New Year, New Resolutions!

I've always been one for setting Resolutions for the New Year.

Always nice to get a fresh start on things.

Also love hearing the resolutions of young minds...

instead of weight loss and diets, 

they usually involve candy eating, and more playing.

Oh to be young again.

Someone pinch me!

Someone pinch me!

You know those school years that just all fall 

Oh-so-Nicley into place.

THIS is one of them.

Such a sweet bunch of kiddos this year.

life is good.

We are gearing up to celebrate "Fire Safety"

for the month of October.

So many cuties in this pack,

can't wait to make our firemen!

Maybe we will even get a visit from a fireman,

A very tall, handsome, uniformed fireman.

(It's for the kids, right ;)

Is this teacher heaven?

If you are reading this blog then you are probably a teacher.

And chances are, 

if your a teacher, then there are some strange things that make you happy.

You know what I'm talking about....

freshly sharpened pencils

clean desks

school supplies 

freshly laminated things...

I got a little antsy.  

I've been creating all these things for my classroom, 

and I just wanted them laminated..

like NOW. 

Say hello to my little friend.

I am in teacher heaven!

Do you need that napkin laminated? 

:)

Sight Word Fun!

These make me happy.

They bring a little fun to sight words.

Also love that they incorporate some math graphing skills.

They include Dolch sight words, Pre-Primer- 2nd grade.

Can't wait to debut them in a few short weeks!

(Goodness...WHERE did the summer go?)

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!)