Monday, July 29, 2013

Monday Made It - iPad Slant Board, PBIS Frame, and Clever Calendar Cards!

It's time for the most creative day of the week - it's Monday Made It day!
Thanks to Tara for hosting this lollapalooza of ideas!
First, I found this iPad slant board at Kirklands in the clearance section for about $7.00.
I have one iPad in my room, and just got a grant for two more minis, and thought my students would enjoy using this slant board while working on the iPads throughout the day.
It was really pink, and I hoped to make it match the chevron theme I've been working with. So I used some of the same scrapbook paper I used on my letters from last week to cover part of it.
I used modgepodge to attach it, and then added a label.
 
I used the same scrapbook paper and washi tape (the black polka dot) to decorate the back of the slant board.
I liked the way the scrapbook combination was turning out, so I created a PBIS frame for my weekly behavior award winner.
I plan to write the name with a dry erase marker on the frame each week.
The frame used on the certificate is from Collaboration Cuties!
Also, I created some unique calendar cards for marking the days of the month.
On each calendar card is the date as well as a number quiz that promotes creative thinking skills.
The answers to the codes on these cards are:
2 = W on a B is 2 = Wheels on a Bike
 
4 = W on a C is 4 = Wheels on a Car
 
5 = P in a N is 5 = Pennies in a Nickel
 
2 = N in a D is ????
The first two people who comment with the correct answer will win a set of my calendar cards for September.
If you would like to purchase these fun cards, check out my TpT store!

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Saturday Snapshots - Chicago, Miller Park, and MMI Tease

It is unusually chilly here today, so a perfect day to catch up on the blogging.
And what better way to jump back in than with Miss Nelson and her Saturday Snapshots Linky.
 
Last Sunday I was able to cross off a visit to Miller Park from my summer bucket list.
Our Brewers have not been doing very well this year but they did eek out a win while I was in attendance - the win came after 13 innings of a 0-0 score (yawn).
Here's a pic of my friend and I having lunch at the TGIF's that overlooks the field.
It looks like we are the only fans in the stadium.  :)
Don't even get me started on the Ryan Braun situation.
 
On Monday I met some college friends in Chicago - I love the Windy City!
I would have loved to go to the SDE Conference but my district pays for few (if any) conferences.
 
Anyway, we took the train into the city and stayed at the Sofitel.
I got us rooms there on Priceline, and they were beautiful!
We took a water taxi to Navy Pier and the Willis Tower. 

 
We had dinner at the Weber Grill place, and lunch the next day at the outside cafe near Millenium Park.  My niece is interning in the city so she met us for lunch.
Fun at the Bean!
 
The next day we traveled to a friend's lakeside home, and spent the day boating and lounging.
I. Just. Love. Summer.
 
Here's what I'm working on for my Monday Made-It(MMI):

I found this at Kirkland's on clearance - it is for devices like iPads.
I thought it would be perfect for my students to use when working on the two minis I wrote grants for.
My plan is to make it match my chevron theme somehow.
Stay tuned......
 


Monday, July 22, 2013

Monday Made It - More Gray Chevron Projects, and SchoolTown University!

It's Monday, and time for more Monday Made It Projects!
Thanks to Tara at Fourth Grade Frolics for hosting this linky. 
I've certainly been inspired by the many creative people out there.
 
First,
I got an e-mail from Shutterfly about a deal in which you could get 10 cards free if you paid the shipping.
I used a photo from a recent vacation to Door County to make the cards, and they were delivered in a little over a week.
If they offer the deal again, I thought I'd use a school related pic to make some cards to have handy in my classroom.
 
If you follow my blog, you know that I purchased a gray/pink chevron desk pad from Target about two weeks ago.
I'm still creating off that color scheme, and put together these items this week:
I coverd the letters with scrapbook paper I found at Hobby Lobby.  It's hard to see but the pinkish scrapbook paper is a paisley print. Both the letters and the paper were on sale, and I paid about $8 for that project.
The frame was in the clearance section at Michaels for $3, and I attached some small flower stickers to the frame after applying the scrapbook paper.  I used a 25% off coupon at Michaels for the entire purchase.
 
 
I am excited about a product I recently added to my TpT and TN stores.
It is my SchoolTown University Classroom Decor and Management Pack
This pack includes 58 pages of goodies inspired by the movie Monsters University.
The pack includes these items.
1.Welcome sign (single sign and seven separate letters)
2. Schedule sign and 18 subject labels for schedule
3. Jobs sign
4. Days of the week signs
5. I .D. Cards – students draw  a pic of themselves in the small box, and add name
6. Six table header signs
7. School year goal banner and project – students write or draw their goal for the year in the box, and add name
8. Blank rules chart and 3 behavior signs
9. Library pockets – 2 sizes – could be used for job chart
10. Question of the Day chart – laminate, post in your classroom, and write a question each day
11. Passes – boys and girls bathroom, library, hallway, nurse, and indoor recess
12. Homework passes
13. Labels for Reading Response Journal, Science Notebook, Writing Notebook, and Math Notebook
14. Cubby or locker nameplates
15. Birthday Certificate
16. Graduation Certificate
17. Acknowledgements page
    18. Punch Cards, Dream Journal labels, and Pennant
 
You could accessorize this product with some goodies from Target and Subway.
The pencils are from the Target Dollar Spot, and Subway is giving away the backpacks with Kids Meals now through July 31!
 
 

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Saturday Snapshots - Author Skype and More

Happy Saturday
I'm again joining Miss Nelson for Saturday Snapshots

 
Last Sunday I joined family members for our annual visit to the Taste of Chicago.
 
On Thursday my book club group was lucky enough to Skype with the author of the book we had selected for this month.
Leigh Newman is the author of Still Points North, and she promptly responded to the e-mail I sent through her website asking her to Skype with us.
She was in NYC and chatted with us for about 35 minutes.
I can't wait to tell my students about it!
 
We've had very hot weather this week (much like the rest of the country), and I had to sub on Friday in a Summer School class of first graders.
Our elementary schools DO NOT have air conditioning.
This was about all the little ones had the energy to do:
 
I'm working on something for my Monday Made It with these:
 
I've added a new item to my TpT and TN stores!
The monster craze is everywhere, and when I've been teaching summer school, I've often heard the kiddos talk of the summer movie that was the inspiration for this pack.
I've included lots of unique and useful items like these:
Question of the  Day chart to laminate, and update daily.
 
Punch cards for behavior, center completion, or earning rewards.  
 
 Six different kinds of passes (this is a sample of 3 of the 6).
Labels for reading response journals. Also included are labels for science, math, and writing notebooks, and dream journals!
 
This product includes lots more items (58 pages in all) for turning your classroom into SchoolTown University!
It can be found here, and is on sale through Monday!

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

What I'm Loving Wednesday

There's not much I don't love about Summer!  So, I'm hooking up with Covered in Glitter and Glue for her "What I'm Loving Wednesday".
1.
I love what my flowers look like, even though the weather has been very hot (90s) here this week.
2.
I love golfing on Monday nights with my teacher friends. 
We found a course not far away that offers a women's golf happy hour - yay!
You get a short lesson, golf a 9-hole scramble, get a drink of your choice, earn prizes, and there is a spread of food in the clubhouse afterwards.
Sorry-it's hard to read the details.
3.
I'm tutoring a little guy from my class in math this summer.
We found a website that we both love.
The website is called Bitesize, and comes from England.
You check out the site here.
There are review games for Literacy, Maths, and Science.
We love the accent.
4.
I love finding bargains!
Last week Office Max had these white board markers on sale for $1.00.
That's right - $1.00!
I asked how many a person could buy, and the clerk said that teachers could get 20!
I just got 5.
Photo-bomb!
5.
I love having the time to take my dog for multiple walks during the day and evening.
 
Hope you're finding lots to love this week!
 

Monday, July 15, 2013

Monday Made It - Chevron Magnetic Cork Board

I'm finally joining up with Tara's Monday Made It Linky!
It's my first this summer, and I've definitely been inspired by the other creative teacher bloggers out there.
 
If you follow my blog, you know that I picked up this deskpad last week at Target.
 
I loved the gray chevron, and some walls in my classroom are a mauve color, so I'm thinking I could go with this color scheme.
About two weeks ago I bought a 17 inch square magnetic cork board at JoAnn's that was about $8.50 (on sale and with the teacher discount).
I had plans to cover it with fabric but when I bought it I wasn't sure what fabric I should use.
When I found the deskpad at Target, I decided to look for gray chevron fabric to cover the board.
I found it at Hancock Fabrics, and it was also on sale.
I bought about a yard of fabric, and it was less than $5.00.
 
I used a staple gun to attach the fabric to the back of the board. It took some intense eye-balling to get the lines of chevron to be straight, and I had to redo it a couple of times, but the staples came out easily each time.
 
I thought at banner might look good on the board.


Then I found some decorative magnets at a local card store that were on sale, and I thought they looked really cute with the chevron.

The magnets are from a line called Demdaco, and you can find a store near you that carries them by clicking on this link.
Some of the magnets were on sale at the card shop where I found them!
 
I plan to put the board up near my classroom door where I can hang notes about students leaving early, etc.
 
 

I'm also part of a giveaway you may want to check out!
 
 
 

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Saturday Snapshots!

Happy Weekend!
I'm think I'm starting to keep track of what day it is by the linkies that are being held on a particular day of the week.
Just another great thing about the summer.
 
 
Here are a few shots from my week:
 
I've been subbing for Summer School in my district to earn some extra cash.
I get to pick and choose the days I want to work, and I get to see some of the other schools in my district.
On Monday my  position was "Para Security".
I got to sit at a table and question screen everyone that came through the door.
It was actually kind of boring (and I was warned it would be), but I did have my iPad with me so I did some blog stalking in between interrogating people.  :)
 
How many city workers does it take to repair a 2 foot long piece of curbing?
Four - apparently.
My dog was not happy about these guys standing around working in front of my house earlier this week.
I think the curb had been hit too many times by the snow plow, and it was beginning to crumble.
 
I had to share this (courtesy of the PIP app).
It's a picture of some flowers from our Door County trip
 
I'm working on something for Monday Made-It.
Hope it turns out the way I'm imagining.
 
I'm also putting together a new project for TpT.
Here's a sneak peak:
Coming soon to my blog and TpT store!
 
I also wanted to give a shout out to two BBF's that acknowledged by blog with the Liebster Award.
 
 

I had already been nominated for this award last year, but it's nice to be recognized again by two wonderful blog friends!
Hope you'll check out their blogs!