How Dedicated Are You?

When I was hired at my current school (just shy of a (gasp) decade ago), I was in good company with several other spring chickens who were part of that year's new recruits.  We went through the new teacher training week and became friendly.

We vowed to stay young and fun and pledged to hold an intervention should one of us start to morph into the wooden jewelry paired with a seasonal sweater type.

We have since been displaced from our roles by a crop of younger, hipper teachers.  However, we have held true to our word and have not yet ventured into the world of track suits on casual Fridays.

I consider myself to be very lucky because one of my closest friends is also my partner teacher.  We only have 2 teachers at each grade level at my school and we make up the "third grade team."  She proven to be an above and beyond friend and is a great ally as a teacher.

She initiated the jungle theme and I was fine with that.

But, give me a theme and I'm going to go all out.

Which is why I suggested we both wear animal print outfits for the first day.

Calm down folks.  I wasn't suggesting leopard print unmentionables or a loincloth.  I was thinking of pairing a subtle animal print skirt with a solid black shirt.  

I called dibs on the zebra print.

She claims I'm bordering on thematic sweaters and wooden jewelry.  

Your thoughts?

How dedicated are you to YOUR theme?

Will you be sporting a feather boa and sunglasses to enhance your Hollywood theme?

How about making the folks at the coffee shop question if you are going to school or a Jimmy Buffett concert to go with your beach theme?

Are you going to show up in khakis and a hiking vest to prove you really love your camping theme?

Perhaps denim and a bandana for those of you who are having a boot stomping good time with the western theme?

Cheap and Easy Project

I have a project that is so easy a five year old can do it.

Even a five year old that has only been five for less than two weeks.

Of course, I helped make everything straight.

And if I didn't have the help of a five year old it would have literally have taken under ten minutes.

And best of all it was under $3.00.

Not bad for something that is cute and custom and functional.

We decided to make it into a job chart.  But if you don't do job charts this project is still for you.  I'll tell you why at the end.

A trip to the Dollar Store got us a sturdy piece of black foam board, a 2-sided sheet of wall clings and a package of 25 colorful library pockets.  We had leftovers of the clings and pockets which is why this project comes in at under $3.00.
We simply arranged the pockets and clings onto the board in a way that we liked.  See that bottle of water on the floor?  There are downfalls to having a 5 year old do your school work.  It was promptly knocked over within 2 minutes.  Luckily the project was spared.  My pants were not so lucky.  

The clings totally rocked!  You can peel them off and stick them back down easily.  Dollar Tree has lots to choose from.  If you click on the picture to make it bigger you will see how super cute these little animals are too.
It helps to have moral support when you are doing any type of project.  

And yes, all three of my kids were still in their pajamas at 2:45 p.m.  Don't judge.

The final product was a job chart for my classroom.  I printed the title on the computer and added more of the wall clings to it.  I will label the pockets with the classroom jobs and then go with one of two options to identify who is responsible for the tasks.  The first and easiest option is to just write their names on the top of an index card (turned sideways) and slide them in and out of the pockets to change them around.  The second option is to take a picture of each of my friends wearing safari hats and cut out their little hat-wearing noggins and attach them to a popsicle stick.  I don't switch jobs often so I'm leaning towards that route.

Want another great project idea using the same supplies?

A trivia game board!  Arrange the pockets into a 5 x 5 array and label them with points or dollar values (think Jeopardy). You can them make each column be a category and write out your questions on index cards and slide them in. It makes a great review for any subject.

DIY Classroom Decorations

Today's Thrifty Thursday Tip is: Do It Yourself Classroom Decor

I love me some adorable Carson-Delossa kits as much as the next gal.  But, I also have a mortgage to pay and can’t be spending money all willy-nilly.  

Granted, time is money.  If you don’t have the time then you might want to spend the money.  But, if you do have the time then I’m here to tell you it takes surprisingly little talent to make cute things on your own.

This is especially handy if you are into classroom themes and are struggling to find items to complete your desired look.

Use the Overhead:

Find some clip art that you like.  Make a transparency of it (using a printer, copier or just tracing it with a Sharpie onto a transparent sheet).  Project it onto paper at a size that fits your needs.

You can paint it, but I prefer a paper pieced look.  The lion was traced onto different colored paper, cut out and glued together.  

The benefits to creating your own decorative items include:

• cost-savings
  
• custom to match your room theme or decor
  
• exact size you want
  
• great project for classroom aides, parent volunteers or even the kids
  

I recommend looking through coloring books or googling "___ coloring page" (insert what you are looking for).  

Photo Corners

If you use Daily 5 /CAFE  then this post will be of special interest to you.  If not, then just keep reading because you'll surely find a use for the creative genius I am about to share.

I'm a scrapbooker.

Well, in theory.

I like to say that I am a scrapbooker, but the reality is that I tend to buy a lot of scrapbook-related stuff, neatly pack it away in my little home studio and never get around to actually using it.  

I do use a lot of scrapbooking techniques and supplies in the classroom though.  I use my Cricut to make bulletin boards and find fun uses for pretty, patterned paper.  Recently, I unearthed a package of photo corners and it rocked my world.

I don't know why I hadn't thought of using them before.  They make things look pretty and they are practical.

I started using Daily 5 / Cafe last year and totally heart it. The CAFE board bugged the heck out of me though.  Yeah, I know..."child-centered"..."student ownership"...blah-blah-blah.  The idea is that the students are to write out the cards that hang on the board.

I let them.  Yet, I cringed and shuddered at it.  

Here's the thing.

I'm all for displaying student work when it is actual student work.  I'm all for students taking ownership for something.  But, in reality, having kids hand-write a dictated sentence strip verbatim is not exactly the highest form of student self-expression.

Plus, it looks messy.  

And I found that other kids weren't utilizing the board as much as they were using their charts because, well, it wasn't always easy to read.  So for this coming year, I have neatly typed, color-coded and laminated a card for each skill that will go on the CAFE board.

Which, for the record, I have rearranged to become the FACE board.  In place of a post-it with their name, each student will have a head shot to move around the board.  So cute!

Anyhow, I decided to attach the cards with photo corners.  By doing so I was able to complete the layout to ensure that everything will fit.  I will take them all down and put them back up as each skill is introduced.  I can easily take the card down again to use for review or small group lessons.

This spawned my love for photo corners and I've mapped out some additional uses for them:

• Student of the Week
  
• Job Charts (change out name cards or photos of the students)
  
• Calendar Squares (much cheaper than a pocket chart)
  
• Things that change monthly (lunch menu, school calendar)
  

CAFE board photos, CAFE board pictures, classroom photos, classroom organization, pictures of Daily 5 classrooms, photos of classroom using the Daily 5

Choice Board

Today's Thrifty Thursday Tip is: Recycling Crystal Lite Containers to Make a Choice Board

All those who love to micromanage, please raise your hand!

Oh, look at me waving both hands high into the air.

I’m really excited to put this into effect in the fall.  I do assign kids to groups and centers during our literacy block, but there are times when there is opportunity for “choice” on their part.  In my class there are two such opportunities that come to mind: Fun Friday and Indoor Recess.

To keep some sanity in the classroom, maintain peace and to be efficient, I limit the number of students in one activity/area and also limit the options. 

First, I’ll explain how this works and then I’ll explain how I made it.

How it Works:

• Each child has a popsicle stick with his name on it.
  
• Each container will display a small card under the paperclip.  The card will state the activity and the number of students who may participate.
  
• I will also have a slightly larger, colored card that I can slide underneath the original one to signal that the choice is at capacity and can no longer be selected.
  

How it is Made:

For months I’ve been looking at the new Crystal Lite containers and trying to determine a use for them.  I finally had my lightbulb moment, sent an email to the parents of my students requesting them and had more than enough to do this project the next day.  If you don't have the opportunity to ask for donations of these because it is summer then drink up.  It is cool and refreshing after all. :)

Put a push pin through the plastic container.

Select paper to match your classroom color scheme or theme.  Scrapbook paper is awesome for this.  Cut the paper to fit around the container.

Slide a paperclip over the top of the paper.

Apply a stripe of hot glue to the back of the paper and attach it to the container.

Label sticks (details on the lil' cuties above coming soon).

Display on a board and add a cute sign..or click here to buy the one pictured

I love how the push pin allows you to simply flip the container over to remove the sticks.

I bought the rafia at the Dollar Tree (it was a grass skirt) and the scrapbook paper was less than $1.00.  Grand total for this project was under $3.00.

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In the Jungle, The Mighty Jungle

I've created a new daily blog specifically dedicated to classroom organization and management. Please visit me there at: The Clutter-Free Classroom

My 50 Page Jungle-Safari Themed Classroom Kit is now available in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store. It includes all of the items shown in the picture above and bel0w, plus more! Click here to view the kit.

I've hinted at my theme for next year and it's time for the soft opening debut. There is still more to add and I will go into detail about many of these elements in future blog posts. However, I know a lot of you are doing a similar theme so I thought I would share my classroom as it is thus far as well as some ideas I've gathered online.

I was able to find some borders and bulletin board items locally (Lakeshore, Staples and Dollar Tree) but I made a lot of the stuff myself. The things that I made can be found here: Littlest Learners SAFARI / JUNGLE THEMED CLASSROOM PRINTABLES KIT

I've debated what to call this theme. I think I've decided to just call it a "wild animal" theme. I suppose jungle, safari, rainforest or adventure would also apply. The monkeys are my favorite part.

Reading Corner:

Construct a hut

Use animal print fabric to cover pillows

Add to the classroom

fake plants

stuffed animals

3D Elements

safari hats

binoculars

roll up green paper to make vines

or buy fake vine foliage (dollar stores often carry this)

Bulletin Board Titles/Ideas:

Welcome Boards

Swinging into ____Grade

Welcome to the Jungle

Beware: It's a Jungle in There

Rumble in the Jungle in ___ Grade

Welcome to __ Grrrrrrrrr-ade (with a lion image and tiger print letters)

Student Work

Wildly Wonderful Work

Work to Roar About

No Lion...This is Some Grrrrrrr-eat Work

ssssssss-ensational Work (with snakes)

Student of the Week

King/Queen of the Jungle

Top Cat

Top Banana

Job Chart

Spotted: Classroom Helpers

Hunting for Helpers

Jungle Jobs

Hopping Helpers (tree frogs)

Information Hut (attach rafia to the top of the board)

Birthday Board:

Born to Be Wild

Homework:

An Elephant Never Forgets

Science:

Science is about Exploring (binoculars)

Sssslither into Science (snake)

Any Board:

Wild About ______

Bananas Over _____

____ is Worth Roaring About

Making Tracks in _____

MISC

Use the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" as a transition. Play it at the start of the day and let the class know they need to be unpacked and settled before it ends.

The Monkees Theme Song

George of the Jungle Theme Song

Use a large flower pot or coffee can, 6 foot PVC pipe (2 inches wide), plaster of paris, an umbrella, and green and brown paper. Mix plaster of paris according to directions and put into pot until it's almost full. After plaster has set for a few minutes, insert pipe in center of pot. Allow plaster to completely harden. Wrap the pipe in brown paper to resemble a tree trunk. Open the umbrella and put in the top of PVC pipe. Decorate with leaves made from green paper.

Another great way to make trees is to go to a fabric store and get the long cylinder tubes that fabric comes on. Cut it how tall you want your tree. Then get brown paper lunch sacks and cut the ends off. Stuff over the poles and squish down hard. This gives it the bark look. Then make your branches out of rolled and crunched brown butcher paper.

When you form groups in the classroom (cooperative learning/reading/tables) give them animal names.

Create a PRIDE board: Use a lion and let the kids hang up work they are proud.

If you do a communication folder/binder, call it The Jungle Book.

Go on Safari in other classrooms:

Ms. Jones Class

Have you seen my classroom themes page at my new site? There are photos and ideas for over 30 themes. Click on the CLASSROOM THEMED button below at the top of this page to check it out. :)

Jungle Themed Classroom Jungle Themed Classroom Photos Jungle Themed Classroom Ideas Jungle Theme Classroom Jungle Theme Classroom Photos Jungle Theme Classroom Ideas Safari Themed Classroom Safari Themed Classroom Photos Safari Themed Classroom Ideas Safari Theme Classroom Safari Theme Classroom Photos Safari Theme Classroom Ideas Animal Themed Classroom Animal Themed Classroom Photos Animal Themed Classroom Ideas Animal Theme Classroom Animal Theme Classroom Photos Animal Theme Classroom printables