How to Get Started with Bucket Filling in your Classroom

Have you heard about Bucket Filling? I first heard about it a few years ago when a colleague shared the book How Full is Your Bucket for Kids. I fell in love with the book. It is a great story that illustrates how much words and actions impact others but in a kid-friendly way. After I shared the book with them, they were eager to share about ways their buckets had been filled and dipped.     

I loved the idea behind it and wanted to give it a go in my classroom.  The first year I tried it, it was a total fail - a teacher fail.  I teach first, and those of you who teach that grade will realize the trials and tribulations of first-grade writing.   I made bucket notes for them to fill out but the writing part was painful.  Every time they wanted to write a note, it was a full-on event.  I tried putting slips in the writing center so that they could fill them out then and have support, if necessary.  Eventually, the writing portion completely fell off, and it was forgotten. 

Fast forward to the next school year.  I was determined to try this again and thought long and hard about how to make it work.  I wanted students to be independent.  I wanted the process of filling a bucket to be easy and not a complicated process.  Did I mention I wanted it to be easy!?!

I recreated my display, and the kids were drawn to it immediately (thank you, Astrobrights paper!). We read the book, and this class got excited about bucket dipping and filling. This time, we took that discussion a step further and sorted some classroom scenarios to bring the message home.

My new notes are super simple.  A student writes their name on a bucket note and then puts it in their friend’s pocket.  They can do that by themselves!  Later on, usually at recess or other free time, kids check their pockets and talk to friends who put a note in their pocket.   Right now, most of the pockets are brimming.  I will be recognizing a few of those students who have pockets that are looking a little empty.  I also have notes with space to write a note to the students that I am putting out now because most students can write notes on their own. 

During a series of lessons and activities, we spent more time discussing what bucket filling looked like. I have included four lessons in the package to help guide you in starting bucket filling in your classroom.    

I felt my students had a much better understanding of how to be bucket fillers and how it was supposed to be authentic - not, "You fill my bucket, and then I will fill your bucket."  

If you are interested in checking out everything included in this resource click on the image below to check it out: Bucket Filler Activities - Be a Bucket Filler.   

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Until next time.