Back to School Shopping!

I went to Target last week and it was glorious.  I went wandering up and down the aisles ALONE. My kids were at home. :) The dollar spot hit me first with the laminated reading and writing graphic organizers.  Did I need them? Yes, yes I think I do... 

I was the only person in the school supply section. I had a mission - attain my Crayola markers and Expos.  I had a plan.  I attacked it. 

20 Crayola broadline markers for the kids and 2 thin sets for myself.  Out of the 20 sets, I put 10 out in August, and save the other 10 for January.  The thin markers, well I like using them for anchor charts. They don't bleed through my anchor chart paper.  

Then I picked up some Expo markers for myself and the ultra clean whiteboard that will be waiting for me at school. 

I also picked up a desk calendar for my info board.  I like to hang one up and then update with all the important dates to know.  I hang it up with 2 binder clips and pushpins.  There is a joy that comes with ripping off the old month and starting a fresh new one.  Plus, years ago I hated having to change out the monthly numbers on a pocket chart.

My Amazon order was also delivered.  Only 2 items.  :)  I was proud of myself.  Playdough and Birthday Pens.  

Play dough to give them for a beginning of the school year project, and it does help to relieve stress.

Birthday Pens because it's a cheap, functional gift that they seem to all appreciate every year.  I give them a little note that explains the different color meanings. I have this 8x on a powerpoint page, and then print it on neon paper. An easy little gift that seems to mean so much.  

Hope this helps,

The Perfect Classroom Cup

Disclaimer:  I am not being reimbursed to spread my joy about these cups... I just really really love them.  They come from Bando and they are really THE PERFECT CLASSROOM cup.  They do not drip condensation all over my desk and papers.  Ice stays cold for hours.  They aren't glass, and are heavy duty.  The downside is that I can't throw them into the dishwasher, but that's not the end of the world.  I usually just fill the big cups up with ice and a slice of lemon at home, and haul them to school where I add water to get everything nice and chilly, then just continue to add more water throughout the day...  I do use them at home too. :)  

Have you shopped at Bando?  It's an addicting little shop!

Spring Break Five for Friday

I have loved spring break- a chance to get away and relax.

This year we took the boys to Pismo again, it's a favorite place. 

We had so much fun.  Played at the dinosaur park, went to the children's discovery museum, had old fashion ice cream sandwiches at a little place called Batch, played on the beach, went shopping, had the traditional breakfast of cinnamon rolls, and I finished a book.  Now we're home and have a couple of days to tackle the projects around the house . 

I am so blessed to be their mama.  

Hubby is steam cleaning our downstairs carpets, and I'm washing all the curtains. We all worked on clearing the clutter from the surfaces so we can see the actual wood of the tables.  The boys will be planting our garden tomorrow, and we're meeting up with my sister in law (and baby niece) at the zoo.  Only 5 more school weeks until this relaxation is the norm. 

I did "work" a little this break- I started some math puzzles for my class.  They aren't uploaded yet, but I have place value, rounding, and adding/subtracting larger numbers covered.  Math is forefront on my brain since I had to also go and pick up my brand new teacher editions at the IMC.  

I also got a few packages delivered this week for next year - a class set of 5 gallon tubs (new textbook tubs for under their desks), and 60 sparkly student size whiteboards.  Now I just have to find a place to store them at school since there is NO ROOM in our garage.  

Sorry for so much rambling - my brain is going a million miles a minute...

  

Make sure you check back tomorrow, my BBB's have joined forces with tips, freebies, and a giveaway. 

Linking this all up with Doodlebugs and her famous Five for Friday linky party!  

Hope you had a great day!  

What I Bought...

It was so easy to spend money this morning... really really easy.  I think it had something to do with the fact that today is my birthday and I love to shop.  So today, even though I already checked out (actually twice), I wanted to link up with Diane over at Fifth in the Middle and Blog Hoppin to share.  

I realized that mainly I was searching for in class projects for my class to complete... you know, something to help fill these long days after testing before the last week of fun can begin... and I found a ton but then had to back track a bit because of my budget.  Here's what I decided on for these wonderful days of shopping bliss!  

Award Winning Mom or Dad 

By Hello Mrs. Sykes

What If Task Cards

By Teaching with a Mountain View

What's my name worth?

By Miss Math Dork

Super Spelling Activities for any Spelling Words

By Collaboration Cuties

End of the Year Memories Task Cards

By Teaching with a Mountain View

A Roller Coaster Day

By Lovin Lit

Idiom Images Task Cards

By Teaching with a Mountain View

Breaking up the Bakery (Fraction Project)

By Teaching with a Mountain View

Movie Marathon (Division Project)

By Teaching with a Mountain View

Resort Report (Multi Digit Multiplication Project)

By Teaching with a Mountain View

Area and Perimeter of Irregular Shapes

By Elementary Lesson Plans

Multiplication Array-Bot

By Elementary Lesson Plans

4th Grade Frys 100 Sight Words

By Cadillac Content

4th Day in 4th Grade

By Ashleigh

Piece of Cupcake (Sub Folder/Binder)

By Elementary Lesson Plans

All About Me Poster (I'm not buying the huge ones next year)

By Elementary Lesson Plans

*I also picked up basically all her other posters to use

Most Likely Awards

By Ashlyn Ellsworth

Electricity Mini Book

By Elementary Lesson Plans

Line Graph Math Center

By Elementary Lesson Plans

I'm sure you can tell I had a lot of fun.  All this (plus some other random posters) came out to be right around $38 after the beautiful discount.  Not bad!  I consider myself a bargain shopper, and I did myself proud.  :)  

Hope you had a great day!  I did.  :)  

Shopping Time!

The other day this coupon button popped up on  Facebook and I eagerly clicked the button.  
I didn't know TBA had clothes!!  I'm all for dressing up at work... or is it dressing down?  
Here's what's in my cart.  There are different colors  and options to choose from as well.    
I figure since some of these shirts are a one day a year type of thing, I can plan on wearing them for the next 10 years of teaching.  :)   Have a great Tuesday!

Hall Pass and Giveaway News!

So excited to join Reagan from Turnstall's Teaching Tidbits with her great linky party!
Product Just like Reagan mentioned - my favorite product is also whatever I'm working on at the moment. Everything I have created I have made and used with my own kiddos.  It's rewarding seeing the materials in action in the classroom.   So, my newest product is this.  The second set of Froggie Fraction Task Cards.  The first set includes task cards for equivalent fractions, simplifying, and changing mixed numbers to improper, and improper back to mixed.  This set is adding and subtracting like and unlike fractions.  The first 24 cards are with like fractions, with the last 8 the students have to change one denominator to be able to add.  Just wanted to give students a little challenge.  
Area I have a ton of favorite places in my classroom.  Hey, I love my classroom! (Ha Ha - Do you get it?)  It makes me happy.  My absolute favorite place to sit is at my desk.  Now, I took this picture a while back when I joined up with the Desk Linky Party.  I don't get a chance to really sit at it throughout the day, but it is a sense of calm especially during prep, recess, lunch, or after school.  I love my picture of my family, having things organized by the end of the day, and just having a small space for me.  It's definitely my little teacher "office" in the entire room.  I call students over to chat, to have them read to me one on one.  The rest of the time students use the area to sit on the floor during centers, to lay down during silent reading.  It gets a lot of use.  I love it! Here are other pictures of my classroom - I have quite a few different pages with pictures to share!
Signal I have used quite a bit of stuff over the years.  This year I started with Whole Brain Teaching.  It kind of works with my class.  I say kind of because my class needs things changed up a lot - keeps them on their toes.   I'm stuck in a rut though, I'm used to doing the DA's.  Meaning, "Da-da-da-da-da" - with the class response of "da-da".  I also will clap it out.  Sometimes I will say, "Give me 5" - 5 meaning ears listening, eyes watching, hands still, sitting/standing frozen, ready to participate.  The thing I used on Friday the students really liked.  I said the first part to a phrase, and they did the second.  Example,  I said "Captain", they said "America".  I said, "Iron", they said "Man".  I said, "Spider", they said "Man".  It got their attention pretty fast.  Of course my brain froze up pretty quickly with trying to remember all the Superheroes.  
Sanity My team keeps me sane this year at work.  They are awesome to work with.  We can laugh together, cry together, be frustrated together, and share the workload.  They are creative, they are caring, they are friends.  It's so nice to work with friends.  Real friends that you can count on for a hug and a smile.
I think keeping things organized and keeping up with a written to do list also helps my sanity.   Last summer I found this on one of my school shopping sprees.  It's a set of monthly to do lists.  At least I use them at school for my monthly to dos.  It's amazing when I'm tired or feeling overwhelmed, how easily it is to forget what I need to work on.  My brain starts to hurt and it's just over.  There have been times lately that I would just sit at my desk, knowing I have tons more paperwork to complete, and I couldn't remember exactly what it was without looking at my written list.  Anyhow, just wanted to share that it really helps.  :)    
I also wanted to share that Tonya from Tonya's Treats for Teachers is celebrating 700 followers.  :)  She has a massive giveaway going on, and I get to share in her joy.  Fun fun!

    Hope you are having a lovely Sunday!