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Monday, July 29, 2013

Monday Made It

Hey All! I'm linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for my last Monday Made It of the summer... I have two weeks left of break and then I go back for training. Sooooo I'm going to do NOTHING teaching related for the next two weeks to avoid burn out. :)



Does your school have student iPads? Mine does, and when we have an ipad day, I've noticed the kiddos do nothing but take silly photos of each other or try to secretly film me... So I decided to make a handy-dandy list of websites for students to visit. Some sites are educational and some are just fun. but all have QR codes so all students have to do is scan them in and they're brought to the site!




I plan to cut them out, laminate and attach to a key ring for easy scanning... You can download your set HERE. Let me know how you plan to use them in your class!



Monday, July 15, 2013

Classroom Management Tips Linky

Today I'm linking up with Mel D at Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations for a Classroom Management Linky! 



I've been working on a few products for my TPT store specifically for Classroom Management. 

First up, my Classroom Manager Positions! Instead of having "jobs" in my classroom, I have managers. Students have to apply and interview for their positions! Check out my blog post here for more info and CLICK THIS LINK to be taken to my TPT store for your copy of Classroom Managers!



Next, is my "Earn a Tile" system. 

 


This idea was inspired by Mr. Hughes at www.EducatorsLife.Blogspot.com! It's a great way for your class to earn whole group rewards! The pack includes four "prize boards" for your students to work toward (iPads, Recess, Gum Day and Free Time). Each time the class or a student does something that you'd like to reward, a tile is drawn. The student then puts the tile onto the prize board they'd like to earn! Once a prize board is full, the students have earned their reward! Click THIS LINK to be taken to my TPT store for your copy! 

Thanks Mel D for the Linky Party! 

Sunday, July 14, 2013

My Classroom

I have a new classroom this year- I'm changing campuses to be closer to home and my own kiddos. Woohoo!

Check out my blank slate
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I'm going to be covering a lot of my surfaces with black contact paper... Like these groovy cabinets! They are also going to be moved to the back wall of my classroom. I don't like that location.



Other projects include making another white board (yes, I said MAKING. Did you know that you can make a white board using shower board?!?!), and creating a rack for backpacks and jackets. OK, I'm lying... I'm not making them, my wonderful husband is / will be! ;)

I'll be decorating with a mix of colors. BRIGHT colors. I just bought this set from Hope King...



And this awesomeness from the Target Dollar Bin.


I'm adding in a few monsters this year, because they're SO DANG CUTE. So I have these pillows I stole from my boys (they aren't used anymore anyway... lol) and ordered these decals from Amazon.


The pillows will be added to my rug area (this pic is from my old classroom, but I have the same rugs and pillows). 

I'm also working on creating a color-block border to line the tops of my walls... Still milling it over in my head though, so nothing is final yet. 

And here's some pics of things I've created for my classroom thus far... 

Stay tuned! Fingers crossed this all comes together! :)

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Blog Lovin'

I'm joining Blog Lovin' sooo I had to enter the code below. Bye!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5717297/?claim=ywuc3u4s5ra">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Monday, July 8, 2013

Kiss Your Brain - Monday Made It

Linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for another Monday Made It!


Only one craftivity today - but I'm pretty excited about it. While Pinteresting, I found a picture of a "Kiss Your Brain" jar, which is a jar filled with Hershey Kisses. I LOVE this idea- when my students are doing something exceptional, I love to reward them with food! They love it too... So I knew I had to make one!

I took an old gum ball container (from Party City) and tried to rip of the labels. This didn't work, so I just decided to cover them!


Then I made some cute labels for the sides and top, whipped out my Modge Podge, and got to work. 


When I Modge Podge'd, I slathered it all over the container, as I usually do when I use the goo... However, since this was a clear container, it dried messy. So I had to clean some of it off. My tip: glue the label down first, then Modge Podge a 2-3cm thick border. I also MP'd all over the label to kind of laminate it. It worked, but some spots got crinkly. I'm not too worried about it though, because it turned out SO CUTE!


I'm currently the only one kissing my brain right now... But I'm sure my students will enjoy this once the school year starts!

Like the labels? Tell me below and then download HERE!

-Katie

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Donors Choose

Have you checked out DonorsChoose.org? It is an amazing website that allows teachers to create projects for their classrooms, list needed supplies, then publish it. Donors come along and read about your project then can choose to donate... The end result is you get amazing things for your students!!

The site requires you to write thank yous and send pictures to your donors - something I would do anyway to tell these people how AWESOME they are! Please take a moment to check out my project, other people's project, make a donation or create your own!


Engage, Inspire, Teach and Wiggle

Know a kiddo who has trouble staying still? I have several in my class every year- and I do everything I can to make sure they are able to learn while they answer their bodies need for movement!

In the past, I've used balance balls (kids end up thinking they're a toy), gum (you give one kiddo gum, you've got to give all of them gum!) and hand held squeeze balls (they get picked at and torn)... This summer I've done some research and found "wiggle seats". They're balance pads that fit in the seat of a chair and are a "powerful organizer for assisting with focus and concentration". Kids can wiggle and listen at the same time!!

PLEASE help me raise money to afford these for my classroom! I've created a project on DonorsChoose.org, and right now, Donors Choose will match your donations DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR! Just enter the word INSPIRE as you check out. This offer is good until July 13th! 



Random Linky!

Today I'm linking up with Fabulous in First for Sunday Smorgasbord!



We've done a lot of eating this past week. Since it's summer, I have the energy and time to try out all the recipes I've pinned over the last 8 months! 
This week we made candy sushi and hotdog corn muffins. One was a success and the other, while delicious, was um, interesting... You decide which is which! 

  
More food... One of my favorite summer fruits is fresh cherries. YUM.




I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th! We kept it pretty low-key this year, since we had gotten together with friends the night before. We did go see the fireworks with friends, though. Fireworks make me feel like a kid again. I just LOVE them! I used to live in a big city, and those fireworks were magical. But now I live on the coast, and watching the fireworks explode while sitting on the beach takes that magic to a whole 'notha level... 


Last bit of awesomeness this week came when my sister visited. Lots of beach time. LOVE IT! My oldest is such a goof... That face is on purpose!


Holla home-skillets! Hope your week was fabulously random!

Monday, July 1, 2013

Monday Made It ~~ Get your UpCycle On

Linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for another Monday Made It!


Do you have DVD cases lying around? Want to up-cycle them into something awesome & useful like this?


Last week, I went to a CSCOPE conference at Region 4 in Huntsville. I love when a conference provides break-out sessions and I get to choose where I wan to go! One of the sessions I went to was called "Math: Engagement, Fun & Games!" taught by Teresa Scruggs and Helen Grahmann (If you're going to CAMT July 9-12, they'll be there! Check them out!). Helen showed us how she makes games from old DVD cases... Inside is a spinner, pawns (I used buttons) and a generic game board. Throw in some task cards of skills you'd like to practice and BAM, you have an awesome and fun way for your kiddos to practice skills! I made 10 of them and they're all revolved around math skills, since I'm only teaching math and science this year.  But you could use this for ANY subject and ANY skill! Plus, it's great for ANY grade level!! I love when I find versatile goodies for my classroom!!


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Do you want a set for your classroom? No problem! I made a set that you can purchase in my TeachersPayTeachers store!  The pack contains 5 different DVD game covers with coordinating gameboards and spinners (pawns and task cards not included).




Want a free set? Be one of the first two people to comment below! 

<3
Katie