Five For Friday Fun!

This whole not working during summer break thing is great, except I have no idea where my days disappear to.  I actually stopped by work this week.  It was so nice to say hi to everyone and miss the place a bit.  Aside from a quick stop by work, it was a fun and busy week.  Check it out...

1. So my garden has EXPLODED with amazing food.  I am loving all of it except I have no idea what to do with all of the zucchini I have.  I need to find a good GF zucchini bread recipe.

2. My Junie B. Fan Pack arrived!  I can't get over the fact that they sent a book.  Now, I have to wait for the monthly newsletters, which I am so excited for!!!

3. I made book beads!!!  I have been wanting to try this for so long!  It was so fun picking through old books and magazines.  I think the Lakeshore Beads are my favorite.  That catalogue had tons of colors that popped out in the beads.

Check out my post here.

4. The Oregon lavender fields are in full bloom.  This is the greatest time of year to go, explore, and cut your own lavender.  I am in love with this White Spike lavender.

5. My Blogiversary has been going on this week!  The amount or love and support you all have shown is incredible.  

If you haven't stopped over and entered the giveaways be sure to do so soon.  The celebration will come to an end this weekend.

Be sure to head over to DoodleBugs Teaching to check out more Five For Friday Fun!

Happy Friday!!!!

Summer Crafts - Book Beads

If you saw my Instagram post this past weekend you know that I am SOOOOO excited about this project!  Let's not waste any time....

BOOK BEADS

I was a little taken aback at how easy there were to make, but after seeing Tara's post and ideas all over Pinterest I had to give them a try.

Supplies: scissors, ModPodge, a pencil, metal dowel, a ruler, paintbrush, and paper (I used pages from a book and teacher catalogues)

Use a ruler to draw 1/2 inch wide columns on the paper that you will be using.

Once you have the columns, draw a diagonal line in each column, this is what you will be cutting on.

Cut along the diagonal to get pieces that resemble the above picture.

Dab a bit of ModPodge onto the inside of a piece of cut paper.  Then, place the dowel below the space with ModPodge, similar to what you see above.

Begin rolling the paper wide end to skinny end.  Apply a dab of ModPodge at the end and gently pull the bead off of the dowel.

Place the beads on wax paper to dry.

Once the beads have dried string them onto the jewelry material of your choice.  I used an elastic thread.  

I love how colorful the teacher catalogue beads turned out.  They look so great next to the chapter book beads.  

I plan on teaching our Green Team how to make these adorable beads out of recycled paper from around the school.

Happy Creating!!!

Don't forget to enter....

Click on the image above to enter!!!

A Dojo of NoOdles

For the last several years, I have used ClassDojo in my classroom.  It started as a way for me to monitor and track classroom behaviors, but it has transformed into my data collection, parent communication, stick pulling, an incentive tool, all around a handy dandy everything.  Being that my iPad is glued to my side, in my classroom, documenting behaviors has been easy.  However, when GoNoOdle entered my life and my classroom I knew I needed some way to bridge it into my ClassDojo world...

ENTER....GoNoOdle points!

I of course had to use the dino icon for the positive points, being that DinoStomp is the greatest thing ever!!!

Every once in a while, I have a kiddo who stands there during a brain break and doesn't participate.  I fully understand that everyone does things in their own time, but ClassDojo allows me to document these moments.  This data allows me to communicate behaviors with parents and check for patterns in the student's behavior.
Speaking of communicating with parents, did you know that you can send messages through ClassDojo?  You can send out whole class or student specific messages.

You can also add comments to behaviors that students earn.

That is my comment down there on the bottom!

I also use ClassDojo to pick students to choose the GoNoOdle break that we will do.  ClassDojo has a random button that does what it says, it picks a random student.  It makes choosing brain breaks, calling on students, as easy a clicking a button.

I love being able to use these two tools together.

If you haven't signed up for ClassDojo or GoNoOdle yet do it now!  They are both free tools that have the ability to transform your classroom?

How do you use these tools?

Monday Made It - ModPodge Style

Hi, my name is Marcy.  I am a teacher, moose fanatic, and LOVER of MODPODGE!  Yes, you read that correctly, I LOVE ModPodge!  I don't know what it is about the stuff, but it can transform anything into a masterpiece.  Just look at today's Monday Made It.

I having been holding on to these awesome Talenti gelato containers just waiting to craft with them.  By the way, if you are not familiar with Talenti gelato head to the store NOW and get some; not only are they gluten free (a must for me), but they are AMAZING!!

I decided to beautify these containers and use them for classroom manipulatives and supplies.
I used scrapbook paper, ModPodge, a paintbrush, and scissors for this project.

Once I measured out the paper, I coated the container with ModPodge.  An important trick is to make sure that each layer is thin.  If you use too much ModPodge is creates bubbles and no one wants bubbles.

When ever you are covering a round object, it helps to cut slits at the bottom of your covering.  It allows for easier wrapping.

I love the way they turned out!

I can't wait to make more and fill them with manipulatives.  I looks like my next project is going to be cute labels for them.

Happy Creating!!!

Don't forget to enter...

Click on the image above to enter; there are so many marvelous products!!!!

It's Been a Year! {Giveaway}

I seriously can't believe it has been a whole year since I decided to join this amazing teacher-blogger community.  This year has taught me a ton about challenging myself as a teacher, while staying true to myself.  There have been plenty of hurdles which we know are far too normal in our profession, but it is readers and bloggers like you that have allowed me to keep going.  As a way to say thank you for all of your support I am hosting a huge giveaway, which is only possible because of the amazing bloggers below.  Be sure to enter and tell your friends to enter; there are so many amazing products being given away.

Winner's Choice from:

Searching for Teacher Balance

Learning to be Awesome

Journey of a Substitute Teacher

An Apple for the Teacher

Sparkling in Second

Creative Lesson Cafe

Polka Dot Kinders

Table Talk with C and C

A Rocky Top Teacher

Pawsitively Teaching

Just a Primary Girl

Mrs. 3rd Grade

Mrs. Price's Kindergators

Specific Products from: 

What I Have Learned - Reading Comprehension and Strategy Posters

Positively Learning - A Sentence A Day

Tailor Made Teaching - Arctic Animals Nonfiction Close Read Bundle

Seconds at the Beach - Common Core Building Complete Sentences Mini-Unit with Pigeon by Mo Willems

The Kinder Garden  - Summer Lovin' Sentences

Wiggling Scholars - Review Writing Units  

Easy Teaching Tools - Family Literacy and Homework Ideas

The giveaway is broken down into grade levels/bands.  You can enter 1, 2, or all of them.

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Thank you again for all of your support this year!  Here is to many more!

Five For Friday - Summer Lovin'

Happy Friday from Oregon!  Oh how I wish that I was in Vegas with all of you fabulous teachers, but health is number one this summer!  Today's Five for Friday is all about summer lovin'.

1. I have been spending as much time as I can outside.  This guy loves it and I can't complain, except for the sun burn...EEKK!

2. This book is too good!  I haven't been able to put it down and I can't wait to finish it today.  See my awesome bookmark I made?!  You can read all about my custom bookmarks here.

If you are looking for a quick great read pick it up!
UPDATE - This is hands down one the the BEST books I have read in a long time.  I didn't want it to end.  The plot was superior and entertaining.  This slow reader blew through it in less than 24 hours.

3. I can't wait to dive into these reads!  Can you tell that I enjoy young adult fiction?

What have been some of your favorites this summer?

4. As always summer or not, I am loving my new Scentos goodies!  These pencils are awesomely smelly!  Plus, they write great.

5. Drumroll please..................

It lanches this Sunday!  I am beyond excited and grateful for all of your love and support over the last year!  There are over a dozen incredible teachers helping me celebrate this blogiversary.  Be sure to swing over Sunday and check it out!

What are you lovin' this summer?

My School Year Goals

Setting goals for ourselves is very important.  As teachers we are always setting goals.  For some reason, I have no problem setting goals for and with others, yet I forget to follow up on my own goals.  We all have professional development goals, but making your own without a rubric is very meaningful.  I am so excited that Jess from I <3 Recess is hosting such a thoughtful linky.

What are your 2014-2105 goals?