Monday Made It: Lawn Sign, Book Bags, Kindness Sticks

Happy Monday Friends! I'm so excited to be a guest blogger over at my friend Tara's blog, 4th Grade Frolics, for her  Monday Made It linky. Go check out all the goodies I made for this upcoming year! I'm super excited about the motivation it will bring to our classroom!

Click the image.

Monday Made It-Classroom and Home Decor, Ultimate Response to Reading Resource

Yes, I know it's Tuesday...I just always seem to run into snags, but I did make it! :)

My first made it was inspired by a chore chart post and as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to make them for my classroom. I've used sticks with students names for years. I don't use them all the time, but I love if I have to pick someone on the spot to have a privilege or start a discussion, they're readily available. For years I just wrote their name with a Sharpie, but these are too cute aren't they?


On my computer I created the "popsicle stick" shape and then typed my student names. I wanted two sets, a black and white set and a color set.

 

I cut the straight edges with a paper cutter and then trimmed the rounded corner by hand with scissors. Great task while watching a movie!

 After cutting the paper, I applied a thin coat of Modge Podge (glossy) to the stick, lined the paper up on the stick, then applied another layer of Modge Podge. I think they'll hold up with one coat, but I did apply a second coat later that night just to be sure. I didn't do all that work for them to fall apart!

 I had extra room on my page of student names, so I threw in a couple of fun sticks I think my class will like. If I'm calling on students to answer questions, I may get called and have to answer. Or, your choice means they get to select someone else to answer or receive a privilege. Free five minutes will probably be decided along the way...five minutes to talk, five minutes of extra reading time, etc.

 

I use my Student Sticks almost every day. Student sticks increase engagement and eliminate the possibility of favoring specific students or only calling on the same volunteers all the time.

 

I use my sticks for:

• randomly calling on students to gauge understanding during a lesson
• assigning groups
• deciding who will receive a special privilege
• posing a question of the day or to start a class discussion
• selecting who gets to line up first or choose books first

**My students even use the student sticks when having to select a friend in the class to help with something or eat lunch with them. (this is my favorite!) They say they can't pick because everyone is their friend, so they have to use the sticks. :) 

 

You may have noticed some blank popsicle stick shapes-those are for the back of the sticks. I was a little too ambitious when I made these! LOL! I will add the backs, but not this week! haha

 

 My next made-it is for the home. I wasn't sure if this would work, but I was tired of this red flower painting, so I thought I would try painting over it. I didn't want it hung up anymore anyway, so I figured I had nothing to lose! I used the inexpensive acrylic paints from Hobby Lobby ($1). I just mixed some colors and painted over the existing flowers and then painted on a clear coat to make it shiny again. It's not perfect, but my new painting and pillows give the room a different look. 

So, if you don't like one of your existing pieces of art because of the color or find one at a garage sale, paint over it with colors that match your color scheme! 

 

 Sooooooo excited to present this made-it! It's only taken me FOREVER and a day! This is a compilation of ideas I've created and used since the beginning of my teaching! I love to engage my students and get them excited about reading and responding to reading, not reading tests, but FUN & different ways to respond to reading! This resource includes over 60 activities to share with your students before, during, and after reading. They can be used with ANY shared chapter or picture book or used for independent use. My favorite part of using these activities are the discussion sparks that fly among my students!

Grab it now while it's 50% off!!!

Click here to check it out!



 I hope you found some ideas for your classroom or your head today! :) Go check out all the other fabulous ideas on Tara's Monday Made It!

Monday Made Its-Back to School Resources and Gifts

I'm so excited to say I actually "met" Tara in Vegas and she's even sweeter in person if that's possible!

 

 I have a few things to share today:

 

 

I really LOVE the fashion hats from Buckle, but they're about $45 a piece, so I decided to try to make my own! I bought the hat and supplies at Hobby Lobby. I figured the hat was only $6.99 (and I used a 40% off coupon), so if I messed it up, it wouldn't be too bad. :)

In the first picture you may notice an applique, but I decided not to use it after I started "blinging" out my hat. I only used rhinestones and pearls and it really changes the whole look. I used the E6000 glue which means these jewels will NEVER fall off, but it leaves an odor. It's only been a day and the odor is already fading. I think I would try a hot glue gun if I did it again.

I know some of you don't want to think about it, but some people are actually heading back to school soon! I finally finished the last wreath of my wreath bundle craftivity set!

Here's the Back to School Reading Wreath-perfect for students to complete on their first reading assignment to show off at open house!

 

 

I made these blog buttons for my buddies for our Vegas trip so we would be recognizable to new friends. :) So many of us memorize the blog button, so it's nice when you can put a face to it!

 

 I also made notebooks for my blogging buddies. I printed their logo on full sheet labels. I used my large scallop punch to cut out the logos and placed them on top of the notebooks. I printed stickers on full size labels that read "handmade by Joanne" for the back of the notebooks. I used my 1" circle punch to make these.

 

A little ribbon and a matching pen and I was all set! :)

 

 This would be a great gift for your teammates!

I also printed and laminated my Back to School Scoot {FREEBIE}. Grab this goodie here, but please read about how I plan to use it here first. You will gain valuable information that will set the tone for the year!

 

I hope you found some ideas for your classroom or your head today! :) Go check out all the other fabulous ideas on Tara's Monday Made It!

 

Monday Made Its: Valentine's Day

 

February Made-Its! Just in time for Valentine's Day! Linking up with my friend Tara for her fun Monday Made-It!

 

First up is a simple and cute project: personalized bags. You can type names, quotes, or anything you'd like to make regular lunch bags special! I bought the red and white bags at Target.

 

 

Step1: Set your page up for the size of your bag. You can do this with any program.

Step 2: Type the special message you want to appear on the lunch bag (using KG Fonts of course!). Center it on the bag so it prints out in the right place and will leave you room to fold the top of the bag over.

 Step 3: Tape the flap on the back of the bag down and the top of the bag to prevent your printer from jamming. Press the tape lightly so you can easily remove it. (I don't always tape the top and it still works). 

 Step 4: Feed through printer just like regular paper. Only feed one bag at a time.

 Step 5: After you print, fold the top of the bag over, hole-punch and thread ribbon through.

 Voila! Aren't they adorable? I love them! My students are excited to give me their "orders" for their bags! It's also cute to send your child's lunch to school in one of these personalized bags! :)

 

My students love my Valentine Reading Wreath and I do too. It's a fun way to assess my students' understanding of their reading and it makes a great decoration for your hallway or bulletin board! I guess technically my students and I both made this one!

Each wreath comes with templates for fiction and non-fiction that can be used with any text!

Save money and buy the growing bundle! Adding the Spring Reading Wreath tomorrow, so snatch up the bundle for today's price-great value for 8 different reading wreaths!

 

Spread the Love! Perfect for Valentine's Day and Random Acts of Kindness. My students wrote sweet messages and compliments on several Post-Its for others who walk by to take and give to someone else. They came up with some pretty thoughtful messages: You sparkle everyday, you're special to me, you are as sweet as candy, thank you for being you, you look nice today, etc. Imagine getting one of these notes unexpectedly...{insert big smile}.

The directions instruct anyone can take the notes and give to someone to make their day! We had several customers are first day today! :)

  My students are excited to fill the wall back up so we can "Spread More Love!".

 

 

My last made-it was for my niece's engagement party. I designed a count-down subway art for her to put in her bedroom as a wonderful reminder of how many days until she "ties the knot"! She loved it! All she has to do is use a dry erase marker on the glass (write the number in the heart) and wipe off each day!

 

 Hope you have a LOVEly week and Happy Valentine's Day!

Monday Made It: Back to School and Updated Product

The first month of school is so crazy busy right? It's a wonder we even have time to sleep! I wanted to link up with my buddy Tara for her fun linky, Monday Made It.

I hope you can use some of these ideas!

This was part of my display for my Welcome Back to School table, I made a pencil cake.

You will need: foam circles, large file rubber bands, pencils, paper confetti or tissue paper, cake plate.

 First get your round foam circles and glue together (I used three and placed on top of each other-Dollar Tree). Then just line up the pencils all the way around, inserting pencils inside the rubber bands. My cake took about 80 pencils. Super easy and cute!

 

 Glue foam circles together and insert pencils all the way around the cake. I used a piece of paper because I didn't want to see the green foam in between the pencils, but they fit so snug that you won't see the paper anyway.

I think I'll break this out again for Open House, it makes a cute centerpiece and it only takes a few minutes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made these cute soaps for my children's teachers for the first day of school that I found on Pinterest.

 

You could use these for Teacher Appreciation, Just Because, Christmas, etc.

Would you like a copy of these labels? Click here! :)

 

 

I also updated one of my popular products for back to school. I added a few quotes and black backgrounds as well. Download again if you've already purchased this product for the updated file. These Inspirational Posters have been created every year in my classroom for the last 17 years! It's one of my favorite activities to make my students feel this is "their" classroom. Plus, it's a great way to save money on premade posters! These are perfect for Open House! Once your students make them for your class, others will put in their requests for posters orders!

 

Want a chance to win a set? Pin to win! winner will be notified on Wednesday by email. (Please make sure you leave your email in the comments if you're not a blogger).

Pin this image, copy and paste the URL in the comments...that's it! Have a great week!