Bright Idea Bulbs! (Free Resource)

   Today I've been working on a ton of resources to share on my TPT account and thought I'd share one of them here.  I have used this in my classroom for two years in a row now and I have to say, it might be my best idea ever!  I was joking with one of my students in class one day that I could see the light bulb come on before he even shared his answer with the class.  And with that the "Bright Idea Bulb" was born.  The next day I had my students color and cut out two light bulb tracers and glue them together. (Don't forget to have them write their name somewhere on one side.)  Next, I laminated them, made a cut in the base of the bulbs, and inserted a large tongue depressor into each.  Students started holding the bulbs up in the air to answer questions instead of blurting out their responses!!  The way my students responded to the use of their bulb was amazing.  They kept the bulbs out on the top of their desks.
   After using the bulbs for the first school year, I decided that I needed to make a change.  I added a question mark to one side of the bulb as an indicator that a student needed to ask me a question. Now my students' bulbs are two sided with a light bulb on one side and a colorful question mark on the other.  I have my students decorate the question mark side however they choose, but tell them the light bulb side must be yellow so I can clearly see whether students want to share an idea or ask a question.  I hope you enjoy it! 

(Coming soon...a tutorial on creating your own symbaloo.edu account)