Inspirational Posters

Since my last set of free classroom management posters were so well received, I made some self-esteem and attitude booster posters using my favorite quotes. Click on each picture to download. Please leave a rating on my Teachers Pay Teachers Account or comment here. Enjoy!

DIY supply tower and magnetic circle boards

 I was inspired by Pinterest (follow me here or ask me for an invite!) and Freecycle to create a supply tower and magnetic circle boards...total cost = $0!

Here's what I used for the supply tower (took about 15 minutes to make):

I had: 3 pieces of scrapbook paper, glue gun, scissors, 2 toilet paper rolls, and I got 3 tins (same color, different sizes - from Freecycle)

First, trace around each tin.

Cut out each circle.

I used hot glue to attach the paper to the bottom. It dried a bit faster than I liked and left the paper raised in some parts. I'd suggest spray adhesive or contact paper instead next time.

I used clear sealer so that my supplies wouldn't make marks on the paper. 

Again, next time I might use contact paper or I'd spray the paper before gluing it down.

Here's how it looks before the adhesive dried. You can see how it made the paper bubble a bit. I suggest using dark paper.

  I glued a toilet paper roll to the middle tin. This angle makes them look crooked, but they aren't!

 I glued the top tin on and added a bow!

 Top view

 So many uses...

School supplies!

Here are the supplies needed to create magnetic circle boards:

The lid tops and scrap paper from the previous project, scissors, glue gun, ribbon

 Trace the lids on your remaining scrap paper. If you are careful, you should have enough to cover most of each lid.

Glue paper to lid tops; don't worry if small parts aren't covered, you'll see what I do to fix that later...

I used spray gloss again to seal the paper.

I glued ribbon to the piece of lid that was not covered by paper and then curled it.

 I glued ribbon on to the back so I could hang them.

TADA! They are cute and magnetic! 

Random finds

It's been said that teachers can make something out of anything...and that we can be hoarders! I've found some random but pretty awesome stuff this summer. I've found that taking pictures and pinning them to Pinterest makes me feel better about not buying them! So here ya go...

Dr. Suess section at Michael's

USB men and flexible keyboards and calculators at BBB...indestructible!

 Soda bottle bubbles at Amazing Savings...I'm envisioning a game!

Foam animal hats at Michael's

 Alien hats and spaceman vest, helmet, and boots at Target

Magnetic dry erase wall dots, dry erase list board, pencil cup at Walmart

Double sided dry erase board, print and cursive wipe off boards, and crayons at Walmart

Microphone pencil pouch at Walmart...perfect for Reader's Theater or Author's Chair

Surfboard dry erase board at Walmart

Animal headbands at Michael's

Bee and frog buckets and snack cups at Walmart - the top of the snack cup has flap like things so you can just push crayons inside and not worry about them spilling if it gets knocked over!

Magnetic holder and binder dividers from Walmart - holder is perfect for students to put notes in during the morning and I can move it to the door frame before dismissal! Dividers have Box Tops!

Zebra dry erase board at Michael's

Binder with accordion folders and tabs at Walmart! 

Adorable turtle kids gardening bag at Bed Bath and Beyond

Easy way to find play food...use dog toys from Dollar Tree! 

Crayon thermoses at Dollar Tree...great for crayon storage, duh!

Love this poster from Staples!

Fruit and vegetable magnets at Dollar Tree

24 badge holders for $1 at Dollar Tree

Favorite Websites Linky Party

I'm working on the student resources page of my class website and I wanted to add more websites for students. This is a perfect opportunity for a linky party! You can add yourself to more than one collection  with the same link if you put it all in one post. Please try not to repeat sites that others have posted! All participants will receive a free Technology Center poster from my Learning Center Signs Pack! Leave a comment with your email address after you have joined and I will send it to you! :)

My favorite websites for kids:

Reading: Story It
Writing: Spelling City, Learning Chocolate, and Read Write Think
Math: Create a Graph and National Virtual Library of Manipulatives
Science: BBC, National Geographic for Kids, and Discovery Kids
Social Studies: Learner.org

Life's a beach!

What a busy summer! I did a semi-upgrade of the site and added a page of my photography. Let me know what you think! Here's what else I've been working on for my ocean/beach themed classroom:

This bridal planner from Michael's is going to make a perfect sub binder.  

It was missing some pieces and a little beat up, so I got a nice percent off the sale price!

 You can't see it, but the little notebook on the left says, "My Wedding Contacts" but I'll just change that. The inside is perfect for letting them know what teachers to go to for help!

This is the view when it was open, before I fixed it.

It was missing a post-it pad and tabs. I found these for $.99 at a dollar store.

I got this bookshelf at Goodwill for $4.50 so I would have a place for my chapter books. They take up sooo much room in baskets and this was the perfect size but I didn't like the wood grain.

 After a little black spray paint....

 Just a few books for now!

Stickers from Dollar Tree match perfectly with...

these planters I made from Michael's! (They say Relax, Paradise, and Beach - just a bad pic)

Gonna frame these!

I found these ice cream cones at Amazing Savings. Right now they have bubbles in them but I'm sure I can come up with some sort of game to use them for.  Dice and Bingo chips can fit inside.

A library book bin and guided reading table basket from Amazing Savings with my new palm stapler from Staples ($5!)...gotta figure out how to get the bottle opener off!

My new rolling cart from Michael's (with a few to-be-made projects)

Top it all off with a coconut cup from the dollar store for my desk (I'll probably put a pen in the straw hole and erasers inside)

...and I'm almost set with my ocean / beach theme!

School doesn't start until September 6, so I'll post classroom pics later!