Directed Drawing: Pigeon

Hey, friends!

It's late, but I'm up planning my last week of summer school (WOOP WOOP!).  Before I head off to bed I wanted to upload my Directed Drawing of Mo Willems' Pigeon.  I will be using this with my class next Thursday so I can't wait to upload some student samples.  

Click any of the pictures to download via Google Docs!

Enjoy, y'all!

Top 10 Classroom Set Up MUST HAVES!

This year I am setting up my third classroom in my third building.  Though the way the room is set up is different, there are 10 things I find to be absolutely necessary no matter where or what I teach.  So... here are my classroom set up MUST HAVES!

1. Anchor Chart Focus Wall- This isn't a full picture of the wall, but you get it.  I have seen this on Pinterest with border instead of colorful tape.  I used Scotch Expressions Tape because it is thinner than border, therefore saving space for more anchor chart frames!  I had space for 5 on my wall.  I used black paper, blue duct tape for the border to hold it on the wall, and hot glued clothespins to the top of the duct tape border so we could change out anchor charts easily throughout the year.  My kids knew where to look for go-to important information.  It was also a HUGE favorite for my administration ;) 

2. Wring Process Clip Chart- Our current language arts curriculum no longer makes time for writer's workshop. (It's a real shame.)  I found it to be extremely difficult to find time to meet with my students to conference on their writing pieces and keep track of where each student was in the process during process pieces.  A writing process clip chart is a MUST!  Students were able to see which of their peers were available to edit with and I was able to quickly see who was ready to meet with me. 

This is one of my TpT items. Click the picture to purchase!

3. Turned In Work Bin- Seriously, this changed my life last year!  I cannot tell you enough how awesome this is!  I bought a portable file box, added file folders with each student's number, and voila! Student work was already organized by student and it was super easy for me to take home their work and not have to worry about losing it.  My school last year also required Tuesday Communication Folders which included important PTA notices as well as student work with feedback to go home.  The turned in work bin made Tuesday folders super easy because all I had to do was go through each student's folder, add feedback to necessary papers, and stuff folders.  This also eliminated any issues with students who could not seem to remember to write their names on papers.  I tried the "No Name" wall, but often times the ones who didn't write their name also didn't care to check the wall for their work.

Click the picture to download the freebie in my TpT store.

4. Student Check In/Out- After teaching routines and procedures I allow my students to leave the room freely to use the restroom.  I did start keeping a bathroom log by the door due to some students taking advantage of that privilege so I could have documentation for parents.  Anyway, I bought a baking tray, sanded it down, and spray painted it to add some color.  I used wash tape to section it off.  I made the magnets with pebbles from Michael's, puffy paint, and circular magnets.  This was a great way for met to see where students where at all times if they weren't in the room.  Students were able to check and see if another boy or girl was already in the restroom because I only allowed one boy and one girl out at a time.

5. Crate Seats- Looking to add some extra storage and extra color to your classroom?  Buy some colorful crates (I have seen bright ones at Walmart and Target around back to school time), wood (Lowe's and Home Depot usually will cut to size for you), fabric of your choice, staple gun, and pillow/quilt stuffing from a fabric store.  Make sure to have the squares of wood cut slightly smaller than the inside of the crate where it will sit since you are adding fabric.  These crate seats stored extra student supplies all year long and provided extra seating at my meeting area. Every year just reupholster with new, clean fabric.

6. Command Center- Last year I bought a white bookshelf from Target to put by my door.  I stored items that needed to go in and out of the classroom easily.  Examples: breakfast envelopes, breakfast trash bags, copy folder, library book crate, bin for borrowed items from other teachers, box tops container, nurse passes, etc. (I will update with pictures as soon as I can get back into my classroom)

7. Daily Papers Storage Bin- These plastic drawers are a great way to organize the items you will need every day.  I keep my whole group papers, read aloud, and items I need to set out for new independent work stations in these drawers.  This is a great way to ensure all of your items are organized just in case there is an emergency and you have to call out or you're running late and your neighbor teacher needs to get something out to get your students started.  I can't tell you how many times my grade level chair or a teammate said to me, "I needed to borrow a copy of the activity to run my own set and I knew exactly where I would find it in your room."  I also loved hearing from my neighbor teacher, "When your sub stated she couldn't find the papers for the day I knew she was confused because your stuff is always so organized.  I just pointed out the drawers."  I LIVE for those moments. haha. 

This photo is not from my classroom.  I have different labels on my organizer, but this is how I labeled my drawers.

8. Large Calendar- I bought this calendar pack on TpT from Lovely Little Learners two years ago when I taught Kindergarten.  It was nice to have a large visual calendar for my kinders, but I didn't realize how useful it would be for my 2nd graders.  I would write our specials, due dates, etc. in the squares.  My kids always looked to the calendar to see important dates and loved when I updated it each month so see the important days for the new month.  I used Scotch Expressions Tape to set up the blocks.  It does take a while to tape up evenly, but I truly believe it's worth it.  If I didn't I wouldn't have set it up in 3 different classrooms!

Click the picture to go to Lovely Little Learners' TpT page for purchase!

9. Don't Lose Your Papers!- As teachers we are handed important papers all day long and we have no time at all to put them in a safe place.  For me, these papers are safest on the wall near my "desk."  Last year I used push pins on a cork board strip that was on the wall.  I don't have that in my room this year, so I found this gem at Target in the Dollar Spot section.  I can't nail anything into the wall, but I'm going to use Command hooks to hang it so I can continue to clip up important papers.

10. Small Group Materials Storage- Last year I bought this 6-drawer rolling organizer at Michael's on SALE!  It was such a steal!  Nonetheless, Each of the top 4 drawers are for small group books,  graphic organizer copies, word study cards, etc.  I keep this right next to my kidney table and have easy access to each group's materials.  In the bottom two drawers I store extra graphic organizer copies and dry erase sleeves. This year I will be team teaching so I am wondering if I'm going to want to purchase another to keep my AM & PM classes separate. Hmmm.

On Amazon they have the colorful version as well as one with black bins!

Happy organizing!

TpT Seller Challenge: Week Three

This week's challenge for the TpT Seller Challenge was to design a masterpiece for TpT.  It could be a paid product or a freebie.  At first, I didn't know what I was going to do!  Working summer school and taking classes this summer has been a bit more than I originally thought it would be.  Earlier this week I was asked by a fellow blogger to share my weekly to do list template.  She suggested I make it a freebie in my store and I knew I HAD to do it!

Click the picture to take you directly to my TpT store to download yours today!

This product is something I consider to be a staple in my personal organization.  I have a planner, but this weekly organizer pad takes up less space on my back table than my open planner.  I love being able to rip each page off as the weeks go by.  My advice?  When you have this printed, have the number of pages be the number of weeks in the school year this way you can physically feel the school year progress.  It's the little things, y'all.

Not only is this produce useful and FREE, but it's beautiful!  Who doesn't love bright, rainbow colors?  And I don't know about you, but I'm obsessed with Kid President.  Each of the six included templates are identical except for a different Kid President quote at the bottom.

If you decide to download this template and use it, make sure to take a photo of it in use and tag me in it on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter!  I LOVE to see my products in action.

New Product Alert: Monthly Reading Log Brag Tags

Do you use brag tags in your classroom?  If not, YOU SHOULD!  First, let's go over some FAQs.

What are brag tags?
Brag tags are small, printable cards for your students to earn.  They collect them and add them to a keychain, necklace, or place of your choice.

Why brag tags?
Kids love showing off something they have earned.  The more brag tags they collect, the more pride they will have of their set.  What's better than students taking ownership of their work and accomplishments?  I don't know.  You tell me!

Why do teachers love brag tags?
Brag tags are great incentives for accomplishing academic and behavioral goals.  They are also very easy to manage and store.  I am about to order myself one of these babies to easily store all of my brag tags.

Akro-Mills 10164 64 Drawer Plastic Parts Storage Hardware and Craft Cabinet, 20-inch by 16-inch by 6 1/2 inch

This product includes 12 months worth of brag tags for monthly reading log completion.  The best part?  It's FREE!

Click me to go directly to the product page in my store for purchase!

In my classroom, I start each month by handing out a new reading log which is part of their nightly homework.  Students are to read by themselves or with a parent daily for at least 20 minutes.  Parents initial or sign off each day to verify completion.  At the end of the month I collect reading logs and award each child with a Book It! coupon for a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut.  Next year I will also be passing out brag tags for students to add to their chain to show off!  

Your students will LOVE collecting their monthly reading log brag tag each month.  Just print on cardstock, laminate (if you wish), hole punch in the top center, and add to a keychain or necklace.  

If you decide to download this product, please leave me some feedback in my store!  I would LOVE to know what you think.  Better yet... take a photo of it in use and make sure to tag me in it!

TPT Seller Challenge: Week Two

How's everyone's 2nd week assignment for the TPT Seller Challenge going?  The challenge for week two is to share your dream for TPT.  Below are my four main focuses.

1. Pay off student loans.
I graduated college four years ago and have somewhere between $10,000-$15,000 of debt to pay off. Paying out-of-state tuition is NO JOKE people.  Without getting too personal, I had a sum of money to help me transition from being a full-time student to the real world after graduation and someone in my family spent it all without me knowing.  It's a really long and dramatic story, but I would LOVE to make some more money via TPT so I can pay off my loans quicker.

2. Fund my wedding.
On March 25th I got ENGAGED to my best friend.  We set our wedding date for July 9, 2016.  It's almost a year away and I don't have a wedding fund to pull from to pay for the wedding.  Our mothers are helping us in any way they can, but we will be paying for the majority of the wedding by ourselves.  As we all know, teachers aren't millionaires.  Womp, womp, womp!  I hope to have more success on TPT so I can help fund our special day.

3. New car.
I have been rocking my 2004 Ford Explorer, Dora, since driving day one.  Dora may only be 11 years old, but she took me back and forth between Auburn and Virginia during college quite a few times.  She is falling apart and it's getting close to new car time.  Her most recent episode was losing A/C about two weeks ago.  Driving around in June without A/C isn't the most pleasurable experience.  Car payments are not possible right now with my 2nd year teacher salary so having more income with the help of TPT would make my goal to purchase a new car possible.

4. Buy a house.
My fiancé and I just moved into a rental townhouse in May since my lease was up in my apartment by the beach.  Our current plan is to stay here for two years so we aren't moving right before the wedding next July and buy something of our own in May 2017.  This date may be two years away, but two years goes by fast and taking on a mortgage is a lot to handle.  If I had some extra income from TPT I could start to put some money aside for a down payment on our first home.

I hope to learn how to grow my brand on TPT even more with the help of the TPT Seller Challenge to make my dreams possible.  What are your TPT dreams?

Organization Project #1

Happy summer, y'all!  Tomorrow I start an all day, two day graduate level class through Regent University to count towards my licensure renewal.  I know I have only been out of school for four years now, but the thought of having to write a paper or take a test is just beyond me right now.  A few years ago I was diagnosed with ADD which explained why I always had such a hard time studying in school.  Even in college I just couldn't seem to sit down, focus, and study.  I have been thinking about going back to graduate school to get my masters for a little while now, but I am extremely hesitant to do so knowing how I am... a total squirrel. 

Anyway... in order to help my squirrely mind I needed to tackle a personal organization project... MY DESKTOP!  I watched Cassie Dahl from Funky in Fourth's video tutorial on how to change up your folder icons a few months ago when she first posted it and was OBSESSED!  I didn't have time to really fix it up how I wanted until today.   You can click either of the pictures below to take you directly to her post to watch the tutorial for yourself.  I cannot thank her enough because now my squirrely brain feels at ease when I look at my desktop. 

TPT Seller Challenge: Week One

Oh my goodness!  Last week sure was a whirlwind!  Our last day of school was on Thursday (WOOHOO!), the TPT Seller Challenge began, and on Friday morning I traveled to Arkansas with my fiancé for his cousin's wedding.  BUUUUUTTTTT I'm back now and ready to start my summer!  Below are my beginning stats for the seller challenge.

I don't have a separate Pinterest account, but I DO have a separate Pinterest board.  My board currently has 957 followers.  Since beginning the challenge I have started my Facebook page.  To be quite honest, I find Instagram to be the easiest platform for my marketing and I easily track other sellers' activity on Instagram.  

Okay, so for week one of the seller challenge I decided to make over my Commutative Property with Bingo Daubers booklet.  You can click any of the product photos to take you directly to my store to purchase.  This is one of my lower maintenance products.  I have some plans to take a look at some of my other products in my store now that school is out.  

I spiffied up the clipart, added a fun and colorful cover page, and updated my fonts.  This may be a simple product, but I'm so glad I made some time to re-do this one.  I used this activity as a formative assessment last year. 

Are you participating in the TPT Seller Challenge?  If not, make sure to check it out!  Stay tuned.  I will be writing about WEEK TWO soon!