Monday, August 5, 2013

Monday Made It - Classroom Crafts

I'm linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for another Monday Made It! I've been pretty busy working on a few projects for my classroom, and some of them even got completed! 

I'm starting to feel the crunch now that I'm spending this entire week in a workshop about teaching about energy. I mean, it's nice money, and I'm sure I'll learn some cool things, but it lasts from 8am to 5pm, and two nights it goes til 8:00 pm. By the time the workshop ends I'll only have one week of summer left before I go back for inservice. And I'll be spending most of that week in my classroom!

Anyway! Here are my finished projects!

The first was a simple one, but something I should have done years ago. It's funny because I didn't even realize I HAD this problem until I saw something on the internet a few week ago.

 I've always had a box for kids to drop Box Tops in, but kids are always coming up to me with little things that they've found that need to be put away. Lost dice, legos, a stray pattern block, etc. It's never convenient to put them away, so they inevitably build up into a stack on my desk that has to be dealt with. Now I've got a box that kids can just drop it into, no interruptions needed, and the "class cleaners" can empty the box when they have time.

And it seems like I give a band-aid to someone every other day! And usually it's when I'm needing to get something started. Why have I been storing them in an out of reach cabinet above the sink for the last 12 years?! No more! Why can't kids just get themselves a band-aid? They cost like a penny each.

Next up! I saw a cute "NOISE" level tracker on Looking from Third to Fourth's blog the other day, and had to have one that matched up with my classroom colors. It's hard to tell, but it's yellow and green. I'm using all the colors from my blog in my room this year! If you haven't seen the "NOISE level tracker," The letters are magnetic and you basically take a letter off the board until there is just "No" left. Then kids know that there is NO more talking.

Speaking of magnets: I'm pretty much sick of them. I just finished attaching magnetic tape to the back of my CAFE and VOICES strategies to put up on my boards this year. I decided to make all new CAFE cards to match my theme...should have just used my old ones!

Handy tip: I write the letter on the back of the strategy that matches its place. It makes them way easier to find later when you're sorting through them to find the strategy you need.

Finally, I made one of these!


When it comes to pencils I have gone through phases. The going green advocate in me shudders at the thought that my classes in the last 12 years have probably gone through a forest worth of pencils. 

But I decided last year not to fight it anymore and just had a constant supply of pencils at the ready. I'm done fighting. I'm still going to try out Ladybug's Teacher Files' Pencil Challenge, but for those who lose their pencil...just come and grab a pre-sharpened one from the dispenser! And of course, it was an excuse to use my washi tape.

I suppose my other projects are for another Monday!

Now, don't forget to pop on over to the giveaway on Jivey's Facebook page!


11 comments:

  1. I think you may have tipped the scales for me -- going to have to get one of these pencil dispensers! They are cute, and I have washi to use :)

    Julie
    Math is Elementary

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the pencil dispenser! Where did you get it?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the pencil dispenser also but I'm thinking my students will lose one on purpose just to use my dispenser! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the pencil dispenser and had one...until one of my sweeties picked it up and dropped it. Yep - a thousand pieces. I don't know who wanted to cry more, him or me?! I have the band aid and box tops boxes but the lost and found box - GENIUS! Stop over and check out some of my tips, tricks and freebies

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the "Noise" tracker!
    The pencil dispenser is adorable!
    Fabulous Fifth Grade Fun

    ReplyDelete
  6. You will LOVE the lost stuff box! I have a bucket for mine and it's so nice when kids say I don't have (blank) and you say check the lost stuff box! And it's great because you won't have kiddos giving you stuff all day long!
    A Tall Drink of Water

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love your pencil dispenser! SO cute! I'm totally making a Lost & Found - so smart!!

    Molly
    Lucky to Be in First

    ReplyDelete
  8. The most inexpensive pencils I've found are the misprinted ones from forteachersonly.com. A gross for about $7. I've even gotten boxes that were library themed and had apples on them, which was great. You must go through more bandages than I do; I have them at the library circulation desk and probably give out two to three a week. With middle school students, having them readily available might lead to some interesting... projects!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your Made Its turned out great. I love the pencil dispenser. Washi tape is such a fun way to add some color to just about anything.

    I hope your getting lots of good ideas from your inservice.

    Enjoy the final days of summer.
    Thank you!

    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  10. Made the Noise letters last night! Can't wait to try it out. I am really digging the pencil dispenser. Where did you find?? I think a "lost" box is a great idea! I quit hiding my band-aids too a few years ago. It's so much easier for the kids to get out of a drawer now, BUT they tend to leave the wrappers in there which drives me bonkers!
    Alison
    Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

    ReplyDelete
  11. I need ideas for what to do with my blank white board space, I want it to be useful not just pretty. Any ideas?

    Melissa
    Ms. Chae Charges In

    ReplyDelete

09 10 11 12
Blogging tips