Back to School!

I have been working on creating a Weebly website the past couple weeks.  I am excited about adding the finishing touches, and sharing the address with my students and parents.

I have also been working hard on my classroom this week, since the school was closed all summer to conserve energy.

A Monday Made It that I'd like to share is for our upcoming Open House.  I saw a lot of cute ideas on TPT, but decided to create my own.  Download it for free, and insert your name and the names of your students by clicking "Open House Bees" and "Welcome Sign In" below.


Open House Bees

Welcome Sign In

I am thinking about leaving out a bowl of candy or mints beside the signs.  I am also considering putting a piece of magnet strip on the back of the teacher info.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great school year!

Free Editable Birthday Balloons

I was inspired by last year's Bloggers to create these birthday balloons.  They came in handy throughout the year, so I made them again! :)

1. Download and edit the text and background of the balloons for free: Balloon Free Download
2. Tape on crazy straws or pencils
3. Store them in a cup or tin
4. They are ready to hand out throughout the year!

Another option is to use them as part of a birthday bag.  Check out the birthday bags at Rambling About Reading.

View the video for helping changing the background colors and patterns.

1 Project, 1 Freebie, 1 Idea

1 Project, Group Bins:

My in-laws have been working on a patio and fire pit, so they had tons of these "Paver Link" buckets in their garage.  I thought I can use these for school!  I asked them if they were using them, and they said they were just planning on throwing them out!

I plan to use them as Reading Group Bins.  They are large enough to hold all the group folders, activities, and books...and they have a handle to carry.  My reading group bins from last year couldn't hold the folders, only the books.  I can recycle my last year bins to hold game supplies.

1.  Took off Paver Link labels
2. Washed with hose
3. Laminated white card stock to place on both sides (Writing with dry erase will be great on these)
4. Duck taped card stock on with group colors

The picture shows the 3 color duck tapes I used.  I made 6 (2 of each).  I figure I can possible plan ahead with 2 for each group.  I also made 4 for my husband for storing his folders for high school math!

1 Freebie, Jerseys:

I made these jerseys.   I was inspired by this World Cup, and decided to recycle the bulletin board letters I used from the last World Cup.  The larger jerseys are for the bulletin board in the hallway.  I'm going to use the small jerseys for lunch count next year.  I'm sure they could be used for many other ideas as well. DOWNLOAD JERSEYS

1 Idea:  Make a State Collage.  When I was at my parents' house for the 4th of July I found this poster I made when I was in 4th grade!  I was in their basement looking for a game for us to play that night, and stumbled upon the poster.  I plan to use this idea.  I will probably pick up some free phamplets to provide the kids at least one each to get them started.

My First Throwback Thursday

Last summer was when I started to blog.  One of my first posts was a behavior chart PowerPoint I created, and used this past school year.  It worked really well.  In fourth grade we also switched classes, and it was an easy way to manage behavior.  I laminated, and put them into a pocket chart for the other 2 classes, and my homeroom students' names were magnetic.  There are 3 versions due to the color of the border around the signs, and the student name card squares.  (red, blue, and yellow)  You can download the "Behavior Book" student pages that I used to keep records, the binder cover, and the class responsibility pledge if you would like.

DOWNLOAD Behavior Chart

DOWNLOAD Behavior Book Editable Student Pages

DOWNLOAD Behavior Book Editable Binder Cover

DOWNLOAD Class Responsibility Pledge

My First Worksheet Wednesday

I am excited to link up with The Teaching Tribune for Worksheet Wednesday.  I stubbled upon this blog through other blog friends.  I downloaded a few freebies, and need to share one of my own. This is a QR Code multiple digit addition and subtraction worksheet.  Each classroom had 8 iPads to use this year.  They are an amazing resource.

DOWNLOAD QR WORKSHEET          

Last post in June :( wow!

Took a week off school projects, but wanted to share a couple “Made Its”.

30^th Birthday Card:  Fishing pole (stick, string, paperclips, hot glue)

My husband and I enjoy kayaking and fishing with our dog.  We made this birthday card for my sister's boyfriend who also likes to fish and kayak with us.  The bag is silly, but it was the only one we could find to go with the creek fishing theme! 

World Cup Spirit:  Flag Face App
I love soccer, so I was excited to receive this picture from my mother in-law.  She used the Flag Face app to create it.

3 Helpful Ideas I used this school year.

First Monday Made It!  This is my first post since last summer.  What a busy school year!  I really love getting/sharing ideas with other educators, and hope to blog more throughout the 2014-2015 school year...not just in the SuMMeR! :0)

1.  Morning Checklist
The kids have these on their desks each morning.  They fill it out with a dry erase marker.  It is a class job for 2 students to erase them, and pass them out to use the next day.  Click to download it for free or make your own, laminate, and they are ready to go. DOWNLOAD FILE

 

 2.  Homework Club

Last summer I saw a lot of great ideas motivating students to complete homework.  I chose to use the "Homework Club" theme.  I created the numbers, laminated, and glued magnets to the back of each.  This was a monthly motivator.  If a student missed an assignment they would place their number in a jar I kept beside the whiteboard.  At the end of the month there would be a celebration activity/treat for the students on the board.  I always keep track of homework in a binder, and this is a great visual for the students.  Click to download my PowerPoint or create your own. DOWNLOAD FILE  

 

 3.  Teacher Evaluation Evidence Binder

Creating a binder with the Danielson Framework was helpful when I went to share my self evaluation form with my principal.  Click for a copy of the self evaluation rubric. DOWNLOAD FILE  

Click for blue chevron dividers.DOWNLOAD FILE