Happy First Day of School!

I made a First Day of School picture frame for the kiddos to hold as I take a picture. I attached the big star labeled "1st" with velcro on the back.  By using velcro, I can change out the "1st" star with "100th" or "Last", so I can use it for those important dates.  I am still in the process of making those. Three more days before I meet my first graders! :)

First Day of School Picture Frame
I used Velcro to attach the star labeled "1st", so I can change it out with "100th" or "Last"

I have a Button!

Slap a Button on my Blog because I am done!

Next step, add all the buttons of those amazing blogs out there to my blog. This will be my next weekend project = )

Ten Little Pumpkins: Subtraction Center

The following is a subtraction math center activity.

*Special Note:Students have the choice to display Jack o' Lantern OR turn it around for a Pumpkin.* 

This math activity is used to reinforce subtraction.  Read, Five Little Pumpkins as an introduction to activity.  If you are unable to find the Pumpkin Cupcake toppers, use orange, craft POM POMS (from any Craft Store). 

Directions

1.  Place 1 pumpkin in each section.

2.  Roll the die or dice. (Read on for the kind of dice I use.)

3.  Take away that number of pumpkins.

4.  Write the number sentence and mark out the correct number of pumpkins on the recording sheet.

Supplies

-Pack of Jiffy Strips or if you can find an ice cube tray that has 10 sections(find Jiffy Strips in the flower section at Wal-Mart)

-Dirt, Coffee or beans

-Pumpkin Cupcake Toppers (Party City)

-Dice (Special Note: I make my own dice out of 1 inch foam cubes.  This way, I could write in permanent marker any number I want.  For this center, I write numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and use 2 dice.  That way, the student will not roll 12, since there are only 10 pumpkins.)

-Subtraction Recording Sheet (click on link below)

Ten Little Pumpkins Recording Sheet

Star-Themed Classroom Pics-COMING SOON!

Take a look at the before pictures of my classroom.  For three years, I have been teaching in a FEMA trailer.  The trailers' original purpose was to accommodate the displaced students from Hurricane Katrina.  Since these trailers are designed for temporary use, parts are falling apart but we are making it work.  On the plus side, I have my own AC/Heating unit, 7 computers AND get to have the                            best profession in the world!     

This room needs a teacher's touch.

EEEKK!

= (

***I'm Seeing Stars***

I'm using "Stars" as my classroom theme this year.  I picked stars because it is mature enough for older kids, but whimsical enough for the younger ones (incase I change grades in the future).  Also, I am a Dallas Cowboys fan ; )  The following are projects that my mom and I worked on over the summer. Thanks for making my room shine, MOM! =) 

Classroom Mailbox- My mom painted a basic mailbox that was purchased from Walmart for $15.  She used stencils to make the stars and letters.  The stand was made by my amazing neighbor with wood purchased from HomeDepot.  I will use it to put our Zero the Hero prize every 10th day.

The moon was unfinished wood purchased for $1 at Dollar Tree.  The star attached to the flag was unfinished wood purchased at Hobby Lobby.  

Classroom Stool- The stool was unfinished wood  purchased from  Michael's  it was $30 but I used the 40% off coupon they offer online.  It is painted similar to the mailbox.  My mom painted the stars and swirls. =)

Library Sign- I purchased an unfinished chalkboard from Hobby Lobby then stained the wood and painted the board black.  Next, I used a Q-tip to write the letters freehandedly.  The stars were purchased unfinished from Hobby Lobby and hot glued on.  I wrote,"Berg's Books" on the sign because if a book from the library says this on the back, then it belongs to me.

Picture Frames- I purchased unfinished wood picture frames for $1 each at Michael's.  The stars were unfinished wood from Hobby Lobby.  The yellow frame is a recycled picture frame.  I just spray painted an old frame and added wood decals.  These frames will be filled with smiling faces in no time!

Star Basket- I took an ordinary basket, added some paint and a star to transform it.  Now, it matches my theme.  The star was unfinished wood purchased at Hobby Lobby.  The basket was something old.

Star Basket- I added some brown stain and a painted star to this ordinary basket making it match my theme.  The stars were purchased at Hobby Lobby and the basket was something old.

Trash to Treasure

It's true what they say, "One person's trash is another person's treasure."  I can not believe that today was my first visit to Goodwill.  Two words can describe my visit," TEACHER OVERLOAD!"  My brain was going a mile a minute trying to come up with excuses as to why I needed these things in my classroom.  I decided to start small and purchased this metal thing for $1.99. With a quick clean and spray paint, I ended up with a book holder. 

I don't even know the original purpose for this metal thing but it was worth 1.99.

Let the transformation begin!

The finished product!  I can use this for books or magazines.  It is also equipped with a handle!

I can't wait to go back.  You never know what Goodwill has in store for you!

New Treasure Chest

I have used the same cardboard treasure chest that was left in my room by a previous teacher for a couple of years, now.  Although I like the look of it, it is starting to fall apart.  Originally, I wanted to go with an authentic looking treasure chest that was made of wood, but I wasn't crazy about the weight and bulk that would come with it.

My recent trip to Ikea ended my search!  It is light and can fold-up for easy storage/move.  It is big and can store prizes that are oddly shaped.  I would of rather something blue, but I have a feeling the kids will love it. 

Toy Box from Ikea

Workstation Flower Pens

In an earlier post, I mentioned my love for Flower Pens.

Click for more info. on Flower Pens!

I decided to make some for my kids to keep them motivated to work during centers.  It is amazing how a change in a writing tool can make them want to work =)

Kids' Flower Pens at Center Table

Flowers from Dollar Tree, Tub from Hobby Lobby

Smarty Pants

Well, this is the first month that I've used the "Smarty Pants" and the kids love this new behavior incentive.  I just need to make a sign for them because people always ask me about it.

I got this idea from another teacher.  Thank goodness for those "Smarty Pants" teachers out there who think of these things =)

Baby Jeans that are sewn at the bottom to hold the Smarties.  

Reading Baskets!

Students love to sit back in a Reading Basket with a good book =)

Reading Baskets are a great alternative to spending a fortune on building an inviting area for students to read.  In addition, it is a great behavior management tool because it gives students a defined reading space, where it is hard to disturb other readers.  The laundry baskets were purchased at Walmart for $5 each.  I purchased $3 towels at Walmart to make the basket more comfortable.

Student reading in a Reading Basket into a Whisper Phone (PVC Pipe-Lowes)
Funny how they would rather read in a laundry basket than on the couch = P

Don't let the size fool you.  Even I can fit into a Reading Basket and they are comfy =)

Zero the Hero

Zero the Hero made his appearance on the 100th Day of School.  He brought us donuts to celebrate!  Every 10th day of school he would bring us treats that were in the shape of zeros.

Zero the Hero came to visit us!

Zero the Hero brought us treats that were in the shape of zeros!!!  He puts them in a bag with a big zero on it. 

One Hundred Day Activities

The following are some activities my students did to celebrate the 100th day.

I made a class set (24 total) of 100s puzzles.  Print puzzle on cardstock, laminate and cut into puzzle pieces.  Each puzzle has 13 pieces with letters on the back that correspond to its bag.  If the puzzle has the letter "A" on the back it goes with bag "A" etc.  All the puzzles are cut differently.  It is a contest to see who finishes it first.

I purchased 4 sets of 25 piece puzzles.  (100 piece puzzles will take them way too long to complete and they will lose interest.)  The puzzles are from School Aids.

I printed a blank 100s chart.  I purchased finger stamps at School Aids.  Students created patterns with these stamps.    I stored the finger stamps in ice cube trays that were purchased at Dollar Tree, 2 for $1.  I love using ice cube trays to store stamps that didn't come in a handy container.

Weekly Star Student!

Let the second-half of the school year begin!  I try to change-up classroom incentives to keep my kiddos interested.  I started selecting a "Star Student".  This student is chosen for exhibiting great behavior.  As a reward they get to display the following sign on their chair (with their name) and get to use the special star cup.  The star cup holds star pencils (with star grippers), twistable crayons, scissors and a glue stick.  This cup is placed on top of their desk.  It is almost like their little trophy.  =)

From LakeShore

Make-shift pencil holder is a coozie from Hobby Lobby (.99), foam stars from Hobby Lobby (couple dollars)

100th Day of School

Check out this website of handcrafted jewelry that not only looks good but teaches too! Click on the link below.

Zero Is My Hero

"Zero the Hero Necklace"
My mom got this for me as a birthday gift :) I wear it every 10th day of school. So, I won't forget I leave it at school.  She ordered it from the website above.

Song Cube

Counting by 10s Side

Months of the Year Side

 I got this idea from my student teaching mentor.  If you want to add some variety to your song routine, you can have a student roll the die to choose one. 

I purchased large foam dice from Dollar Tree.  You can get a pack of two for a dollar.  Dollar Tree randomly will have them.  I typed-up our song titles, included a picture, laminated and used Velcro to attach one song title on each side of the foam die. 

Songs

1.) Days of the Week

2.) Months of the Year

3.) Counting by 10s

4.) Counting by 5s

5.) Counting by 2s

6.) Color Song (their choice on color)

Hello Bloggers!

There are always times in a teachers life when they think, "How can I do this?" I'm talking about the struggle of preparing a lesson for everything, adapting those lessons, knowing your content and 500 ways on how to teach it, attending professional development after hours, recording and interpreting data everyday, spending my own money just to ensure my classroom is equipped with the best supplies and maintaining a community of learners all while knowing everything about anything. The question is not how can I do this, but why I do this. This is a short story my student teaching mentor gave me when times were tough. It gets me fired-up and makes me love all these challenges that make-up the teaching profession.

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education.  He argued, “What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”  He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:  “Those who can, do.  Those who can’t, teach.”

To stress his point he said to another guest; “You’re a teacher, Bonnie.  Be honest.  What do you make?”

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honest and frankness replied, “You want to know what I make?  (She paused for a second, and then began…)  “Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.  I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.  I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can’t make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental…

“You want to know what I make?”  (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them criticize.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my student feel safe.

I make my students stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, because we live in the United States of America.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)  “Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant…You want to know what I make?”

“I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  What do you make?”