Magnetic Boards

So I did it; I finally made my magnetic boards! I picked up a pizza pan and 5 cookie sheets at Dollar Tree. Who knew they had these there? I had no idea and they are wonderful quality. I also picked up some rolls of wrapping paper for a dollar as well! I had some ribbon at home and it was time to get to work.

I used Elmer's spray adhesive and sprayed the pans, then I carefully placed the wrapping paper on the pans. I took a sharp pen and went along the edge to break off the excess paper. The pizza pan and one cookie sheet I lined the edge with ribbon, but decided I didn't really like it too well so I left the others without it. Then a coat of modge podge and time to dry. After they were dry I pulled out the glue gun and made some bows to add some more cuteness to them.

And here they are...my finished products...

I don't know where this one is going yet....

This one will be by my desk for important things I need to hang up for me (i.e. schedule, reminders, etc)...

This one will be on my door for my magnetic signs letting people know if we are testing or beside my door to let people know where we are when we are out of the room...

This one will be for if the kiddos leave the room...it will be broken up in to sections and they will put their magnet in the appropriate spot if they leave the room...

These two will be used for lunch count...I still have to add labels, but one will be for lunch box and the other for school lunch...the kiddos will have magnets with their class number on it and will put it on the appropriate board each day...

These were a lot easier than I had imagined and were so much fun to make...I'm sure I'll be making some more when I come up with ideas for them!

Back to School Shopping

I love this time of year. The deals, thrills, and smells that come with back to school shopping.

Office Max
It all started last week. I took three trips to Office Max. They had a deal where if you spent five dollars you got ten free folders. I had ten dollars in MaxPerks so I knew I would make at least one trip.
My first trip I bought a twelve pack of sharpies for a dollar (another wonderful back to school deal), a five pack of dry erase markers for a dollar, ten folders, and a pack of paper that was 6.99, but I got 6.98 back in perks.
Second trip I went to pick up my grade book that I had created in their print center (I'll have to post pics of it later), ten folders, and of course another pack of sharpies (I couldn't resist them since I use them all of the time).
Third trip I was finally able to use my MaxPerks (I had tried to use it online and lost the credit on it and it took them a few days to reinstate it). I bought another pack of sharpies, ten folders, and then to spend that five dollars I bought a pack of colorful skinny dry erase markers for our dry erase calendar at home.

Staples
Dun, dun, dun...I know this year many teachers are anti-Staples due to their new policy for teachers, but I cannot pass up a good deal regardless of the number of items I can get. My mom had to be in Evansville and graciously offered to go shopping for me.
I had my mom get two packs of the 1cent crayons, two packs of the 1 cent pens, and two bottles of the one cent glue. She also got me two hole-punches that you can put in binder for 50 cents each, three packs of dry erase markers 50 cents each, and a pack of paper which after rebate only cost 50 cents.
My brother also went with her and picked up the penny items for me as well so I ended up with double the amount.

Toys R Us
They had a buy one get two free deal on Crayola products. I sent my mom there and she picked me up six packs of markers and only paid for two packs.
This week Crayola crayons are 4 for a dollar. I bought them last year at that price and stocked up. I still have many boxes of crayons so I don't know if I will be buying them this year. It may be too tempting though and get the best of me.

Target
Gotta love Target dollar spot. Sent my mom there as well and she picked up some small ice packs for me to keep on hand in the freezer portion of my mini fridge, Dr. Seuss name tags, Dr. Seuss erasers, Lorax pencils, name plates for desks, and dry erase boards with lines. I plan on going myself sometime soon!

Michael's
They had foam paint brushes (I use these all the time on my projects) for a wonderful price. 14 for a dollar. I sent my momma to get me some (some meaning 42...haha). She also picked up some Dr. Seuss erasers and stickers from there and of course told me I needed to go there sometime and look at all the teacher stuff they have so I think there is a trip there in my future. When she checked out she mentioned to the cashier that she was picking them up for her daughter who was a teacher and the cashier was nice enough to give her the 15% teacher discount.

Walmart
They had glue sticks for 10 cents each. I picked up thirty glue sticks so far for $3. I may need to go back and get more. That's a really good price for those glue sticks.


Those are my deals so far...we'll see what else I can find!

Writing Prompt Calendar

I created this calendar based on our school calendar. It is a Monday through Friday calendar containing a writing prompt for almost everyday that we are in session. I left some days blank for various reasons. I am looking forward to using this calendar and these writing prompts with my kiddos and seeing all of their creative responses to the prompts.

You can see my calendar and print it for yourself here:

Writing Prompt Calendar 2012-2013

Classroom Projects

I have been busy working on some projects for my classroom. Here are a few of them that I would like to share with you.

First of all are my dry erase frames for various items in my room...I painted several in each color...four will be used for listing homework

One will be used for our PALM schedule

One will be used to list our lunch

And I am still deciding what to do with the rest!

I had these ugly pillows that came with our couch that we got for a dollar a couple years ago. Anyways we bought new pillows to match the couch cover we got, but I kept these pillows around. I decided it was time to do something about them so I sewed new covers for them and LOVE them! Definitely making more now with other pillows! These will be great for the kids to sit on while reading!

One of my favorite things I made this summer and it didn't take much work. I bought a $3 trashcan at Walmart and I had some wall stickers from good ol' Dollar Tree. I added the stickers and am now in love with this trash can that I am going to keep by my desk for me to use! I think I might spruce up the ugly grey ones from school too. I have a lot of Dollar Tree wall stickers. They have so many options and they are so cute! You can not beat it for a dollar!

And this lovely project, which isn't quite complete. I will post updated pics when they are done. It's actually two different projects.

The first ones I will talk about are the bags that are standing up and not taped shut yet. These are the birthday bags. They have various Dollar Tree goodies in them. A couple more treats to add then I will seal them up and add some ribbon to decorate them! I will put their name and birthdate on them and hand them out on their birthday.

And the others are the ones that are more boxier and are taped shut. They contain multiplication flashcards (bought at Dollar Tree). I plan to add ribbon to them and a tag saying "We will have fun TIMES in third grade!" These will be sitting on their desks for Meet the Teacher Night. It's a little gift for them that will benefit them since they will learn multiplication this year. They now will have flashcards to practice at home.

And this little joy is my lollipop plant! I love it!!!

And there you have it, some of the wonderful projects I have been working on this summer. More to come! Plus pictures of my room once all my projects are in there and set up!

Confessions of a Vistaprint Addict Part 2

Here are some more of my Vistaprint items:

Stickers:



These are stickers for student birthdays



These are stickers for when the students pass banana split multiplication



These are stickers the students receive when they vote in our mock election



Notebooks:



This is my behavior log to keep track of the reason students pull their cards



Parkside Power notebook for note-keeping throughout the year



Lawnsigns:



For my behavior reflection area. Student has to set timer for five minutes, fill out the form, and reflect on what they did. They come back after five minutes ready to learn.



Mental image sign



Predict sign



Punctuation matters sign



Election day sign for our mock election



Business cards:



Birthday coupons students receive- no homework for the night



Bonus bucks for classroom economy



Desk fairy cards for when the desk fairy visits, they never figured out last year who it was, we'll see about it this year as well, I love that I don't even have to lie to them when I say I am not the desk fairy because I really am not



Dirty desk cards for when the desk inspector feels like the desk is in need of some work



Passed inspection card for when the desk inspector feels like the desk has passed the inspection



Pulled card tracker for students to fill out when they pull a card



Spelling punch card- students get a punch for every 100%, after 5 they get a prize



Star punch card for anything I list on them



Labels:



Blank labels for labeling things



Book labels for my classroom library



Labels for banana split multiplication binder



Math extended response rubric labels



Labels with my name on them



Reading extended response rubric labels



Label for when student is out of supplies



Label for writing binder




Letterhead:








Stamps:






















Other items:











pen for my desk



You have the power pen



You have the power poster