bargain shopper: @ Wal-Mart

Who knew Wal-Mart would start carrying teaching supplies? I saw some stuff years ago at Wal-Mart but honestly haven't seen them since. But that might be because I haven't looked. I've been doing my grocery shopping at Kroger since I moved to NLR three years ago. I love Kroger. Or Krogs, as I call it. It's more value for the way you live! <---I like to throw their slogan into everyday conversation.

Anywho, Wal-Mart. While getting school supplies for myself, I saw some cute things! And each thing was only 88¢ so of course I had to buy it.

 I liked this Homework Schedule they had. They claim it's dry-erase. But I don't trust them. So I'm just going to laminate it. It's funny that I'm using it because I usually have to do EVERYTHING in my Hollywood theme. But never fear! I might still incorporate some Hollywood in this thing!

 These folders came in packages of three. I threw them in my "to be laminated" pile but realized that they are already pretty durable! They'll be for me at my desk anyway.

 I used to hang posters each day with the schedule. Then I started writing it on the board everyday. So now I'm back to the posters. I bought 5 of these---one for every day. I'll probably laminate them though they too claim to be dry-erase. I was thinking of writing assignments or objectives out next to them, but I don't know. I'll figure all that out when I get back to my classroom.

This magnetic board was actually 97¢ and not in the school supplies section. But I figured I could use it for my estimation station or something. It's pretty scratched up though. They had a dozen or so of them lying haphazardly on a shelf. I dug around and tried to find the least scratched. Also, I really struggled with this purchase because it won't go with my Hollywood Theme at all. Probably I should just get over it.

Anyway, it's 104° outside and I'm trying to spray paint some plastic bins in the garage. What terrible timing I have. So I'm going back out to finish!

Love you long time, blog!

bargain shopper: @ Dollar Tree

Yesterday I wanted to beat the heat and get out early and find some new classroom library tubs. I'll pause here to say it was the 3rd hottest day in Arkansas' history yesterday. I think it got to 111°F.

Anyway--classroom library tubs-- I went to Dollar Tree first since they tend to have the best little tubs. But I'm trying to find yellow so it makes my search difficult. Anyway, that has nothing to do with this blog. The point is that I ended up in the teacher's section at Dollar Tree and basically went berserk. Here are my awesome finds!

These are labeled as Word Wall Spinners, but I'm going to use them for my Working with Words part of Daily 5. I bought 4. I'll probably stick two in storage in case the other two get destroyed

 I found some foam cubes. Who couldn't use these? They have a TON of them. I'm going to use them in my Estimation Station for sure, but I know they'll be used in lots of other lessons/activities.

Dollar Tree had these magnificent handouts that I couldn't pass up. 24 in a package. I can use them in 4th grade for sure, but maybe I can use them this next year in third. I got two packs just in case ;o) They also had the skeletal system--another one for 4th grade but possibly for 3rd?

While grabbing the handouts, I noticed this activity:

 I'm going to use it the week of election. They only come in packs of 15 so I've got to go track down another package somewhere!

 Last year I handed out Diplomas for my kiddos on the last day of school. I also gave a mini speech for each kid, saying something nice about them. It was really a positive way to close out the school year. Last year I found certificates at Mardel. They were generic "Certificate of Completion" awards that I filled out to say they are done with 4th. But these I found at Dollar Tree are WAY better, include a string to tie them up like a scroll, and the wording is more appropriate! They've got stars all over them which is perfect for my classroom theme!

 I found some posters--some I've already got in my classroom but are all torn up, so I bought some new ones. This time I'll laminate them! I got 6 posters for $3--they came in a two pack.

 I challenge my class each year to pass 100 AR tests before the 100th day of school. This is a class combined effort. I found this cute banner that I can laminate and reuse for this year's challenge!

 

This thing depressed me. It's for the last month of school. A countdown wheel thing that spins. I got it because it's only $1 and I'll probably keep it behind my desk ;o)

 I thought this banner was cute so I bought it... It's a tool theme---it has character words with lovely things written beneath them. I'll hang this by my bucket fillers display. Something about "tools to use to fill buckets" or something of that nature.

 Once again I bought something for 4th grade---but when I find these things and they're only $1, I figure, what the heck? These are flash cards that you've got to cut apart. I'll separate them by region (Northeast, Southwest, etc.) and have the students match the state to the capital. It'll be useful when they take their Map Tests and need to study.

 I love cutouts. You never know when you'll need them though--IF ever. But I like to stock up. Plus there's 30 in a package so they'll last me forever!

 On the first day of school I take pics of the kids--they are dressed like celebrities--with feather boas, sunglasses, hats, etc. Every year I do something different with the pictures. This year I know at least one thing I'll do. I'll use these frames to make a display of their pictures in the room! Or I might attach a clothes pin to them and use them to hang student work.

 Please tell me you already know about Dollar Tree's super awesome stickers. They are pretty much the only ones I use. So I stocked up on them. This year they added stickers with messages like "please follow directions" and stuff (see pic above) and I thought that was rather clever since I end up writing those phrases a million times on papers.

I am so excited about these clocks! I saw an idea on another teacher's blog where she put big clock faces up in the room with important times like when school starts, dismisses, and lunch. I was going to do the same but print off some. But I found these!! I bought a bunch in every size in case I come up with something brilliant to use for the other sizes.

 They had these sentence strips--three colors in a package. I'm laminating them and using them on the board where I write their assignments everyday. I will probably also use them with the clocks.

My class is in charge of collecting recycling bins for the school. A task I gladly volunteered for. They wear lanyards with some "recycling star" tags on them for hall passes. Now that I found these awards, I can send them home with the kids who help me. ;o)

And lastly, homework passes. Please don't ask my opinion about homework because I will give a huge soapbox lecture about it. But lets just say I really like homework passes. I give them out a lot for rewards, gifts, etc. I got another package for my birthday treats this year (tip: sit down at the beginning of the school year and write them all out, then grab them throughout the year as you need them-I also give the summer birthday kids theirs immediately when school starts). I saw the fall/Thanksgiving themed passes and snatched them up. I usually try to send the kids home with a free book (that I get from Scholastic) over Thanksgiving break. I'll put a homework pass in there as a bookmark and let them spend it when they return. ;o)

So my trip was amazing. I also found some border, bookmarks, and other goodies that I didn't put on here. I was so excited! My husband didn't even blink an eye when I told him I spent $75 because he knew I got 70+ things!

Yay me!!!! Thanks Dollar Tree! (I just inadvertently rhymed there).

creator: noise-o-meter

I saw this idea on Pinterest. And of course I had to take the idea and change it to accomodate my classroom theme! It's a Noise-O-Meter and I titled it the "Celebrity Buzz." I designed each piece in Powerpoint and Microsoft Word, using Phillip Martin's graphics.

After I printed them, I used my paper cutter thingy to cut them apart. I love the paper cutter. I bought it when I was student teaching and it has been the best tool ever!!

 

I used scrapbooking paper and attached each piece using spray adhesive. Here's an idea, use a pizza box so you won't make a mess!

I let them sit before I went off and laminated them. Unfortunately when I laminated them, two stuck together. I had to cut them out of the laminating film and redo it! I was so angry!!!

Anyway, I used a hole punch and punched holes in all four corners (except for my bottom piece).

I used some burlap string (?) to weave them all together.

 

I made a loop at the top so I could hang it in my classroom.

I like the way I weaved it all together. It lets me move the pieces up and down the string in case I need to. To tell the class what the buzz should be I found an arrow (I used one from another poster I had) and an old clothespin.

I used E6000 to glue them together. And of course I used a clamp to apply some pressure. I just adore my little clamp.

After it dried, I had my arrow ready!

Whoo Hoo!!! My Noise-o-Meter is complete!

 

I couldn't get the turned version uploaded. But you get the idea!

creator: shared writing journals?

The above question mark is because I don't necessarily know if that's what these are called. But I made them!!!

The idea is to keep them in a basket as an option for the Daily 5 Work on Writing section. Section? Portion? Option? Time slot? What the heck are they called?

Anyway, the students read the prompt on the cover and write in the journal. It's left for others to read as well.

Anyway, so you start with composition notebooks. I got these colorful ones at Wal-Mart last week for 50¢ a piece.

So I found some writing prompts on TLI (our module test creator). I chose both 3rd and 4th grade prompts. In case I end up back in 4th grade. I typed them up all pretty and added clip art (I used http://www.pppst.com/clipart.html). I printed and cut them:

 Next I Mod-Podged them to the cover. After about half an hour I applied a top coat. I continued to add a coat every 15 minutes or so. I feel like they need to be extra durable.

When it was all said and done, I have five journals to add to my "Work on Writing" basket!

You can purchase my prompt cards on my TeachersPayTeachers Store here.

Have a creative day!

beginner

Despite the name of the title, I am not a beginning teacher. I have taught for five years. Though some would say that only 5 years of experience is still a beginner.

But when I define teacher I think of the word "beginner." Because every August we are beginners. Actually some are beginners sooner than that because we get moved to a new grade level.

This blog post is called beginner because I'm beginning this public blog. For the public. For me.

I'm also beginning a new chapter by moving to teach third grade. I've been teaching 4th grade for the past five years.

Today is a Sunday. I'm watching....wait... let me hit info....Contact with Jodie Foster (I had to hit infor again to see if I spelled her name right).

I moved my computers to the man cave den so that it could stay cooler. It was 106° yesterday here in North Little Rock. My weather.com app tells me it's 97° (it's 12:50pm) right now. It's supposed to be around 103° today.

Why the heck did I tell all that.

Oh yeah, because I moved my computers.

Geoffrey (my husband) told me that if we could hook up a feeding tube I wouldn't have to move until school starts. I considered this. But I don't have access to a feeding tube (or a catheter for that matter) so I can't exactly make that "dream" a reality.

Probably I should pause to make sure you understand that I was just kidding there. I forget that my texts and emails can be deceiving. I tend to be somewhat sarcastic. But I don't think I'm very good at it because everyone believes what I say. Or perhaps I AM very good at it.

Or I'd be an excellent actress.

Oh, I think I found another word to define "teacher."