My Classroom!

I've been in my [own!] classroom and teaching[!] for 3 months now. Over Christmas I realized a lot of my friends and family have heard all about my room, but haven't seen it. Many people have made great contributions and donations to my room too! Thank you to everyone who has helped make my room what it is!

entrance to my room. lunch volunteer sign-up. most of my lunches are covered by our *AMAZING* para, she's my favorite!

looking into my room from the door

[standing in the middle of my room turning counter clockwise]

the "back" of my room. amazing cabinets. ....and a lot of my mess, that's why I'm at school today...

[standing in the middle of my room turning counter clockwise]

my desk/nook.

rainbow table where I work with kiddos during centers

sink & bathroom

[standing in the middle of my room turning counter clockwise]

2 windows looking out to the main road- my room gets great light!

you can see a big space to the left of the shelves, my computers are on loan for our MAP testing during January.

in front of the shelves is our writing table/center. the kiddos *LOVE* it!

the lake & light house- Moral Focus for each month "Good Character & Morals shine through"

our school-wide behavior management chart

[standing in the middle of my room turning counter clockwise]

black cart near window- after center choices (the kids think they're playing, but their practicing skills we have already learned)

my green "teacher"/"reading" chair

yellow board- calendar, hundred chart, touch math number line

[standing in the middle of my room turning counter clockwise]

front of the room. alphabet/sound cards at the top of the room. cards start off on the letter side, when we learn the sound we flip the card over- kiddos *LOVE* seeing the cards flip over. I also have sign language letters up for the kinesthetic learners. "CHAMPS" at the top of the white board, daily schedule on the left and "I Can" statements on the right. ....it's a little messy right now.....

[standing in the middle of my room turning counter clockwise]

interactive word wall- felt with velcro words

[standing in the middle of my room turning counter clockwise]

gray shelf is our classroom library

[standing in the middle of my room turning counter clockwise]

cubbies- kiddos got to make their own name tags about a month into school. mrs. brady storage above the cubbies

[standing in the middle of my room turning counter clockwise]

back to the door. you can see the pond with frogs to the left of the door- "Hop To It!" classroom jobs.

[CHRIST]mas gifts for school

I wanted to send home really cute [Christ]mas cards and gifts with my Kindergartners. However, my dean informed me that writing "Merry Christmas" or giving out Nativity scenes was not advised and I could possibly be sued, I decided against it. If I can't write "Merry Christmas," then I won't say anything at all.... After brainstorming I figured I would send home cute little gingerbread people holding a candy cane and pencil. They were super cheap, and easy! I made them during my prep!

For the teachers at work I decided that I would "risk it" and attached super cute Nativity gift tags with "Merry Christmas" on the back to the bags of chocolate I bought at Target (on sale!).

I am VERY blessed to have community helpers in my room from 3:00-3:40pm. I have 5 8th grade students who come in and help around my classroom. It's awesome because they can stack the chairs, which is required for each class, but my 5 yo's can't do it. They also cut out lamination, prepare work and centers for the kiddos and help in anyway I ask. I gave each of them 3 packs of Orbit gum tied together with a cute Christmas gift tag and "Thank you!" written on each one.

(photos later)

I know it is after Christmas and these gift ideas won't help this year, but maybe next year!

-e

Classroom *Math* Games

I have been having a blast making games that my Kindergartner's can play after they are done with centers. Most of these games I use as a center one week, then put in the "after center" rotation the next week.

I try to *trick* them into thinking they're playing! Feel free to copy and print any of the following!

Buying Treats- put the correct coin in one column then write the number and cent sign in the next column.

Domino Parking Lot- put dominoes with the correct dots in each space.

Piggy bank- students have to match coins to amount on this cute little piggy.



*enjoy!

[Michigan] Football Season

This week marks the beginning of college football around the country. Today is the University of Michigan home opener. My husband, my brother-in-law and myself are heading out to Ann Arbor today to watch the Wolverines take on the Western Michigan Broncos. To commemorate the beginning of football season I made my husband a "Go Blue!" surprise basket.

I stopped by Dollar Tree, Kroger, and Value World to pick up materials.

* Winged helmet- $0.30 from Value World [super score!]

* Candy - about $5 from Dollar Tree & Kroger

* Helmet & Football- die cuts

* "Go Blue" & Block M - I drew, then cut out

* Straws [to hold up cut outs] - I had in a draw at home

- I cut, colored, laminated then tapped images to straws

- Stuffed upside down helmet with newspaper

- Stuck in cut outs [taped to helmet]

- Drizzle in candy

- Ta-da!

LET'S GO BLUE!

-e

Welcome [Summer]

... you don't need to tell me summer is almost over, I know...

But here is a summer wreath I made this week. It was obviously *super easy* to make!

[I got these push pins at a dollar store]

[Felt I had in summery colors]

[I used different size circles to cut out felt.

I used the inside and outside circles of the canning lid]

[I cut leaves out of green felt, I just eyeballed it]

[Layered circles] [Add leaves] [Glued on to wreath with HOT glue gun]

[Added "welcome" paper]

To make the "welcome" sign, I cut out letters using my Cricut, glue them on a piece of scrapbook paper, then spray-painted them with clear glossy paint

Fun and Easy!

-e

you bring {JOY}

This week while babysitting/nannying I made some cards. I found the cutest little stamp at Joann's/Michael's... it says "you bring joy." I immediately had to get it!

Things that bring me {JOY}
* Jesus
* my husband
* crafting
* sending & receiving cards
* making food that people enjoy
* making someones day
* writing encouraging notes
* [any kind of] teaching
* sleeping
* rain on the tin roof of our apartment window
* cool autumn days
* being on the lake

What kind of things bring you {joy} ?

Make a list and post it on your wall to remind you!

-e

Dessert Auction Fundraiser

We had a Dessert Auction at our church this past month as a fundraiser for our Youth Group to go to camp. The event was after our evening service.

We ask people to sign up (starting 3 weeks in advance) to donate desserts, they bring them in the day/night of the auction. The sign-up helps to limit the number of desserts. Sometimes the event goes for 2 hours or longer and starts to drag. If you're thinking of doing this MAKE SURE YOU LIMIT THE NUMBER OF DESSERTS.

During church we set up the tables with all the desserts displayed. Right after church everyone walks around for about 15 minutes to look at all the desserts.

Our youth pastor (my hubby) auctions off the desserts, starting anywhere from $2-5. Most of our items go for $10-20. ($20 for cookies is A LOT!!! Especially when it is all profit!) Some of the more "famous" desserts go for close to $100 each.

This year we told the teens that 1. they had to make their own desserts in order for the money to go directly into their camp account and 2. they had to auction off their desserts- surprisingly the teens had a lot of fun auction off their own desserts. (all the donated items were put into a general fund for all the teens)

We also auction off the teens in groups of 2. The teens can be bought to help with house work, babysitting, cleaning, yard work, etc. Instead of the teens going out to try and raise money on their own, the amount they are "bought" for goes into their individual camp account.

It was a lot of fun and we raised $1300 in one night!