I must admit that I spent my Saturday finishing up all of the functional crafts that I had on my to do list.  My 19 year old brother did not understand why I would have spent my Saturday night that way, but hey I threw in a glass or two of vino and was content.  Now... let my Monday Made-it Mania begin!!

I attended an amazing 4 day writing workshop earlier in the summer and have been wanting to personalize a writing bin for each of my class periods.  I plan on each student having a hanging file folder to put their writing spiral and tools in.  (We have always had lockers and won't have them this year, so I am trying to help out my kiddos backs/shoulders and save them from heavy backpacks)  I think they turned out pretty well and I used a $10 off coupon at Office Max when I bought them.  If you have any other thoughts or ideas on organization for writing material... let me know! ( I know its not the best picture... sorry about that!)

While I was at the same writing workshop I picked up a weekly mystery lexicon packet.  Basically, there is a mystery word every week and each day I will write a clue on the board.  Students have the opportunity to take scraps/scratch paper to write what they think the word is and turn it into the containers daily.  On Friday at the end of the day I start in the Monday tub and work my way through the week until I find a "winner".  This is not mandatory, but it is a way to get them thinking. The winners name will be written on the board along with which day they got it correct on, so basically they get bragging rights for the week!!  Does anyone else do something like this??

Lastly, I made a box tops container to put on my desk.  We have box tops contests at our school.  If you bring 10 you get a treat, like extra recess.  I have the Title class of the grade level so usually my students aren't quite as motivated.  I collect box tops along with my family members and several of my friends, so that my kiddos can join in on the 10 box tops fun.  I also thought if I had them bring them in whenever they have them it would help out with them losing or miss plaing them.  We shall see how this works... Now I nee your honoest opinion... Do you think the glitter is too much?  I added glitter because it was just too plain and now I am not sure if I like it...

  

Well if you have made it this far thanks for staying tuned through my Monday Made-it Mania!! In the next week or so I am going to try and post some back to school lessons or tips; it seems like my only posts this month are linkys.

Hope you have a Marvelous Monday!!

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Sandy

This post title could be taken two ways... relief or frustration.  Well... It started off as a sigh of relief. 

I went shopping and bought all of the supplies that I had on my back to school list. (at least until I step into my classroom I am sure)  I was super crafty today and made several functional items for my classroom, which will be shared in the next couple of Monday Made-Its. I have two more weeks of my summer job and was wanting to get everything done this weekend because I will be working Mon - Thurs... and I was successful.  Aaahhhh... A sigh of relief.

I wish this could be all about being relieved with no stress, but there is a little stress.  I am anxious to get back into my room because I plan on rearranging this year to make it a more productive space.  As a grade level we are also changing the way behavior is handled.  We used to use behavior charts that would be stapled to the back of the student's SAM (Student Assignment Manager).  They would go from class to class with the students and would get marked according to what rule they broke and where they broke it.  Once a student got 3 marks in a week for a teacher they would be written up for afterschool detention.  Of course, 5th graders are smart enough to stop after 2 marks and it took too much time out of the day to mark behavior charts.  My team is trying to rewrite our class letters to clarify and explain discipline... what a pain!

With that said and way too much rambling... I am off to watch some tv!

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Sandy

So it's Monday Made IT #2 for me and I made some thing functional that also matches my Monday Made It from last week.  This week I made hall/library passes for myself, my teammates, and a close friend who recently had a birthday. 

This is an extremely easy project... I just used picked up wooden letters from Hobby Lobby (2 for $1.47), leftover scrapbook paper, modge podge, and magnets.

1.  Trace the letters.

2. Cut out.

3.  Modge Podge onto wooden letters.

(make sure to do a top coat)

4.  Attach magnets to the back.

(They are the first letter of our last names.)

I have really enjoyed these last two weeks of Monday Made Its.  I can't wait to show off my goodies in the next few Mondays. 

On a side note, I can't believe that I only have a little over 3 weeks until I have to return to school!!

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Sandy

So.. Today I celebrated my 29th Birthday with some of my friends at Pinot's Palette.  If you have never heard of it basically you drink wine while they instruct and model how to make a painting.  It was an awesome experience!! Everyone agreed that it was an awesome idea for a birthday get together... I mean who doesn't love friends, wine, and painting??  Here are a few pictures of our awesome day...

It was a blast.  Afterwards we ate at Barry's Pizza, which is absolutely yummy!! My brother even dressed up to join myself and my sister.

Hope everyone had an amazing weekend!! 

I'll be back for Monday Made It tomorrow...

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Sandy

I am so excited to be linking up with Tara's Made It Monday... I actually made these on the 4th of July because it was my first day to really relax this summer, but I went out of town and couldn't share. 

In 5th grade for some reason my kiddos still can't remember to put their names on their papers sometimes... so this is where my made it comes in handy.  With over 3 classes and 75 kiddos my "Name?" board should come in hand... and I was having so much fun that I made one for the other 2 teachers I share my kiddos with.  Check 'em out!! :)

This is mine... My classroom has swirls and a turquoise color.  (The clothespins are glittery, but its hard to tell in the photo.)

 These are the ones that I made for my teammates! :)

I can't wait to be crafty some more this week, but I have to decide what to do first.... Decisions, Decisions! lol :)

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Sandy

I know, I know... I am a day late, but better late than never!

Here are a few things that I have bought recently for my classroom...

This mini bucket will go on my desk for eraser caps... I got it at Hobby Lobby in the party section. 

Some nice lavender hand sanitizer just for me.... Bath and Body Works had them on sale for $5.

Here is my cute teacher calendar... I know, I know there is another calendar that is more amazing, but this works for me and was cheap.  It has monthly and weekly sheets.  I love the weekly because I can take my calendar to meetings and I will always know where my notes are.

Yay for cute yet functional items for the classroom!!

Hope everyone has an amazing weekend... I finished a project for Tara's Made It Monday and was so excited to share, but I'll be out of town and probably wont have internet.  I'll try, but if not it will bet unveiled the following week. 

I'm off to the river with a good book in hand...  See ya in a week!!

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Sandy

I always get a little giddy at the beginning of each month... you know why?? Because of Farley's Currently!!  I was going to write a post about the amazing 4 day workshop I attended this week, but I guess it will wait until tomorrow because its currently time!!

Head on over and join in on all of the fun...

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Sandy