Calendar

So here's my newest project. I used a frame from IKEA, black poster board and my cricut to design my new dry erase class calendar. It was pretty easy and looks nicer than any pre-made dry erase calendars I've seen. It isn't magnetic, which is it's only drawback, but I think plasti-tac will do okay to attach the month and other fun icons I have for it.

Project - Bulletin Board

I just finished my second project for my room and I love it! I made these bulletin boards out of old window frames and they will go behind my desk. With the help of my super, duper handy husband, they turned out fabulous! The old window frames have been sitting in my attic for years and I am so happy to have finally found a project for them.

So here's how I did it...

First I painted the window frames. Then super, duper handy husband cut out boards to fit each pane. This was a "pain," as each opening was slightly different. I went to Jo-ann's and bought cork board for 6 of the panels. I used a cement adhesive to attach the cork to the wood and then I covered the boards with a layer of batting and fabric. (I had the fabric left over from two other projects I've been working on and I will post those later.) The bottom, outside panes are strips of folded fabric, duct taped at the bottom of each color. Then you layer the next strip on top to cover the duct tape and repeat until the board is covered. They make pockets.

My favorite is the sayings I had put in the top. Again, super, duper handy husband (who is a graphic designer) designed them for me and then we had them photo printed at Costco. We cut them down to fit this particular frame. I went to Tap Plastic, and had plexiglass cut for the top panes. Again, each pane was a slightly different size, so I took the window frame and they had to measure each opening separately so the plexiglass would fit. We numbered each pane so we could get them all back in the right opening.

The last step was getting them all safely secured inside the frame. Beware of using old windows, because the wood is old and it was difficult to nail in the backs. But it worked out okay and they are very secure with extra wood pieces in the corners to keep the boards in.

I can't wait to get them hung in my room.

Here's the sayings...

Summer Projects

So summer has been in full swing for a few weeks and I have been busy making improvements on my classroom. I just finished my first project which was to empty out and get rid of of my big, tall, lateral file cabinet. So what to do with all the files?

Well, it seemed like much of the things I had filed were also files I had on my computer, so those immediately went into the recycling. Then I put many of my units into binders with 8-tab and 5-tab plastic pocket dividers. We had a lot of binders donated to our school so I didn't have to purchase any binders. SWEET! With our Office Depot discount the dividers were very inexpensive as well.

I color coded all the subjects and then bought colored paper at the local craft store to make binder covers. Each unit went into its own binder. They look so nice on my shelf. The picture above is just a few of the binders sitting in my bedroom bookcase. (When I get them organized in my classroom I'll post another picture.) Here is the color system I use...

Green - Science, Health, Agriculture In The Classroom
Blue - Math
Yellow - Reading, Literature, Vocabulary
Orange - Writing, Grammar, & Spelling
Purple - History & Geography
Red - Teacher Resources

I still have files, especially for math and other subjects in which I use lots of copies for packets, etc. So I still have a few short file cabinets. But I like putting much of my curriculum material in binders. I hope it works out well.

Earthquake Reading

My students earned 50 points. Yeah! I give them "points" every time I catch them being good as a class, getting compliments from another teacher, and so on. When they earn 50 points they get a no uniform day and they get to choose an activity of their choice that is no longer than 20 minutes.

Well they choose "earthquake" reading. What is that you ask? I asked the same thing. It is something they have been plotting at recess amongst themselves. Earthquake reading is bringing in pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals, piling them under your desk and snuggling up to read. I am so pleased that they wanted to spend their time reading. However, as they got started they took about 10 minutes just setting up their desks. (They actually had 45 minutes to read, as we have DEAR time every day already for 15-25 minutes.)

Why did it take so long to set up? Well here's what happened before DEAR time...

At lunch they had plotted again and asked if they could make "forts" with the blankets they had brought from home. I said sure, as long as they didn't move their desks too much. Now we have a problem. Remember how you were supposed to pile your blankets and pillows UNDER your desk so you could snuggle up and read? Well, now the blankets were on TOP of the desks and we have hard, concrete floors. It wasn't too comfortable reading under the desks. And it is a bit dark under the desks when there are blankets draped over them. It is hard to read in the dark. So little by little students were emerging from under their desks to sit in their chairs and read. They do love to read, so they didn't want to miss out on that.

This was really quite fun as it unfolded. They still had fun and would probably choose it again. I still remember making forts as a kid in our house and it was more fun building the fort than it was actually hiding out in it. Oh the joys of childhood!

I need to design my room

So I really don't like my room. I spend so much time in it and it really doesn't reflect my personality. It is functional, but doesn't have that inviting, homey feel. So I have been plotting and planning and this summer I am going to revamp it all. We moved into a new building with big, beautiful classrooms, almost 2 years ago. Trying to move into a new space and plan for the upcoming year was just too much. It was panic city. At the end of the year I made some changes, but not enough. This year it has been better and the space is more functional, but it still isn't that inviting.

The desks are all donated, as well as most of the mismatched furniture. It was quite fun up-cycling old cabinets into cubbies, and designing my very own classroom. But it takes so much time! So I am going to dive in and really make a change this summer. I love the color on two of my walls and hope we have enough paint to paint one more wall.

So here are the "before" pictures of how my classroom looks now. It's okay, but not great.

Incentives

For the past 5 years I have given the kids "tickets" for good behavior, returning papers, etc. They love this. I don't. I like rewarding them for good things, but what to do with all those tickets? I have a treasure box, but keeping it stocked with things they like is expensive and cumbersome. Plus on days where they can "shop" takes forever! Valuable time that we don't always have. I need some ideas for what they can "purchase"with their tickets. Think, Think, Think...

The Big, Gray Shark - A retelling of the traditional "Little Red Hen"

At our school we use the Excellence in Writing Curriculum. I just love this program. So before winter break my students learned how to write a story using what we call a "Story Sequence." To teach them how to write a story we first tell them a traditional story and then guide them into retelling it into their own words. One of my students rewrote it this way and I wanted to share. I was giggling through the whole thing...Enjoy!

Big, Gray Shark

In the fall of 1935 Big Gray Shark was looking for food for his hungry pups. They lived on an extremely, colorful coral reef. For several years, his only friends were Hammer Head and Great White. Big Gray Shark decided to go on a hunting spree. 


He wanted to catch a small group of seal to feed his hungry pups. Quickly he rushed to his friend, Hammer Head for some hunting tips. But Hammer Head said in a wicked tone, "Are you talking to me?" He was no help. Next he asked Great White for tips as well, but he wouldn't help either. So Big Gray White decided to hunt on his own. After locating the seals' hangout, he caught three fatty seals. Now he could start setting up the feast.

Finally he finished and the smell of carcass went through the reef. "How are we going to eat all this?" Big Gray Shark thought. Suddenly Hammer Head and Great White appeared ready to eat. But Big Gray Shark told them, "If you helped me, you would have got some." Laziness never pays.