Be a Bucket Filler!

How cute is this.

I mean seriously, 

who WOULDN'T want to be a bucket filler?

I always try and start my year off with this.

Setting the expectations for how we treat others.

A cute edition is to actually have a bucket in your classroom.

Every time you catch someone "filing buckets"

or getting complements in the hallway

add a pom pom to the bucket.

When the bucket is filled treat those little ones to a surprise!

Okay...get excited...

because....

It's a FREEBIE HERE!

WOoHoo, happy Back to School everyone!

Banners!

I've got a thing for party decorations.

Poms, banners, the whole shambam.

I love decorations!

That is why I am so excited about THIS!

On the first week I'm going to have students fill them out as a

 getting-to-know-you activity.

Then we're going to string them together to make a pennant banner!

Why didn't I think of that?!?

As teachers we're always learning.

Learning from your own mistakes, learning from your students,

and learning from other teachers.

I'm on year 7 of teaching and still have "ah-ha" moments every year!

Here are a few fun tips and tricks...

the kind that make you think,

"Why didn't I think of that!"
(Thank you Pinterest!)

1.  Tie Crates together with zip ties: Instant Cubbies!

2. Dye Clothes pins with Fabric Dye. So much prettier!

3. Or dip them in glue, then glitter. (Yes please!)

4. Chairs too loud?  Tie felt onto the bottom with rubber bands. Cheap and easy!

5.  Students using too much glue?  Soak a sponge in glue...problem solved!

6.  Students keep forgetting name?  Have them highlight it before turning in papers!

7.  And if they still forget...A simple towel bar and hooks. Genius!

8.  Messy Paint?  Put it inside of Starbucks cups.

9.  Logins on paint chips.  So pretty!

10.  Pencil dispenser.

11.  Glue PomPoms onto dry erase markers for instant erasers!

12.  Text parents without them getting your phone number, genius! 

(And trust me, never give out your cell phone #, NEVER!)

13. Vinyl decals for instant writing boards!

14.  Wrist bands for student reminders! 

(You know how hard these are to get off, there's no losing these on the way home :)

15.  VistaPrint for student punch cards! They are almost always offering 250 cards for FREE!

(I know that word got your attention, teachers love FREE!)

 Earn a punch for doing well!

16.  A cool down jar.  Shake it up...student must cool down until glitter settles.

(I know some adults who could use one of these :)

17.  Paint Glue.  Add paint to glue.  (You KNOW how much glue us teachers accumulate!)

Math Wall

This project took forever.

My perfectionism kicked into high gear

I wanted to be sure everything was just perfect, 

that every math word was included,

the every card had the perfect graphic to explain.

I can happily say that they are finished! **enter applause here**

I'll be laminating them promptly,

ready for my rockin' Common Core Math wall this year!