Monday Made It and a Freebie

After finally linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics last week for her Monday Made It, I got so excited that I started right in on this weeks projects. I was hoping to have 3 done but with all the rain we have been getting here in Southwest Florida it's been difficult to get outside to paint or build so one project is on hold until next week (I hope).

My first project I found on Pinterest (doesn't everybody..lol). Carly at First Grade Fabulosity posted this adorable mini pocket chart stand.

I decided to modify it so that I could put 4 of the mini pocket charts from Target's Dollar spot that I got last year to use as a station either on a table or on the floor. This is how mine turned out minus the charts since they are locked away in my closet at school.

I hope this next week I will finally be able to get my keys back and hopefully change classrooms (God willing). The room I want to move into is made for Kindergarten but has been a 1st grade room. The counters and chalkboards are lower and there is an extra closet and let's face it Kindergarten needs LOTS of storage!

My other project I came up with as I was thinking about new ideas for my reading centers. I always teach my kids to stretch the words and then write down the sounds they hear so I came up with the Stretch a Word activity. Kids stretch the word and move the rubber band (or string) to the next brad for each sound. They hook the band on the brad with the final number of sounds (ex: if the word has 3 sounds they hook it on the #3 brad). Next they either write each sound with dry erase or use letter tiles or letters in each box to represent that sound. Finally they write the word all together on the bottom line.

You may need to secure the board to something stiff as it does tend to curl the board for longer words, either that or get longer rubber bands. I'm attaching the boards as a freebie. Click here to go to my brand new store at TPT. This would be a great activity with picture cards or objects.

Since I opened at TPT store, I also decided to add the All Star Writing posters that I had in my Made It Monday post last week. I noticed that it had been pinned a couple times which excited me to no end. lol I had to change the graphics since I do not have a Thistle Girl reseller's license so it's a little generic.

Getting Stuff Done

I am finally linking up with my friend Tara at 4th Grade Frolics. I have been working on a few things but just hadn't had time to finish them up and take pictures. After looking at everyone else's wonderful creations, I decided I had better get my rear in gear. A couple of weeks ago someone had made a teacher binder (forgive me I don't remember who did it first) and thought, "now that's what I need, one spot for everything." I have a separate binder for my lesson plans but this one will hold everything else that I need to keep track of daily. Since the very first section is the calendar section, I also created a monthly calendar for the next school year to also help keep me on track. (I see a pattern here...hmmm.)

My last project this week is also going to serve as my writing rubric. I had seen signs similar to these on Pinterest but was unable to download them and then I realized that I wanted to make them more me and add to it. Can't wait to see what I can come up with next week.

On a different note, we just came back from Key West on Saturday but while we were down there we found a new place to explore. The Key West Toy Store is down by Mallory Square. It's upstairs in this little brick mall-like building right on the waterfront. After all these years we finally ventured up there and now I wonder why I never went before. It is seriously this magically wonderful place. Now mind you, I didn't buy anything cuz it's all overpriced but they did have some very cool things I've never seen before.