Reasons to Write Anchor Chart

At the beginning of the year, I helped my students brainstorm reasons why we write.  I keep this chart hung up in the room so that whenever they say, "I don't know what to write about" I just point them in the direction of our chart.  It was also a great into to author's purpose.

Valentine's For Students

Each year I decide to do something different and I wanted to find something that I could use year after year.  My friend actually whipped these tags together and I printed them off and bought Valentine's pencils at the dollar section in Target.  A pencil does not fit through one hole punch, so I had to punch four holes together. I find it easier to not write their names on these so that I can easily pass them out.  

Peek into my Closet- January

Sweater: Charlotte Russe

Necklace: Old Navy

Blake Jeans: Kohl's

Shoes: Payless

Shirt: Kohl's

Necklace: Forever 21

Jeans: JCP

Shoes: Payless

Shirt: H&M

Necklace: Forever 21

Pants: Kohl's

Shoes: Payless

Sweater: Target

Cami: Kohl's

Nacklace: Old Navy

Jeggings: Kohl's

Shoes: Payless

If you like these posts, check out my fashion link to see more!

Guided Reading Basket

 When working with guided reading groups, there are certain things that I need readily available so that there are no interruptions or distractions as I am teaching.  In my guided reading basket, I have everything that gets me through all 5 groups and even my math small group!

Items (from back to front): (behind the white board) Reading Conference Binder and Guided Reading Binder

2 sets of reading comprehension spinners

Daily 5 CAFE cards

Writing prompts flip book

2 sets of task cards that fit with any book 

Tin Cup: markers, pens, pencils, highlighters, and dry erase markers

Sticky notes

Story comprehension dice (the kids love these!)

Reading Comprehension task cards that fit any book. 

Reading Comprehension Spinners (can be found at United Art and Education)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Activity

After reading, "Martin's Big Words", the students summarized Dr. King's dream and then created their own.  It warmed my heart to read some of the things they wrote for their own dreams.  They never cease to amaze me!

Materials:
Brown construction paper
Lg. black construction paper
White paper with a tie drawn down middle and "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream on one side and "My Dream" on the other.

They made a great hallway display!

Classroom Organization Tip

Do you spend five minutes each day pushing the student's desks back in their place?  I don't understand why, but their desks are always in a new spot by the end of the day!  I found a great Pin about zip tying their desks together to stay put!  I tried it and it is amazing!  They stay put and I gain a few minutes in my day!

Peek into my Closet- January

Dress: Charlotte Russe

Belt: H&M

Necklace: Forever 21

Leggings: Kohl's

Shoes: Payless

Dress: Charlotte Russe 

Belt: H&M

Leggings: Kohl's

Shoes: Payless

I love statement necklaces!!!

Necklace: Old Navy

Sweater: Target

Tank: Forever 21

Peek into my Closet- January

Shirt: Kohl's

Scarf: JCP

Jeans: JCP

Boots: Payless

Peek into my Closet- How to Wear Your Summer Clothes in the Winter

Are you getting the winter blues and wanting to wear your summer clothes already?  Well, I am!! This post is all about how to wear your summer clothes in the winter.  All you need is a cute cardigan or jacket to pair with your tanks. I have different shades of neutral sweaters so that I can mix and match them with multiple different tanks, a blue jean jacket, and a neutral colored light weight jacket.  These are some essential pieces to layering and maximizing the use of your summer clothes.

Sweater: Old Navy

Tank: Kohl's

Pants: Kohl's

Boots: Target

Necklace: Forever 21

Sweater: Target

Tank: Forever 21

Pants: Kohl's

Boots: Target

Maxi: Meijer

Tank: Target

Jacket: H&M

Necklace: Kohl's

  

Tank: Target

Sweater: Target

Belt: H&M

Pants: Kohl's

Boots: Famous Footwear

Shirt: Kohl's

Jacket: Kohl's

Pants: Kohl's

Boots: Target

Necklace: Express

Sweater: Forever 21

Tank: Macy's

Pants: JCP

Leg Warmers: Payless

Boots: Target

Peek into my Closet- January

Top: Target

Pants: H&M

Shoes: Payless

Necklace: Forever 21

White Shirt: Kohl's

Sweater: Body Central

Black Jeggings: Kohl's

Boots: Target

Top: Old Navy

Pants: H&M

Shoes: Payless

Best Invention Ever- Gel Manicure Kit

I like keeping my nails painted and I do not like to spend money on getting a manicure professionally done.  I got the Gel Manicure Kit (Sally Hansen) from Target and I fell in love!  The starter kit is $65.00 and each polish is $11.00.  Over time, it saves you money doing it at home instead of at a salon.  It is so easy and takes much less time than waiting for regular polish to dry.  The best part is that it stays on for 2-3 weeks!  The only reason why I ever need to take it off is because it grows out with my nails.  After reading the instructions, I was worried about the removal, but they peeled right off without any remover!  I picked at a corner and was able to peel the entire thing off!  Super easy!  I highly recommend this product!

This is what the starter kit comes with.: cleanser pads, filer, UV drying light, 2 sets of clear polish, and a color.

Here is the finished product! It looks just like regular polish, just feels a little thicker.

Peek into my Closet- Comfortable and Cute Weekend Outfit

Top: Old Navy

Leggings: Kohl's

Black Flats: Payless

Scarf: Target

My Favorite Accessory

Ladies:  My Pandora bracelet is my favorite accessory.  It goes with everything (casual or dressy) and matches every color.  The best thing about this bracelet is that it's personalized to what I like and each charm means something special to me.  My favorite charm is my owl I got from my mom when I got my teaching job.  It reminds me of how excited and thankful I was for my job and brings me back to that moment.

Men:  This is the best gift you could ever give that special lady in your life and you know why... because it takes the gift giving pressure off of you for years!  Every anniversary, Christmas, birthday, or Mother's Day all you need to do is get her a charm.  No matter what you pick out she will love it!  There are so many meaningful charms you can get and it takes the guess work out for you!

Classroom Management Tip of the Day

I saw this poster on Pinterest and decided that I had to make my own.  It reminds the students of the expectations for working independently, in groups, whole class, or with partners.  Each time we transition, I have a designated student who moves the arrow and reads our expectations.  They get very excited when they get to move the arrow and it makes them very aware of how to behave when its posted for them to see.

(Cheap) Christmas Gifts for Students

I wanted to give my students something for Christmas that wouldn't cost too much, but also mean something to them.  After perusing different sites, I found personalized bookmarks.  I decided to make these for my students and put them in a little goodie bag with candy and a "No Homework" pass.  I went to JoAnn Fabrics and bought double sided scrapbook paper.  It's important that it is double sided so that the back of the bookmark is not plain.  I got the ribbon from the dollar section at Target.  I then typed up all of their names and printed those out just on white paper.  I used fancy scissors to crop the edges.  I cut the scrapbook paper to a width of about 2 1/2 inches and a length of six.  I then glued on the names and then laminated them.  Next, I hole punched the top for the ribbon.   Make sure to get very flexible and light ribbon because if it is too thick it will bust the hole.  I bent the ribbon in half and looped it through the hole.  Ta-da!  You have yourself a wonderful gift and it only cost about $7.00 total!

Yarn Wrapped Letters

How to make yarn wrapped letters:

 So this is what happens when a teacher gets one too many snow days in a row, haha!

I bought these wooden letters from Michael's Craft Store.  I recommend buying cardboard letters instead of wooden letters.  It was difficult to wrap all of the fancy little edges.  It would have been much easier it they were straight edges.  Also, I bought four different colors of yarn.  You can choose to do all different colors, the same color, or a pattern.  I have seen it done several different ways and they all look great!  My living room has all four of the colors I chose so that it was match.  I decided to spell "home" but I have seen other words like hope, love, and welcome.  

I first wrapped vertically to cover the top edges and then wrapped horizontally.  The edges were difficult since they curved so I had to get out the hot glue gun for those.  This is a time consuming and tedious project!  Warning: patience is needed! 

To do the "O", I first wrapped vertically and then horizontally around the hook.  I kept wrapping it all the way around until it was finished.  Make sure to pull the yarn really tight to keep it in place.  I followed the same pattern (horizontally then vertically) with the other letters.

Here is the finished product!

DIY Burlap Wreaths

I have been seeing these all over and decided that it's time to make my own!

I got a few of these flowers to hot glue onto the finished product.  I got three cream colored flowers and one that looks a little more rustic to add some contrast.  I also got a circular outline and a role of burlap. 

I wrapped the burlap around the tube two times to make it look slightly thicker.  Then with the extra burlap, I tied a bow.  I hot-glued the ends to the tube and then the bow to the burlap.  To make the final product, I hot-glued the four flowers to the wreath.  

Here is the final product on the door!

I loved making the first wreath so much that I needed to make a second!  I made the first one to use during winter so I decided to make one that I can use in the spring.

Here are the materials that I purchased from JoAnn's: 1 1/2 yards of coral burlap, a white flower, and a wire wreath template. 

It was hard to get started at first because I bought yards of burlap instead of the packaged rolls.  They didn't have anything "springy" enough for me in the rolls.  After I tediously cut and got rid of all of the annoying fringe coming of the sides I then had several strips like I would have had had I bought the roll.  I recommend buying the roll; it will save you a lot of time! I just made loops and tucked and tucked some more!  The posts I have seen about making them said that there is no right way to do it and they are right!  It was very easy once I got going!

Once I got all of the burlap looped and tucked away, I hot-glued a large white flower onto the side.

Here is the finished product on the door!  Doing it myself was fun and much cheaper than buying it already done!

Peek into my Closet- January

Top: Target

Plum Jeans: Kohl's

Boots: Target

Dress: Old Navy

Scarf: Kohl's

Boots: Target

Top: Old Navy

Jeans: JCP

Leg Warmers: Payless

Scarf: Kohl's

Boots: Target

Top: JCP

Scarf: Kohl's 

Teal Jeans: H&M

Boots: Target

Necklace: Forever 21

Top: Express

Boots: Target

Black Jeggings: Kohl's

Scarf: Kohl's

Top: Old Navy

Jeans: JCP

Leg Warmers: Payless

Boots: Target

Dress: Old Navy

Scarf: Kohl's

Belt: H&M

Leggings: Kohl's

Boots: Target

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