Math Journals

     Every year, I make math journals for my students.  I realized several years ago that my students were not using a whole notebook so I decided to do something about it.  I decided to cut the spiral-bound notebooks in half!  I spend half the money and they take up half as much space, plus they’re the perfect size for my first-graders.

     To start, I buy the notebooks at Wal-mart.  They cost 20 cents apiece, and I needed 12 books to make enough for 24 students.  So I only spent $2.40 for this year’s supply.  Usually I buy the notebooks in 1 color, but this year I decided to live dangerously and buy 4 different colors.  I’m wild that way.

     To make the notebooks, I start by taking the first page and find the line that falls in the middle and cut all the way across.  This is my guideline for cutting the rest of the pages and cover.

It takes a little work and time to make, but the math journals are really worth it. 

Birthday Box

Something I like to do for my kiddos is to make them feel extra special on their birthdays.  I mean, come on, who doesn’t like to celebrate their own special day?  Several years ago I made a birthday box and my kids have absolutely loved it.  I took an old box that our copy paper came in and covered it with “Happy Birthday” wrapping paper.  At first, I used a stapler, but after getting poked by staples I quickly figured out that using a hot glue gun works much better.  I have had to rewrap my box a couple times since the original.  Here is this year’s birthday box.

I make little goodie bags before school starts with little goodies from the Dollar Tree.  I usually include an activity booklet, a stencil, a Happy Birthday pencil, and a pair of cool sunglasses.  This year I have my cute little pirate cups to keep the goodies in.

I also keep a supply of books in the birthday box so each child can pick a book for their special day.  I have gotten these books from yard sales, used book stores, and with my bonus points from my Scholastic book club orders.  It’s amazing how getting these little things can make a child’s special day even more special.

More Pirates in the Classroom

I have worked in my room the past few days and have added a few more pirate elements.  My dear friend, Angela, found the cutest pirate cups at Target and offered to pick me up some!  She is awesome!  I am going to use these in my birthday box for the kids’ birthday presents.

I also changed my word wall board.  Before it looked like this.

But then I found the cutest item on the Teachers Pay Teachers website.  It’s a pirate themed word wall set!  Now my board looks like this.  The clipart is so adorable I bought it from ScrappinDoodles so I could make my own products!

I also made my helpers area into Mrs. Seymour’s Treasured Helpers.  I had bought 2 sets of pirate themed bulletin board materials and I used the big treasure chest and jewels to make the helper’s chart.  I will add my students’ names to the jewels after I get my class list.  I also found the job cards from another website.  I’m thinking about redoing the helper charts because the pirate is not as cute as the clipart.  What do you think?

 

I attached adhesive velcro dots to the job cards and the back of the jewels.  When I change helpers, it will be a snap.

I also have a vocabulary area on my bulletin board.

I also fixed my literacy center chart with pirate themed center labels.  The first time I made them the cards were different sizes.  I’ve figured out how to fix that, so now I’m going to have to make a new set.  Don’t you hate that!?

     

Another product I found on the TPT website were these golden rules posters. 

Last, but not least, I found some pirate themed name tags at The SchoolBox teacher supply store.  I’m sure I will find many uses for them as the year goes on.  As you can see, I am using them as labels for our finished and unfinished work section. 

Teachers Pay Teachers Products

 

I have finally figured out how to make and post products on Teachers Pay Teachers.  I have made 4 products:  Pirate Theme Center Labels, Bee Rules, Bear Number and Number Word Cards, and a bear-themed number and number word matching game.  Please check them out and let me know what you think.  Hopefully, I will get the hang of this and be able to produce products to post a little more quickly.

Ladybug's Teacher Files

Kristen, at Ladybug's Teacher Files and Ladybug Teaching Resources, has reached 1,000 followers!  To celebrate, she is having a giveaway of blogger templates!  I didn't even know there were such things!  All you have to do is follow both sites and post that you are doing so.  There will be 4 winners, so check it out!  Click on the link to register.
http://ladybugsteacherfiles.blogspot.com/2011/07/1000-followers-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LadybugsTeacherFiles+%28Ladybug%27s+Teacher+Files%29&utm_content=Yahoo%21+Mail

Take Home Folders

Here are a couple of other things I found at Deanna Jump's blog that I will be using.  Sometimes it is really hard to get parents to send excuses for a child's absences and notes about transportation changes, so Deanna had the brilliant idea of placing pre-made notes in the students' take home folders.  Love that idea!  Anything to help make communication easier between parents and teachers.  Simply click on the pic to print it.






I hope you find these pages as useful as I do!  Have a great day and enjoy the rest of your summer!

AAAARRRGGGHHH! Pirate Theme!

I am heading back to school today to finish getting my room ready (I hope).  I am doing a pirate theme for my classroom this year.  I found a great Pirate Newsletter template for 99 cents at www.teachersclubhouse.com that is awesome!  I have a pirate themed bulletin board all ready but I need suggestions for a title.  I also bought a big, blue treasure chest at The School Box the other day.  I could just stay in that teacher supply store all day!  I am going to post pics later today and I would love suggestions for any other ideas you all can think of.  Have a great day, me hearties!

Ok, I did not finish my room, but I DID get several things accomplished.  This is my word wall board.  I need a catchy title for it.  It has to sound like pirate talk, though.  I thought about making a speech bubble for the little pirate with the words "There Be Treasure in These Words."

This is the bulletin board outside my classroom that will welcome my new crew of 1st graders.  I need a suggestion for a title.

 

I found this cute idea on Deanna Jump's blog. (http://mrsjumpsclass.blogspot.com/)  If you've never seen her blog, you are really missing out.  She has so many wonderful ideas that I am "borrowing" for my pirate theme.  This will be the cover for my kiddies' take-home folders.  I also bought several pirate-themed items from www.teacherspayteachers.com. 

     I still need to make a job chart area and behavior board.  Any suggestions that will go along with my pirate theme?



My Foray into the World of Blogging

Well, I did it!  I am excited to say that I have created my blog!    I have been checking out a lot of other teachers' blogs, and I  have been so inspired by the willingness of everyone to share what they have learned through their experiences and I only hope I can do the same.  I can't wait to add more as the school year begins, and I hope this will be a great way of communicating with my students' parents.