Taking the Daily 5 Dive!

So I am not updating this blog as much as I hoped I would, but I have many ideas that I want to blog about. There's just not enough time in the day to do all the things I want to do! :) I am going to attempt to update this blog more often though.

On to other news....I have finally decided to take the Daily 5 dive. I ordered the book, as as you can see in the picture below, I have been taking notes/studying it like crazy! I am EXTREMELY excited about it.

I even bought the book boxes already. They're not my favorite, but I think they'll do. I couldn't find anything else that wasn't within my price range. These Stack Em's were only $1 at Dollar Tree! 

(And just ignore all my teacher junk in the background!)

If anyone has any good info on Daily 5, please share! I would love to hear stories, ideas, or any tips that anyone can share. I also want to do something like the Daily 5 with Math. I will be self-contained next year and it will be my first year teaching Math and Science (taught Reading for two years and Social Studies for one year). Any advice will be greatly appreciated! Oh, and prayers are appreciated too! ;)

P.S. Did I mention that I love summer?? I am so glad to be on summer vacation! Even if I am spending it planning and preparing for next year.

I want to win this pencil sharpener!

So I've heard about this awesome pencil sharpener from Classroom Friendly Supplies. I was seriously considering buying one and now they are having a giveaway! How awesome is that? I really hope I win! :)

Also, did you know that if you are an established blog of 100+ followers, you can get a pencil sharpener for free with a review on your blog.

I love finding giveaways for teachers. It make me feel that we are appreciated. :) Because who doesn't like free stuff??

Here's the website link in order for your chance to win:

http://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/pages/free-sharpeners

Good luck! 

School Supplies!

Ok, I totally went crazy today and bought a BUNCH of school supplies. A few of the things I bought previously, but decided to put them in the pictures anyway.

Here's a pic of all my goodies!

 I am so excited because most of this was SUPER CHEAP! Most of it was purchased at Wal-Mart or Dollar Tree. A few things I purchased from the local drug store, lol!

I am teaching Social Studies this year, so you can see I got three packs of little social studies decor. They were $1 each at the Dollar Tree. I love the twirly swirly mobiles! Here's a closer pic of those:

The other things I purchased at Dollar Tree include:

* Colored Popsicle Sticks

* Assorted Googly Eyes (including extra large ones - 125 in a pack)

* The pink and black owl tote (which I plan to use as either a "quiet bag" or lessons on inference)

* 25 (yes, 25!) dry erase magnetic white boards (comes with one marker)

* Packs of colored mini dry-erase markers (for the mini boards of course!)

* Magnetic caddies - one pink and one blue (plan to stick these to my white board to put markers in)

* A clear stacking bin (I think this will be my "No Name" bin this year)

* Colored clip magnets (which I will use on my focus wall - I am converting one of my white boards into a focus wall this year! So excited about that!)

* Green and Yellow polka dot ribbons/bows (I thought these were so adorable! I plan to decorate with them somehow. They had many other colors as well!)

Here are more close-up pics:

Here is a list of the things I purchased at Wal-Mart:

* Colored Pencils ($1 or 50 cents each - depending on the brand)

* Markers ($1 or 50 each each - depending on the brand)

* 10 Glue sticks (10 cents each!)

* Cupcake cutouts (88 cents each!)

* Apple cutouts (88 cents each!)

* Pencil cutouts (88 cents each!)

* Silver Sparkly Border (10 in a pack - 88 cents each!)

* Pencil border (15 in a pack - 88 cents each!)

* 4 packs of Owl bookmarks (88 cents each!)

* 1 pack of "Reading is So Much Fun" Bookmarks (88 cents each!)

* 3 Owl tablecloths (88 cents each!)

* 3 Purple-flowered tablecloths (88 cents each!)

* 2 pink and 2 silver tubs (only 97 cents each right now!)

* Sheet protectors

* 2 4-packs of expo markers - only $2.50 each right now!

* Red pens (I think these were 97 cents....)

* 3 giant erasers (Batman, Mario, and a Skull - 88 cents each - will be used for prizes)

* 1 subject spiral notebooks (Only 17 cents each right now! I purchased 2 red, 2 yellow, and 2 green).

I think that's it....anything I missed I purchased from the drug store for $1 (such as the orange storage basket and the metal clips).

For the spiral notebooks, I had a few different ideas in mind. 

Idea # 1: This is an idea I got from another teacher via Pinterest. I could use the spiral notebooks for Writing Prompts. I would glue a prompt to the front of the notebook. Students would write on that prompt only in that notebook. Each student would get a turn to write on that particular prompt. This could be done when kids finish early or part of a station. I was thinking of doing a prompt that correlates with each Unit of the Treasures series we are using this year. 

Idea # 2: I got this idea as I was thinking of colors to use. I could post a question/problem on the board or in the actual notebook and have students respond to them. This could be used as a type of assessment to see how well students understand whatever skill/concept I am teaching.

Idea # 3: Going with the idea of using them for assessment journals, I could have the three colors: red, green, and yellow. I would have a question for students, such as "How well do you understand author's purpose?" and they could respond in the journal. Red would be for students who feel they do not understand, yellow would be for those who kind of understand, or are getting there, and green would be for students who feel they completely understand. Of course, students would need to know which notebook to use, and directions could be included on the front of the journal. That way, students are giving feedback and it's documentation!

I really like these ideas....maybe I'll do all 3 of 'em! 

Please let me know what y'all think!

Here a few more close-up pics of my goodies...and I'm sure these won't be the last that I buy! I'm going with an owl theme this year. I'm looking for some cheap (FREE!) resources on the internet that is owl-themed to use in my room. If you know of any, please let me know. 

Can you tell that I am really excited about this year?!?! LOL!

P.S. I LOVE these borders...It's a good thing that I live 45 minutes from the nearest Wal-Mart!

New Behavior Management System!

For the past few weeks my kiddos have been OFF THE CHAIN (and not in a good way)! Needless to say, it's been a little rough in my classroom the past few weeks. I constantly have to stop class due to disruptions. But, I got to thinking and decided I needed a new behavior plan. Due to my addiction of Pinterest, I found many great ideas for creating different behavior charts and other visuals. After browsing through many blogs, I realized I needed something simple since I am changing things in the middle of the year. So this is what I came up with.....

Taaaa-Daaaa! So simple, I know. But I have a morning group and an afternoon group and I am very limited on space in my classroom. I got the poster paper and letters from Dollar General. I plan to put up a picture of a cupcake or another sweet treat each time the class has a good day. When the board is full, the students will get a special treat such as special outside time, eating lunch in the classroom and watching a movie, or something along those lines. I am welcome to any ideas you all may have (especially ideas that won't cost me anything)! As a first year teacher, I am looking into every possible resource to find ideas.

Here is  both sections from a closer view:

Sorry about my shadow on the pics! I'm no photographer! Anywho, this is just a part of my new behavior management system. I also have an individual behavior management chart in progress. Hopefully, I can get that finished tomorrow. I pray that this will help minimize the disruptive behaviors. I also plan to use an idea I found on Pinterest where students have to complete a kind task for someone else each day. I have the task written on a strip of paper. The strips are in a jar and each day, students will receive a task that they must complete by the end of the day. 

Let's hope this works! I would love to hear from you if you have any advice or suggestions to make about minimizing disruptive behaviors. 

Hope everyone has a great week!

First Post & Bulletin Board Friends

I am so excited to begin my blog! I am a first year teacher. Currently, I teach third grade Language Arts, Reading, and Writing. After looking at so many of the incredibly awesome blogs there are out there made by teachers, I decided to start one as well. I will admit that right now, I don't have too many original ideas. Many of my ideas piggyback of other teacher's ideas. I'm hoping to learn a lot by beginning this blog. I am currently trying to collect as many helpful resources as I can. I am also still learning what is required  of me as a teacher and the best ways to manage my classroom. Any comments, tips, or helpful advice is truly appreciated. I love learning new things and I want my students to love learning as well. 


What made me finally decide to start a blog was last night, after I made a cute little tooth and cupid to put on the bulletin board in my classroom. I took pictures of them and really wanted to share them. So, here they are! I stole the idea from Pinterest (where else!?!). Not sure who the original person is who made these, but I sure appreciate their creativity. :)

Are they perfect? No, they could be better. But, are they cute? Totally! I love these and I look forwards to making more things for my bulletin board! They were pretty easy to make. I only used markers, construction paper, glue, scissors.


Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! :)