Back to School Craft: Painted Pencils

 

I love this idea for a back to school craft. It can also be an "at home" idea for teacher so that the "teacher pencils" are easily identified and returned....

 

Kids can decorate pencils by winding extra-thin tape around a plain pencil, painting it, and then unwrapping the tape.

 

See full, detailed instructions, materials list and examples at the source: CLICK HERE

Tech Tuesday: Three Ring

I had never heard about three ring until I stumbled upon http://www.twoguysandsomeipads.com via #cdnedchat on twitter. I love the way it sounds and look forward to giving it a try.... has anyone used it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section.

 

Here is what they posted:

 

 

Three Ring is an app that completely changed the way I create student portfolios and communicate with parents. Three Ring allows you to capture and share each learning moment in a photo, video, audio recording, or written note in a secure fashion. Each parent can only view the material of their child in the blog style format. It gives the parents a feeling of being in the classroom without actually being there or "feel like a fly on the wall in my child's classroom."

Check out their review on Teachers with Apps here and blog post.
Download Three Ring
Set up an account on their site here




See more at Source: http://www.twoguysandsomeipads.com/2013/08/5-free-tech-tools-for-this-school-year.html#sthash.4q1sPOqW.dpuf

Make Ahead Lunches.... Great Time Saver

I love this idea. As a mom and as an on-call teacher who sometimes (ok often!) gets a last minute call to go to this school or that, it is nice to have some ready-to-go lunch snacks.

In my house we have a snack bin for dry snacks, granola bars, fruit snacks, yougurt bars, cereal bars, crackers, cookies, etc. I also have one of those bins in my classroom for kids who don't bring lunches or miss breakfast. (Last year I also had a small fridge in my class where I stored yougurt tubes for kids in similar situations)

But I love the idea of having cold snacks and even sandwiches or wraps ready to grab and go at any time.

COLD SNACKS BIN:

String Cheese, Babybel cheese

Yogurt smoothies or other yogurt cups

Carrots ( I found little cups with lids at Cash n Carry that I add ranch dip to them sometimes)

Apples

Sliced Oranges

Mandarin Oranges, whole

Green Peppers, sliced thinly

Celery sticks

Grapes, Cherries, Canteloupe or other seasonal fruit cut up

DRY SNACKS BIN:

Crackers or Pretzels

Homemade Granola

Granola Bars

Beef Jerkey

Trail Mix

Chips

Graham Crackers

Brownies or Homemade Cookies ( I bake up a bunch and individually bag them up)

Special Treats ( usually for a holiday – like a single candy on Halloween…)

Source: http://happymoneysaver.com/cold-lunches-in-a-day/

Monday Quote....

Currently...

 

 

Listening:
To my daughter and her friend giggling in the room next to me. It's the last slumber party of the summer.

Loving:
The weather we have been having. There was a wicked thunder storm the other night and the rain watered my garden for me. Since then it has been sunny and beautiful.

Thinking:
About back to school.

Wanting:
A job! I am a bit anxious knowing there are no classes available for many teachers, including me. I really hoped I would be able to know before school starts.

[For those new to my blog, our district had a major budget deficit and laid off approx 500 teachers. As of last week 200 were still not placed back in a classroom... there are no jobs... yikes!]

Needing:
To get my house cleaned! And not stress of things I can not control [like when I get my class assignement]
Love Yourself Spot:
1. Drink more water 
2. Learn to say 'no' sometimes
3. Scrapbook more

If you want to participate in 'Currently' check out Farley's blog - Oh Boy 4th Grade I try to participate every month and even use the idea with the mentors group I work with as an opening write sometimes!

Craft Idea: Treasue Chest Books

I just love this idea, it is so cute.... I wonder if it would work as well with a larger box and paper?

These small ones are just too cute though....

Treasure Chests

Our kids' art projects make it easy for children to create beautiful crafts all by themselves.

Here's a simple way for kids to store their collections: Accordion-fold a strip of paper, and glue the first and last pages to the inside of a box's lid and bottom. Keep some pages empty so the collection can grow.

Source: http://www.marthastewart.com/275300/kids-art-projects/@center/276975/marthas-crafts-kids

Reflecting on Summer....

Back to School Tuesday!

In June I posted this "A Teacher's Summer Bucket List " as well as my own "Summer List" Here

So... How did I do?

Well, summer seems to pass by faster and faster each year, but I did try this summer to do as much as I could! I think it is so important to relax, rejuvinate and have fun in the summer...

1. I did not organize my garage of resources. Though a few teacher friends have offered to come help me soon.
2. I did go camping for 5 glorious days with two other families! 6 adults, 6 children, 3 dogs. It was amazing! One of my longest friends and his wife and two children were one of the families we camped with and they are pro-campers, so we ate in style! Slow smoked pork sandwiches, ribs, steaks, and late night campfire snacks like bean dip and potato skins... delicious!
3. I did not plan for the upcoming school year. I am on recall and there is no job for me yet, so I can't plan as I don't know what class/grade/school/subject I will be in, when I am in...
4. I read a few novels, not as many as I hoped, but I really enjoyed them!
5. Beach trips were few and far between, the weather was beautiful, but almost too hot to go to a busy beach. We did go to the lake while camping a lot though!
6. Summer Conference and FIT were awesome! I really enjoyed Kamloops
7. SDCC (Comic-Con) was epic! I had the most amazing time with friends and attending panels, celebrity filled parties and cool exhibits.

Also, not on my list but quite rewarding:

• Scrapbooking with my daughter
• BBQs
• movie dates
• hanging out with my husband, daughter and our puppy at the dog park, river, trails and lake
• coffee dates with friends
• tutoring

And now, it is back to school... I am excited for my daughter, entering her final year of Elementary School and I am anxious to learn where I will be teaching this year.... Good-Bye Summer!

What did you do this summer that was most enjoyable?