I must enter this. I LOVE die cuts for use in class. This looks like a fun set to have! I would totally use the circle die as an interactive notebook piece. Plus, I could use my wife's diecuts from home to do even more! Thanks for this great giveaway!

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  38. I LOVE interactive notebooks, and this could cut my time preparing so much. I tutor several students at different levels, so I'm often spending twice the time preparing than actually teaching. WOuld love to shorten that!!

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  39. This looks like such a fabulous tool! I would love to use the die cuts for our Interactive Word Work journals!

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  40. There are so many uses for this! I would definitely use it for interactive notebooks!

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  41. We are going to be talking about dinosaurs in the new year. I love it.

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  42. This would be great for our word work center!

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  43. I would use it for interactive notebooks as well as crafts and other assorted activities.

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  44. I would love to use that wheel to teach a variety of concepts. The possibilities are endless!

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  45. I love the wheel and the envelopes! So many uses for both!
    Lisen:)

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  46. I would use the wheel to do math facts.

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  47. Great giveaway!! I would use it for interactive notebooks for sure!

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  48. Dinosaur is so cute! what a great giveaway!

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  49. Amazing giveaway! I think it has so many uses in the classroom it's hard to pick my favorite!

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  50. I have always love die cut tools! You can create amazing things. I would use it to make lots of things for classroom bulletin boards, interactive notebooks, cards to kids and parents, book marks to laminate for students. The list is never ending!

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  51. What a fabulous giveaway! With 35 kids, it takes us far too long to cut out the pieces for our notebooks. This would be a great time-saver! (Although I'm not sure I could resist at least one dinosaur... ) Thanks for the opportunity--I'm crossing my fingers!

    Kim
    Finding JOY in 6th Grade

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  52. I never thought about using this for my INBs! Great idea!

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  53. I never thought about using this for my INBs! Great idea!

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  54. I have started using interactive notebooks and I can see where this could really jazz it up!

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  55. I love the tiny envelopes and circle cut out - perfect for life cycles!

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  56. IN pieces of course! And then probably bulletin board accents!

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  57. Is use the wheel for word work!

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  58. I love your ideas for interactive notebooks! I would use the dies for literacy centers and science reviews.

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  59. I would use these products to make literacy centers.

    Thanks,
    Kim

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  60. I would definitely use it for our interactive notebooks. The possibilities are endless in all subjects!!!

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  61. Love the wheel cutout. One way you could use it would be with word families.

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  62. This would be great for interactive notebooks!

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  63. I love the little envelopes! I also would use it for my Task Cars!

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  64. That is the coolest 3-D dinosaur.. would be awesome for Interactive Notebooks!

    Danielle
    Crayonbox Learning

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  65. What an amazing invention! Creating bulletin boards just got easier! Love the 3D Dino!!! My students and husband would be all over this beauty!

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  66. This would be great at school and at home. I love the wheel.

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  67. I love would love to use these for rhyming games for my pre-k students!

    Jennifer @ Herding Kats in Kindergarten

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  68. This is awesome, so cool that it can even make a dinosaur model!

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  69. I would use the wheel for math facts. The envelope...TOO cute not to use for ALL kinds of things.

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  70. Would be great for centers and B-Boards!

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  71. This would be amazing to have especially for IN's and center work.

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  72. I could use the wheel to help my students learn their weekly vocabulary words.

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  73. This would be perfect for interactive notebooks!

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  74. Lots of uses but would be great to use with interactive notebooks!

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  75. The ideas are endless. I could definitely see myself using this for bulletin boards, gift tags, word work and math notebooks! Would love to have the opportunity to use this in my classroom!

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  76. There re so many things I could do with this machine! Interactive notebooks, interventions for my struggling students, activities for my reading groups.

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  77. This is fabulous....could use it for notebooks, games, vocabulary and literacy activities. I would also not have to try to explain and DRAW shapes on the board, since my Smart Board is out of commission!

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  79. I love Ellison machines! I would love to have one to use in my Math Resource Room! Thanks for the chance!

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  80. i would make items to use in centers and also for parent gifts throughout the year!

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  81. I would love to win one of these! It would be perfect for my science center!!

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  82. I think the wheel cut out would make great Consonant Vowel Consonant word practice, as well as a way to study numerals and sets of their values. I don't know. I didn't know some of these dies were available. But know I would make me Tyrannosaurus for each student. Who doesn't like dinosaurs?

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  83. I am so excited! What a wonderful product! My mind is reeling with ideas for using these products. I would love to have these for my students. It would enhance their learning so very much!.

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  84. Adding dimension to interactive notebooks!

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  85. I would never have thought of using the wheel cut out in our notebooks. I SO want to try this with life cycles, water cycle, and states of matter!

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  86. The sky is the limit with ideas for use. My little guys love anything they can move or spin, so I would start there! Thanks so much for offering this great giveaway! ~Denise

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  87. I could use this in so many ways! First I would make envelopes for my students to use at their writing center. They love writing to each other and "sending" their messages to family and friends! They would love fancy envelopes.

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  88. I would have my students make a scrapbook page for each historical era we study.

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  89. This would be great to make center activities! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  90. I would use this for interactive notebooks in all subjects, demonstrate its use in school wide PD and share it with the other teachers at my site! This is the gift that keeps on giving!

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  91. I would use it in all subjects, but especially in math and science.

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  92. I would use it to make envelopes for the students to personalize and store their own sets of flashcards. This would also be an assett for making numerous craft and educational projects.

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  93. I teach science lab & love the idea of an archaeology dig with dinosaur bones! So many uses!

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  94. I would definitely use this with interactive notebooks. My students with autism really benefit from IA notebooks.

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  95. I would love these for my notebooks!

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  96. Who won? So excited, I can't wait to hear!

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