Tippy Tuesday (On A Wednesday) and a Question

Wow.  I haven’t blogged in some time!  I have been feeling a little blah lately.  Not sick blah, just blah.  And I feel bad that I cannot share awesome pictures of a classroom and new ideas.  But without a classroom, I am lacking in the idea department.  Anyways, enough about me!  I found an awesome tip online today and wanted to share this tip for Tippy Tuesday on a Wednesday.

While blog stalking, as I still do even on my blahest days, I found a tip for getting your lamination cut out quickly.  Send it home to parents who cannot volunteer in the classroom but would love to volunteer at home!  Ms. Thomas over at The First Grade Jungle shared an idea of using a laminated manila envelope with a note attached stating directions for cutting out the pieces.  They then send it back all cut out (and for Ms. Thomas it was the very next day)!  As a thank you, I would probably send the envelope with a little treat the first time I sent it home.  Something small and simple like a mini Bath & Body Works hand lotion or some chocolates would be perfect I think!  Just a small token of appreciation.  GENIUS!

So easy!  Put it in an envelope with some scissors and Voila!

And that is all for this Wednesday version of Tippy Tuesday!  But before I go a question.  Do you cut out your cards and things before laminating?  I always cut, laminate, cut again!  But I am noticing on blogs that I just may be adding an extra step!  What do you all do?  Am I wasting time?  Let me know:>.  Have a great rest of the week bloggy friends!

Tippy Tuesday~Cubby Names

I tried so hard to come up with an exciting title for this post, however, I am at a loss.  Luckily for me, the idea is a really good one.  Most primary classrooms these days usually have some sort of cubbies, giving each child a space to call their own.  In my previous classrooms, students had lockers to put their personal belongings, so cubbies were used to hold any paperwork that needed to go home.  I love the idea of cubbies.  However, I never quite figured out how to label them properly.  I like to use thematic stickers, like monsters, to go along with the classroom theme.  But then, the end of the year comes and I am left with the stickers.  Yeppers.  Still stuck! 

Pinterest to the rescue!  While perusing recently, I came across the most brilliant idea to solve this sticky problem.  Instead of using stickers, use binders clips with the students number on them.  To make them a bit more personal, I would probably add the student's names to the sticker and maybe some sort of little graphic.  Then at the end of the year, I would probably give them to the students, and voila, next year make new ones with new students.  A relatively cheap solution to a major pain! 

As far as where this photo came from, it was pinned by user.  If it is your orignial idea, thank you and please let me know!



Heather's B.I.G. Heart!

Heather over at Heather's Heart is celebrating her fur baby Edison's birthday!  If she can get 50 new followers by next Tuesday, she will donate $1.00 per new follower, $50 total, to the Winnie Berry Pet Adoption Center.  This is the no kill shelter where she got Edison, who is a total blessing in her life.  So if you aren't following Heather yet, go do so NOW!  It is for a good cause.  Plus you would be getting to know a fabulous gal!  So don't walk, RUN over to Heather's blog and help her help animals in need!

Tippy Tuesday~What Happened To...

I am sure you all already know about the fabulous Cara Carroll at The First Grade Parade!  I want to be just like her when I grow up!  Anywho, last week, she posted a fabulous idea to use with a sub!  If you are gone unexpectedly, have your students write about what they think happened to you.  Sounds like fun right?!?!  This little writing assignment serves multiple purposes.  First, it would be a great laugh to read what your students think happened to you.  Second, I never liked to have a sub do an actual lesson for Writing Workshop, so this would be a great fill in.  And lastly, I can never come up with enough for my kids to do with a sub because I am selfish and want to save the fun stuff for when I am actually at school, so this is one more thing to add to the list for a sub.  Love it!  And it was super easy to create, like five minutes or less, even for a newbie creator like me!  Click here to go to see Mrs. Carroll's students writing called What Happened to Mrs. Carroll?  Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Follow Me On Pinterest!

Happy Sunday to all!  I hope you are all prepped and ready for Valentine's Day, as well as the rest of the week!  I just added the Follow Me On Pinterest button to my sidebar (I know, miracle!), so feel free to check out my boards and follow me!  I am a self diagnosed Pinterest addict, but it is so much fun.  Happy pinning friends!

Friday Freebie~Hoo Can Read?

What could be better than a Friday Freebie?!?!  This freebie is ideal for kindergarten and first grade students who need practice with real and nonsense words.  The nonsense words are similar to those used on DIBELS testing and the real words are CVC words.  Instead of using a replica of the actual DIBELS test, this is center like and can be practiced alone or with an adult, if need be!  Please let me know if you have any problems with the download!  I am still an uploading newbie!  Have a great weekend!

Hoo Can Read

Tippy Tuesday~Classroom Clean Up

As a teacher, one of my least favorite times of day is clean up time at the end of the day.  It can be very chaotic, and you always have those special few that are chasing each other around the classroom instead of doing their jobs like they are supposed to.  I believe I have found the cure for the madness though!  I have had a mystery piece of garbage many times (I cannot stand garbage and other random stuff on the floor), but Find It/Fix It from Littlest Learners/Clutter Free Classroom Blog takes mystery garbage to a NEW level.

To play the clean up "game" Find It/Fix It, you, the teacher, find a piece of mystery "stuff", store it in your brain, and let students go to town, finding and fixing the "stuff" that is out of place.  It takes about one to two minutes and the "game" ends when the room is perfect.  The rules are simple: no talking, no running, no maneuvering under furniture, and only pick something up if you know where it goes.  If a child talks, they sit down and are disqualified.  Once finished, students stand behind their seats while the teacher gives elimination clues to reveal the winner. 

After the "game" is over and the winner is revealed, the teacher can give a prize of their choosing.  The key to the games success, though, is the teacher choosing the winner before starting clean up, and then keeping an eye out for something they fix to share.  Keep a list of who has already had a turn and earned a prize and then start over when everyone has had a turn.  This should keep all students on their toes!

And that is this weeks tip!  As I said, this is not my idea, but I love the easy twist to add to something I already do in my classroom!  Hope it works for you too!

Currently February

I am linking up with  Farley again for her monthly currently.  And of course, I created mine in the adorable poster she made, but once again I cannot figure out how to get it onto a blog post!  So here it is, old school style!

• LISTENING to The Chew as they talk about the traditions of the '50s.  Jello molds anyone?
• LOVING that I got my invitation to join Birch Box today.  I have been on the wait list forever!
• THINKING I wish it would snow.  I know, I know.  I am not normally a winter person either, but seeing grass in Northern Michigan in February is just weird.
• WANTING a pair of Mickey Mouse ears like they are wearing on The Chew.
• NEEDING my unemployment to go through.
• RAK I am donating a small amount of money to my church's TLC (Together Lifting Children) program.

Tune in next month to see if I can get the poster to magically appear on my blog!  And go link up if you haven't yet:>!

What Do You Love?

Kimberly at Funky First Grade Fun is having a What Do You Love linky party!  And who doesn't love a linky party?!  Yes, the Super Bowl is on in the background and the Giants just scored a touchdown.  However, it is not something that I am super interested in.  So I will link up and just keep an ear on the game instead:>! 

• I love to watch movies with my mom or my friends.
• I love to read books on a comfy couch or in bed.
• I love to shop for clothes, for me or for my niece, school supplies, and classroom stuff.
• I love to collect freebies from other blogs!
• I love to listen to country.
• I love to eat ice cream.
• I love to talk about anything and everything!  I tend to ask a lot of questions!
• I love to make hot chocolate with extra marshmallows and whipped cream.
• I love to travel to my sisters.
• I love to teach math!

I am technically challenged and cannot figure out how to make the poster editable...Anyone have any tips for me?  Y'all enjoy the rest of the Super Bowl watching or blog stalking, depending on your preference!  And be sure to link up with Kimberly if you haven't yet!

Sight Word Ring Toss

Happy weekend to all!  Yesterday, while perusing Pinterest, I found a cute homemade version of ring toss and I was suddenly inspired:>!  You can find the original version here.  All you need is paper plates, paint or markers, scissors, a paper towel tube, and some tape to make this part of the game.  Below is a picture of what it looks like.  This version was used at home, but I figured the same version could be used in the classroom.  Looks easy peasy right?!

To prepare for the game in the classroom, I would put three tape lines on the floor of the classroom.  The first yellow, the closest to the ring stand (3 feet away), the second red (4 feet away), in the middle of the yellow and blue tape, and then blue (5 feet away).  On flashcards, write your grade levels sight words or dolch words, and sort them into three groups according to difficulty.  Then you are ready to play!

To play the game, break your students into two teams.  I always let my students pick the name of their team, but that of course is up to you.  Then, when it is their turn, allow each student to pick their own level of difficulty for their word.  If the student gets the word correct, then they can choose which line they would like to toss a ring from.  They can either get three, four, or five points for their team.  If they get the word incorrect, it is the next persons turn.  Play continues until everyone gets a turn, or as long as the teacher allows.  Whichever team has the most points at the end is the winner!

And that is it. Sounds easy and fun right?  I thought so!  I know any little kiddos I know would love it.  I hope someone can use it!  Who couldn't use another fun and easy way to practice sight words?

Just Another Wandering Wednesday

I woke up with the Bangles song Manic Monday in my head this morning!  So this blog title pays tribute to that song!  I am linking up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday!  Here is what I am loving this first day of February!

• I'm loving the little bit of warmer weather going through Northern Michigan.  It is 35 degrees, which is quite warm for February.
• I'm loving this little cutie.  This is my niece Emma Rae and she is six months old.  I may be biased, but she is my absolute FAVORITE!  Losing my job was devastating, but I have been so blessed to be a stay at home auntie this year!

• I am loving that I found out about the FREE Red Stamp app from Cara Carroll over at The First Grade Parade.  It is how I made the cute hearts on the picture above!  Great find:>!
• I am loving that it is almost Valentine's Day.  I love pink, so this is my kind of holiday!

And as per always, I am loving some Pinterest finds this week! 

I love the meaning behind this quote, as well as the dress.

I am in love with the Lose It app.  Helps me keep my calories in check!

I cannot wait to do this 100th day activity when I am back in the classroom.  Popping balloons in the classroom?  What could be more fun?!

My One Little Word (OLW) for 2012 is organize.  So of course, I am in love with this extremely organized and stylish desk!

And that is all for this week!  Check out Jamie's blog for more Wandering Wednesday fun!