Bottle Cap Magnets

Magnets $1.99 for 6

I was perusing through Hobby Lobby for good deals and came across a stack of clearance decorative bottle caps.  They were meant for scrapbooking but I thought they would make really cute magnets for my whiteboard.  All you need is a glue gun, magnets, and bottle caps.

If you happen to drink bottle capped beverages, you can collect your used caps and spray paint them to match your decor.  Now why didn't I think of that before I completed this project?!?

In all (3 sets of 6), this project cost me $11.34.  What a great way to spruce up the classroom for a fairly cheap price!

Bottle Caps $1.79 for 6

Finished Product

QR Codes in First Grade

I must say that I am frankly pretty giddy about all of the possibilities.  I just completed a 4 day training and talked to a teacher there about the exciting ways to use QR codes in the classroom.  I came home, did some online searching, and came across even more ways to use them in the classroom.

For the first time, our primary classroom will be getting technology other than a few old computers ("Only the older kids are able to successfully use iPods and iPads"...I know, right?!?)  in our room and I think the kids will love using an iPod to scan a QR code.

Since all of the books that I inherited for my listening center were books on tape...and there are no longer any working tape players at my school...I thought now would be a great time to convert them to MP3 files.  They have been taking up precious storage space in my classroom for years.  I have a low group of readers coming in and I am thinking I can use this same technique so that they can hear directions for their independent activities rather than having to struggle to read them or rely heaily on the other students while I work with small math/reading/writing groups.  Our 3rd grade buddies can record themselves reading fluently and the 1st graders could listen to their buddy 'read' to them during the week as a literacy activity.  The possibilities seem endless!

A great site, Langwitches,  provides detailed step-by-step directions on how to create audio QR Codes in a downloadable PDF.  Older kids can use these directions to create their own QR projects- they have picture support and are easy to follow.

Click here for a few 1st grade ideas

As I get a few books recorded as an MP3, I will show you what the finished product looks like.  Check back later for a few other freebies, too.  I was just so excited, I had to share now :)

Objective Picture Frames

It is helpful to adults and students alike to have the objectives for the day posted.  When students know what is clearly expected of them, they can achieve higher levels of success.  As a result, I was posting daily objectives on my whiteboard.  I was tired of the objectives taking up so much of this precious space and came across this idea on Pinterest. Needless to say, I was elated!  I don't have much wall space either but these will fit nicely alongside my whiteboard rather than on it.

I found $30 picture frames on clearance at Hobby Lobby for $3 a piece. Since they were meant to be a completed piece, I had to dismantle them before I could begin on my project.  Because the backs don't really matter, it wasn't a big deal- I just tore off the paper backing, took off the Styrofoam piece, and pulled out the dozens of industrial staples.  Once that was done, I was ready to begin.

 

I took my frames outside and, at the insistence of my husband, spray painted them on a box instead of the grass.   For some reason, he doesn't like when I do that :)  With the 102 degree heat and no shade in sight, this process went fairly quickly.  I just used a left over can of metallic spray paint that I had from a previous classroom project.  After letting them sit and dry for a while, I brought them into the house and started the next part.

Sorry for the blurry picture!

I bought clearance scrapbook paper, also from Hobby Lobby, to fit my classroom decor.  I printed subject labels and used rubber cement to tack them onto the paper.  I reinserted the glass, now clean and free of the ever annoying sticky residue, and backed it with the 'art' that was in there previously.  Since the back doesn't matter, I just used grey tape to hold everything in.  This will also make it easy to take apart should I choose to repaint or redo the insides.  Now it is ready to be written on by dry erase markers and will look much better than my previously cluttered whiteboard. Yay!  

Summer Happenings

Many people have commented over the years, "You should start a blog! You are so creative!" and I have just never had the gumption to do so.  This has been one of the first summers that I haven't been working the entire summer so I thought now would be a fun time to explore and follow through on my, "Yeah, maybe someday!" response to blogging. 

As every teacher knows, it is very difficult to turn off the teacher within us; summers included.  I have spent my summer thinking ahead and getting excited for the upcoming school year.  We got new carpet at our school over the summer so we had to completely pack our rooms so that everything could be moved out.  With this de-cluttering experience, I thought it would be a good time to change the decor and color scheme to my classroom.  I can't wait until we are allowed back in (yes, they took our keys!) to unpack and then I can begin to decorate my new space.  Since I am an outdoorsy person, I picked very earthy tones that will also provide an environment that has a calming feeling. 

Here is a picture of all of the different fabrics that I will use in my room.  I will be using the bolt of chocolate brown fabric as all of my bulletin boards with a ribbon border that matches the other fabric colors.