Category: 5 For Friday

5 Odd Items Every Teacher Needs to Keep on Hand

9/25/2015

Teachers love supplies: office supplies, school supplies, craft supplies, you name it! We all have our list of must-buy items as well as wish-list goodies, but over the years I’ve come to realize that some of the most unexpected, seemingly random materials come in handy almost daily and make my life as a teacher easier. Read on to see my favorite picks for odd classroom must-haves!

{CLICK each image below to be taken to the full article to read more details, tips, & tricks!}

1) LINT ROLLER

#2) MANICURE SET

#3) ZIP TIES

#4) CAR VENT AIR FRESHENERS

#5) BINDER CLIPS

Read my Scholastic Blog Post for FULL DETAILS and inventive uses for these 5 "odd" items to keep on-hand in your classrooms. Have you found amazing teacher must-haves for the classroom that involve odd items not typically associated with school use? If so, please share! Practical tips and tricks are much appreciated! Thanks for reading, and see you next week.

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5 Ways to Beat the Back-to-School Blues

9/18/2015

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// Here We Go Again... //

New school supplies, a perfectly clean and organized classroom, a fresh crop of students. Back-to-school is one of the most exciting times of the year for teachers! We talk about plans for our new students, ideas for classes, and eagerness to reconnect with colleagues, but what we don’t speak of are the dreaded back-to-school blues. Don’t deny it. Whether you started school a month ago, last week, or even mid-summer...I think almost everyone feels at least a small twinge of the blues as summer dwindles away and you get back into work mode. Here’s 5 ways I keep my chin up, focus on the excitement of a brand new year, and start off on the right foot when it’s back-to-school-time!

// Featured in SCHOLASTIC INSTRUCTOR Magazine! //

Some of these tips were chosen and featured in the back-to-school issue of ScholasticInstructor magazine! {SQUEAL!} Read about them below,
and check out more info in the
magazine article.

{CLICK each image below to be taken to the full article to read more details, tips, & tricks!}

#1) MANAGE MUNCHIES

#2) GIVING FEELS GOOD

PS: See my PREVIOUS post from this week for a FULL POST on my favorite colleague teacher gifts!!
{You'll see simple steps and inexpensive items needed to make super cute goodies.}

#3) GET ORGANIZED!

#4) LEAN ON YOUR TEAM & BE SILLY

#5) EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

// TPT //

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5 for Friday: 6.26.15

6/26/2015

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I'm linking up withDoodle Bugs Teaching again this week! We're on our second week of summer, and I'm trying to balance something fun everyday for Grayson...while still having laid back, easy breezy days. {I hate when summer gets to be more hectic than the school year!} What are you up to?

WHAT I WORE // WORK-IT WEDNESDAY

This week I teamed up with both Katie @ Queen of the First Grade Jungle for her weekly "Work it Wednesday" link up and Lindsey @ The Pleated Poppyfor "What I Wore Wednesday!" The reason for this doubly-delightful post this week is because getting some exercise and my wardrobe are overlapping, because...well....I haven't really worn anything EXCEPT for my workout gear the past week. I had a few cute outfits over the weekend, but forgot to snap photos, and one of the best things about summer is NOT having to dress up unless you just want to! Check out my FAVORITE FINDS for fashionable and functional fitness-wear!

// Splash Bash is Almost Here! //

I'm MAKING S SPLASH...are YOU?? Get ready because we only have 2 weeks until TPT takes over the Vegas strip!! I'm so excited! You don't want to miss out on the opportunity to win great prizes that include many popular TPT store products, gift certificates to Amazon and Kendra Scott (I know right?!?!?!), and even a clipart cd with $100 worth of clipart from one of your favorite clipart artists! Each attendee will receive 3 tickets to enter in the drawings of their choice. Additional drawing tickets may be purchased for $1 each. This money will be added to a VEGAS cash pot that will go to one of our attendees that day! That means you could be the lucky winner to have some extra spending cash for your Vegas week! We hope to see you at the Make a Splash Teacher Bash 2015!

// GoNoodle Meet-Up in YOUR City //

VOTE NOW to bring@gonoodle meetup to YOUR area! These peeps are high energy & awesome, & so are other teacher-noodlers!
Voting {here} is super simple & takes 2 seconds!!

// New Show Love: Odd Mom Out //

I'm LOVING my weekly dose of #OddMomOut!! Does anyone else ADORE and TOTALLY relate to this show....or am I the..."odd mom out?!?!"

// TPT Seller Challenge: DREAM BIG //

I'm participating in the TPT Seller Challenge, & will be writing a blog post soon about my hopes & dreams for the future! Check back soon for my "Dare to Dream" details.

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5 for Friday: 6.20.15

6/19/2015

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I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for the first 5 for Friday of the summer! This has been my first full week of summer break, and despite a few rainy days, it's been absolutely wonderful! Can't wait for more fun!

// Make a Splash Teacher Bash 2015 //

Join us for the first ever MAKE A SPLASH TEACHER BASH! Enjoy some Vegas fun poolside in the Venetian Pool Deck PREMIUM CABANAS on Wednesday, July 8 @ 1:00-4:00 (prizes & giveaways @ 3:00). $30 includes premium cabanas with amenities, snacks, sweet treats, prizes, giveaways, favors, & more!

For additional information, to purchase tickets, and RSVP: www.makeasplashvegas.weebly.com #makeasplashvegas2015 #tptvegas2015

Click image above for video with sound. Pause throughout to view information in more detail.

// Work-it Wednesdays //

There's nothing like a CABANA POOL PARTY for a little fitness motivation!! I'm teaming up with Katie @ Queen of the First Grade Jungle for her weekly "Work it Wednesday" link up! Summer is here...which means shorts, swimsuits, and sassy little dresses, so I {SUPER LOVE} this link-up to help keep us accountable and encouraged on our quest for health and fitness. See a sneak peek of my WIW post from this week!

// Before Workouts //

// After Workouts //

// Two of my SUmmer Health & Fitness Must-Haves //

// Summer Professional Development Reads //

Summer time seems to fly, and between family fun, friends, special events, trips, product creation, blogging, and then prepping for a new school year....I often short-change summer time professional development reading. This year I'm setting a {hopefully} reasonable goal of reading the two books below before going back to school. What summer PD books are you reading? Also, I'm looking for a GREAT book on teaching writing to intermediate elementary grades. Any suggestions? HELP!

// Summer Fun with My Little Man //

There's nothing like getting to spend summertime with your own kiddo(s) when you are a teacher. Right now Grayson is at the PERFECT age for awesome summer fun...and I'm soaking up every minute. We've had a great first week off, with lots of fun activities. I planned out our Gray and Mommy days through July, trying to have at least one special activity/event/outing each day, but without things getting hectic or over-scheduled. There's something nice about special activities without feeling like your calendar is too cram-packed. Summer is about lazy days and milking every minute of relaxation, too! Check out the SLIDESHOW below to see our adventures so far!

// New Laundry Room Artwork //

I don't know about you, but laundry seems to take over my house...no matter how hard I try to stick to a system...and it's only going to get worse as Gray gets older and into sports, etc. Right now, I have NO solution to my laundry woes, but I DO have a recent addition to my laundry room! About two years ago {can we say procrastination?} I snagged the two matted and framed laundry prints at Hobby Lobby {my MECCA} for $7.00 each. Originally they were $69.99 each. Talk about a bargain! After repainting the laundry room, adding wall cabinets, and replacing both machines...it was finally time to hang my super-discounted artwork. To me, this just makes laundry time a bit more pleasant!

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5 for Friday & a FAB Spooky Freebie!

10/3/2014

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Don't Miss Out on the FREEBIE @ the End!

S.T.E.M.agination Station:
Hogwarts Academy After SChool Club

S.T.E.M.agination Station is the brainchild passion project that my #teachingtwin, Jenna Weinstein, and I created a year ago. It is hands-down the best move I've ever made as an educator and continues to amaze me every time we engage in an engineering challenge. Learn more about S.T.E.M.agination Station on our web page HERE.

This year we added an after school club component to our S.T.E.M.agination Station endeavors. Because we're both Potter dorks, we host "Hogwarts Academy" every Monday after school through our PTO enrichment program. Students engage in Harry Potter-themed STEM projects each week and create a fun Potter-inspired snack, that usually involves STEM skills as well. IT.IS.SO.MUCH.FUN. I wouldn't lie.

Call me a dork if you want...I'm in Hogwarts heaven, and the kids are, too. They have so much fun that they don't even realize they are engaging in complex science, math, technology, and engineering challenges. Stay tuned for more S.T.E.M.agination Station fun!

S.T.E.M.agination Station Buddy Program:
Build Rapunzel's Tower

On a weekly basis, we participate in STEM challenges with our Kindergarten buddy class. In our school, older classes pair with younger ones to build leadership and other skills. Each week we start with a classic tale and then create STEM challenges based on that tale. This week, we engaged in our first buddies STEM challenge: RAPUNZEL

After reading/watching the story, students had to build the tallest, free-standing Rapunzel tower using only dried spaghetti and marshmallows (both large and mini) to help the witch make a tower tall enough that no prince could rescue poor Rapunzel. The kiddos did SUCH a great job! I can't wait for next week......when we'll be building the strongest Rapunzel hair using only Pull-n-Peel Twizzlers! Stay tuned for more S.T.E.M.agination Station fun!

Anniversary Concert with Hubby

As you may have seen on Instagram or my Wordless Wednesday post, 10/1 was our 10 year anniversary! We took a glorious trip this summer to celebrate, but last weekend continued the celebration with a trip to downtown Chicago for the Black Keys concert. Let me tell you, the concert ROCKED. I mean, it rocked HARD. I could NOT believe how amazing these guys from Ohio were live. If you EVER get the chance to see The Black Keys...TAKE IT!

Dinner Before the Concert @ Eataly

As you can already tell, I'm ALL ABOUT FOOD. Seriously, I adore good food. Before the concert, we took the plunge and experienced all that Eataly has to offer....and then some. We will have to go back for sure...at least 2, or 3, or more times. Eataly is my food Mecca. Just check out the photos below. From restaurant goodies, to their Italian market, it was beyond delish and made us feel like we were legit in Italy!

Fresh Salads All Week & Meal Prep Post Update

I'm THRILLED that my salads-in-jars were so incredibly tasty and stayed fresh and crispy ALL.WEEK.LONG. That's 5 days, peeps! I made them on Sunday evening and today at lunch my salad was still fresh as a daisy! I'll be writing a post on how to make them and my fave recipes soon. Also....drumroll {b/c it's taken forever}....my make-ahead freezer meal post should be up either Saturday or Sunday!! YIPPEE!

Save the BEST for Last...YOUR FREEBIE!

If you already follow me on TPT, THANK YOU...& you're about to receive a special treat! If you don't yet follow me on TPT, please do & then YOU can receive a special treat, too....and that's no trick! We can only send out 1 email per month, so follow me on TPT by Sunday @ midnight {technically Monday a.m.}. On Monday I'll blast out an email to all of my TPT followers with this custom designed owl silhouette Halloween notecard/art print. Just download, cut, and use as a card or frame and use for ghoulish decor! THANKS & ENJOY!

GET THE COMPLETE SET FOR $3.00 ON TPT!

Click on the image below to see the product preview and details in my TPT store.

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<<Previous

5 Odd Items Every Teacher Needs to Keep on Hand

1) LINT ROLLER

#2) MANICURE SET

#3) ZIP TIES

#4) CAR VENT AIR FRESHENERS

#5) BINDER CLIPS

5 Ways to Beat the Back-to-School Blues

// Here We Go Again... //

// Featured in SCHOLASTIC INSTRUCTOR Magazine! //

#1) MANAGE MUNCHIES

#2) GIVING FEELS GOOD

#3) GET ORGANIZED!

#4) LEAN ON YOUR TEAM & BE SILLY

#5) EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

// TPT //

5 for Friday: 6.26.15

WHAT I WORE // WORK-IT WEDNESDAY

// Splash Bash is Almost Here! //

// GoNoodle Meet-Up in YOUR City //

// New Show Love: Odd Mom Out //

// TPT Seller Challenge: DREAM BIG //

5 for Friday: 6.20.15

// Make a Splash Teacher Bash 2015 //

// Work-it Wednesdays //

// Before Workouts //

// After Workouts //

// Two of my SUmmer Health & Fitness Must-Haves //

// Summer Professional Development Reads //

// Summer Fun with My Little Man //

// New Laundry Room Artwork //

5 for Friday & a FAB Spooky Freebie!

Don't Miss Out on the FREEBIE @ the End!

S.T.E.M.agination Station: Hogwarts Academy After SChool Club

S.T.E.M.agination Station Buddy Program: Build Rapunzel's Tower

Anniversary Concert with Hubby

Dinner Before the Concert @ Eataly

Fresh Salads All Week & Meal Prep Post Update

Save the BEST for Last...YOUR FREEBIE!

GET THE COMPLETE SET FOR $3.00 ON TPT!

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Hogwarts Academy After SChool Club

S.T.E.M.agination Station Buddy Program:
Build Rapunzel's Tower

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