Cupcake is synonymous with crafting… at least over in these parts!  So when Michaels contacted me to help promote their #Create2Educate #sweepstakes, I shouted typed YES!   Plus, it gave me a good excuse to *finally* work on updating a project that kept getting overlooked!

Have you heard of Secret Star?  I’ve talked about it briefly on the blog before, but here is a refresher!  Secret Star is a classroom management tool that works WONDERS on hallway behavior, assembly behavior, teacher talking to the Principal by the door behavior… you get the idea!

Here’s how it works:  By the door, I keep the above display, which includes a framed “Are you the Secret Star?” sign, a Secret Star Students jar, and a Secret Starbursts jar.  Whenever I need a quiet and well-behaved class, I tell my kiddos I’m looking for the Secret Star and I’ll take a token from the Secret Star Students jar.  My tokens have student numbers on them, but you could use names, too.  

Once I have a student picked, I will nonchalantly observe him or her as we walk through the hall {or sit in an assembly, or…}  But SHHH!  It’s a secret!  No one knows who I’m looking at… and so they ALL behave!  Why?  Because they want a Secret Starburst, of course!

If the Secret Star happens to misbehave, I don’t ever tell anyone WHO it was… I simply say something like, “Sadly, my Secret Star ran all the way to lunch… better luck next time!”  And then *I* eat a Starburst and my kiddos go bananas.  Hehe


I’m telling you, this trick really works!  My firsties never let me forget to choose a Secret Star.  Ever.  They even ask if I’ll pick one for nontypical Secret Star events… and sometimes I will, because I’m cool like that 😉



If you want to make your own Secret Star display, you’ll need:
*a decorative 5×7″ picture frame
*two plastic paint cans {or any type of jars/containers}
*enough 1.5″ round wooden tokens for your class list
*a big bag of Starbursts
*and THIS FREEBIE, which includes the sign, labels, and tiny numbers


Putting it all together is simple!  I used a 1″ circle punch to cut the little numbers, then Mod Podged them onto the tokens {or rather, I am going to because I can’t find my Mod Podge anywhere!}.  You could also just use paint markers or Sharpies to writes names/numbers. Or, here is an alternative to the tokens:

Popsicle sticks!  Write names or numbers on the sticks, then decorate with two colors of  Washi Tape.  Leave them all facing one way {for example, all orange-side-up}.  Then after you pick a stick for Secret Star, flip it so the pink {or whatever color} side shows up.  This way, you’ll know that you chose that student recently.

Well, I hope you LOOOVE this idea!  I’d love to read your thoughts and other management ideas in the comments below!

And now…
Do you love to craft, too?  Then you’ll be SUPER excited to hear that Michaels is hosting a crafting contest… and you could WIN a $50 gift card to shop in their store!  What?! 🙂



To enter the contest, simply >>
1.) Create your own B2S project and upload it to Instagram between August 1-15.  Post as many projects as you want… entries are UNLIMITED!
2.) Be sure to use the hashtags #Create2Educate AND #sweepstakes in your post/s.
3.) Don’t forget to tag @MichaelsStores with each entry.

FUN and EASY, right?!

A few other things to note:
*You don’t have to be a teacher to participate!
*Winners are chosen daily, so you have plenty of chances to snag that $50 prize!
*In order for your entry to be shared on Michaels.com/create2educate or other social channels, you must give permission.  To do so, just go to Michaels’ Instagram and follow the link in their profile.  Then, complete the steps in order to give Michaels permission to share your photo.

Now go on and get CRAFTING!!!

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