Classroom Shopping Linky Party

Ladybug's Teacher Files is having a linky party devoted to shopping for your classroom.  Link-up to give and get some ideas from some awesome teachers.  The following products are things I have purchased over the summer. If you would like to view more products I have purchased in the past, click on the label titled Products.

These containers saved me lots of time when passing out manipulatives to the students.  I discovered them at Dollar Tree and bought 5 sets of these 10 mini containers.  I quickly discovered that I use them for EVERYTHING.  For example, lets say we are going to play bingo, I have a container marked, "Sets of Tiles" and I have a student pass out one container per child.  I do this with our coins too.  When we do coin sorts or are just learning about the coins.  You can use them in your workstation activities too.  I basically use these instead of Ziplock bags for smaller things.  

For months, Dollar Tree was sold out and the website was sold out of them too.  I was growing a little impatient, so when they became available online, I bought them.  You can only purchase in bulk on the Dollar Tree website.  SOOOO, 480 mini-containers later......I am one HAPPY teacher =)

I am ready to jump-in head first with BUCKET FILLING for next year!
I purchased these tin buckets from the Dollar Section at Target.  I was super excited because I will be doing a Star Theme next year.

This is another Dollar Tree find.  I purchased the last of the blue and green Locker Bins at my local store.  I bought around 14 of each.  I will use them in my library.  The blue will be for fiction and the green will be for nonfiction.  I will be reorganizing my library this year and was searching high and low for an inexpensive bin.  I love how they are taller and wider than a typical sized shoe box.

Blog Stalking Linky Party

Clutter-Free Classroom is hosting a Linky Party to make stalking great teacher blogs easier! I just saved hours searching for awesome blogs and you can too. Add your blog to the list!

Linky Party: Homework

First Grade Fundamentals is hosting a Linky Party about Homework! This is a great idea because it seems like Homework is something that is often overlooked, in yet, it is one of the most important things.  

This is what I do...
Each week students receive a Homework Helper which outlines the concepts and skills they will learn throughout that week.  The Homework Helper is a great guide for parents.  Parents are allowed to keep the sheets to reinforce these skills throughout the year.  I attach additional work that must be turn-in for a participation grade on that Friday.  

Pictured above is the ELA, Math and Science/S.S "Homework Helper"

I used to send home weekly readers and students had to complete a Reader's Log.  However, I have had difficulty with students misplacing the books and damaging them.  Therefore, I tried something different this year.  I purchased the following teacher resource book which has reading passages and follow-up questions.  

Reading Short Stories with Comprehension Questions

Math Blog Hop!

Check out the following blog by clicking the button below!  She is hosting a "Math Hop" where teachers share their math ideas.  Count me in!!! Don't forget to add your math post link to the list.

10 Things I've Learned from Teaching: Linky Party

Rowdy in First Grade is hosting a Linky Party!  This was a great idea!  It is so funny to read other teachers' little life lessons because we can all relate.  

(1)

Your students are the best teachers of Classroom  Management.  They won't be afraid to let you know if it doesn't work.

(2)

A teacher's work is NEVER done.  There is always something you can work on.

(3)

You will spend an unthinkable amount on your classroom.

(4)

Air fresheners should be on EVERY school supply list.

(5)

Take advantage of back to school sales on supplies.

(6)

There will be students who come to school without supplies.

(7) 

The quiet teachers have the most control over their class.  The loud ones...sometimes have control, but go home with a headache everyday.

(8)

Glue in bottles is a frustrating mess.  Teach your kids how to use a glue stick. 

(9)

Do not take what your students do personal.

(10)

SAVE and DOCUMENT EVERYTHING YOU DO!  Save lesson plans, homework, art projects, student tests, conference sheets, parent notes etc.  You never know when you may need these things.  

Linky Party: Favorite Part of my Room

This is my first Linky Party to join, so I hope I do this correctly.  It is hosted by the amazing Mrs. Thompson from Adventures in Teaching!

My favorite part of my room is my Small Group Area.

I love how everything is easily accessible and neat.  Every year, I felt I was running around my room finding things during small group like a pen, marker, testing material etc.  I get a little wiser and less cluttered with each passing year.  

I posted all this information in an earlier post.

Click here for more pics and explanations on SMALL GROUP area.

Click here for more on small group SUPPLIES.


Click here for more on FLOWER PENS.

I love my center rotation (grouped homogeneously and heterogeneously) with the pics of my kids faces.   My fabric bags hanging on the wall store supplies I need for small group like: dry erase markers, cute animal-hand erasers (see Organization Label), Dibels books, reading witch pointers)  I have a phonics flip chart (Mardels,$15), pocket chart with phonics cards (Lakeshore Learning), chair pockets to store students' white boards, a star graph used as a center behavior motivator and my leveled reading books...just to name a few things. 

I have a light used as a reminder so the kiddos won't disturb me during small group.  I have Flower Pens (see Label ELA Centers) that I use to Dibel students with, so I won't have to search far for a pen.  I LOVE my chair cushion and AIR FRESHENER ; )