Monday, August 13, 2012

Monday Made It

I am so sad. This was my last care-free weekend... AND I took total advantage of it. 

The husband and I spent a lot of time together. We spent so much time together, he'll be happy that I am back to school this week!

I really hope this isn't my last Monday Made It for a while, but I am afraid it might be.
I've been hearing some nasty rumors about new curriculum requirements this year.
Requirements that will likely eat-up most of my free time. Boo!

Venting Alert--->WHY do we pay money hand over fist to publishing companies, if I have to spend my hours supplementing???<---Sorry, I needed to let that out.

Anyway, I'm just a little nervous about the expectations that are surrounded by Common Core. I've been to two workshops regarding Common Core already, and they were NOT helpful at all. They just reminded me of how much more work I'm going to have to do.
We shall see...

Enough of that boring stuff and on to my "Made It's"

1) First, I found a bunch of really cool stuff to spruce up my classroom. I spent a lot of time printing, cutting, laminating, and cutting again, but it was well worth it!
My pile of laminating to cut.
After about three hours, all of it was cut and organized. Ya!
 Here's a list of what is what:
*Binder Covers from the WONDERFUL Rachelle at What the Teacher Wants. They are editable, so I was able to make covers for everything! Yee-haw
*Welcome Pennant from Vickie at Mrs. Plant's Press. It's free and totally cute! Love it!
*CAFE headers for my bulletin board from Rachel at The Tattooed Teacher. I don't have a Wizard of Oz theme but these are so darlin' I couldn't pass them up. Plus, The Wizard of Oz is on the list of Exemplar Texts, that makes it totally relevant. :)
*Visual Directions cue cards for my little guys from Tiffani at Time 4 Kindergarten. These will be good to refer to while they are working.
*Fabulous Firsties Mega Word Work cards - Mrs. Mabe has created a fantastic set of Word Work cards. These will be great for myself and my part-time aid (if I actually get one - Lord help me!) who will be working with my inclusion students. Thanks!
*Abby's Ready to Read unit is fabulous for beginning of the year activities that will carry over throughout the year.
*Writing Station Starter Kit from Teri at A Cupcake For the Teacher. I was so happy to pick this up. It is perfect for independent writing time.

I put together my Writing Station board, and I am so pleased with how it turned out.
I hope my kiddos like it as much as I do!

I hung my Welcome Pennant above my Daily 5 I-Charts.
I've redone my I-Charts so they will be ready for me to fill in with my students responses.


We will complete the   I-charts on large chart paper, and then I'll convert the responses over to these smaller charts. We'll refer to these charts throughout the year. {Especially around the holidays!}

My new CAFE headers

The Visual Directions Cue Cards

Since I will be the reading teacher for a class of Kinders and Firsties, I will need two sets of Daily 5 pocket charts for our three daily rounds. When I first started the Daily 5 about six years ago, I had purchased the Target Dollar Spot pocket charts and used these choice cards. This system works really well for me, so I went out to Target and got some more charts. I hung them under my first set of charts and learned that they are made much smaller then my old charts! Oh no, my cards won't fit. Nothing is easy!
I had to make a new set of smaller cards.
First three rows are the smaller set for my Kinders and the last three rows are the normal sized cards for my Firsties. Click on the picture to pick up the smaller set of cards. 

Also, I had a request for a smaller sized 'Brainstorm Vocabulary' poster printable to fit on a file folder and here it is...

Click on the picture to get the document.
The first part is the large poster board version and the second part is the file folder version.
You'll need to use wittle Post-its.

My sister, Jill, has been very busy, too. She redid her classroom theme and has been working hard at hunting down anything in teal and brown.


She made an adorable frame for pictures.
(Please excuse the cell phone pictures, I had to steal these from her texts to me!)
interchangeable labels for our special days
our wonderful SEVENTH grade model, Molly
She made me a frame, too. I'm so lucky :)

We have also added Kristin's Quiet Creature. I think he looks like a llama.

Can I tell you how much I'm loving TPT's sale? 
I love it this much <------------------------------------------------------------------------>!

My wishlist has gotten a lot smaller with my new purchases. Yippers!

I may not have my own TPT store to promote for the sale, but Jill does. :)
She has some awesome science fair projects available for super cheap.

Here's a link to her store. Click {HERE}

Please go and check out everyone else's Made It"s while you still have time!

Thanks again, Tara!

Y'all have a great week!

21 comments:

  1. Everything looks great Andi!!! I LOVE the chevron print!! :) Good luck on your first day back! I'm in FL too so I know exactly what you are feeling with Common Core & all of the rigorous curriculum changes that the state is going through. Have a great day back!
    Lisa
    Learning Is Something to Treasure

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  2. I love you I can write board! It's so colorful and inviting! Good luck on your first day back! We started last week.

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  3. Thanks for all the great ideas! Your writing fold out is fantastic. My list is also a billion miles long, but it will all get done... it always does! Have a wonderful back to school week!
    - Michele
    Multiage Moments

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  4. Wow!! Thank you for all the great links to your inspirations! I already snagged those colorful binder covers:) Have a great week!!
    ~Holly
    Fourth Grade Flipper

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  5. So glad you were able to use the banner! I spent the weekend doing the same...printing, laminating, and cutting. Now I need to get busy in my room :)
    Try not to stress about common core....I actually did tell my principal (since we did it last year) that after doing, I saw no reason to waste money on books/curriculum from publishers since I pretty much redo everything, especially now with CCSS!
    Vickie

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  6. You've been super busy. Love all your finds. Great stuff.

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  7. Wow, you were really busy! I LOVE your writing station board!! I still want to get those binder covers printed....3 more days until I go back to work, I just might get it done!

    Lisa
    Super Pig and Tyrant King

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  8. I have read all about the Daily 5 this summer - but I am not sure how to start it in my room - do I start my charts and explaining literally the first day of school (we don't go for a full week, just a couple of days) or do I start it the first full week on a Monday? Just don't even know where to begin to start it!

    amycoates@me.com

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  9. I love the idea of making file folder anchor charts! Thanks for the brainstorm vocabulary poster!!

    Becky
    Lesson plans & Lattes

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  10. WOW! you have been working hard this summer! Is that a "quite coyote" ??
    Michelle
    Apples and ABC's

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  11. I live in Utah and we have a local show called Good Things Utah. They were talking about Pinterest on the show today and they showed your blog. Here is the segment if you want to watch it.
    http://www.abc4.com/content/about_4/gtu/featured_on/story/Pinterest-for-Business/Ewjw7uJhmkyNVW6pIwaR2Q.cspx
    Your famous here in Utah!!
    ஐRikki
    The Hive

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  12. Your Daily 5 classroom is awesome! I am hosting a giveaway. I would love to have you drop by and enter! So glad to hear that you are famous in Utah!

    www.ateacherwithoutaclass.com

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  13. Everything looks great!! You were very busy!!

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  14. I found you through Made it Monday! Your room looks great! I'm jealous of all of your laminating...the only person that is allowed to use the laminator at my school is our librarian and she doesn't report back until 2 days before the kids show up (next week)! I wish I could have everything laminated and cut out sooner than that!

    Cait
    Sliding into First!

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  15. Oh my goodness, your material looks wonderful! I've been busy laminating during the day so I can sit in front of the TV at night cutting everything apart! Love, Love, Love your writing station board!
    Jenny
    Owl Things First

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  16. I totally understand your venting. It's frustrating. Your materials look great - I need to get started on mine!

    Sara :)
    Smiling In Second Grade

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  17. This weekend is my last weekend too! The word work task cards came from my little blog, if you want to link to it @ Fabulous Firsties :) mfirstgrade.blogspot.com/ I've been busy printing, laminating, and cutting for what seems like daysss!

    Happy 1st day back!
    Julie :)

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  18. WOW! You are very organized! Love all your stuff!
    We are your newest followers!
    http://teachinglittlemiracles.blogspot.com/

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  19. I LOVE how your writing board came out!!! Thanks for the shout-out!! ;) Your room looks great!
    ❤Teri
    A Cupcake for the Teacher

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  20. Thank you for all the awesome inspiration!I love the Daily Five Cards, they are so awesome!

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  21. I also love your writing board! So super cute!
    caroleescreativeclassroom.blogspot.com

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