Monday Made It! (July 29th)

I am linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for my first Monday Made It!

Duct Tape Clipboards:

     I pinned this craft over a year ago from Classroom DIY. I made a few last summer and last year's class loved them. They would use the clipboards every chance they could. The problem was I only made 8. Not nearly enough for a class of 26. So this summer I am making more. Hopefully enough for an entire class. 

     Here is what you need: a clipboard, colorful duct tape, and scissors.

Here is how I went about completing this project.

I start by covering the corners. Take squares of tape and folded it over the corners. You can see this clipboard is really beat up. It could use a face lift.

Cut a slice in each side of the fold. This will help you to bend the tape around the corners. Do this to all four corners.

Then take strips of tape and fold it over the top and bottom of the clipboard.

Now start covering the clipboard with strips of tape. Slightly overlapping as you go. 

I start in the front and overlap the tape in the back.

Continue until the entire clipboard is covered.

Two down, sixteen more to go!

My son actually covered the solid blue clipboard. He did it his own way and it looks great. 

Now I need to figure out how to store these lovely clipboards. I currently put them in crates but I really don't like how that looks and it takes up a lot of space. Any ideas? How do you store your clipboards?

Kim

Anecdotal Notes and a Freebie!

Anecdotal notes are a great way to gain information regarding your students and a wonderful resource when you are getting ready for conferences. There are numerous ways to keep anecdotal records. The one below is what works best for me. The idea comes from an incredible teacher named Liz who I worked with several years ago when we were both at a different school. I am not sure where she got the idea - probably Pinterest. Did I mention she also got me hooked on Pinterest?

Setting this up is quick and easy and only requires three items - a file folder, tape, and 4x6 index cards.

Open up the file folder. Starting on the left side, place an index card about 1/8 inch from the bottom on the folder. Put a piece of tape across the top of the index card.

Take the next card and place it about a 1/2 inch above the first, making sure to keep the sides lined up.

Keep going until both sides are filled. I was able to fit 14 cards on each side. That allows for 26 students (if you don't use the top card of each pile - 28 students if you do). I like keeping the top card blank - it insures privacy if the folder is left open.

Now add your students' names. 

All your notes for an entire class in one place. You can easily flip to a particular student and jot down information.

Now for a FREEBIE!

Below is a questionnaire that I give to my students on the first day of school. I then put all the papers in a three-ring binder so the information is readily available when I need it. Click on the picture to get a copy.

Due to copyright laws I can't allow for editing of this document. However, if you would like an editable copy of the questionnaire without the cute border, leave your e-mail in the comment section and I will gladly send it to you.

Enjoy!

Kim

Are The Penny Sales Worth It?

It's that time of year again. The office supply stores are having their penny sales. These sales are geared to get you to the store with the hopes that you will buy more stuff once you get through the door. These wonderful sales usually have requirements. This week you need to spend $5 to qualify for the penny items at each of the stores. This is a deal IF there are items totaling $5 that you already planned to buy. If you are just randomly picking up $5 worth of stuff to qualify, they are NOT!

Example: At Staples this week they were offering pencil cap erasers, black pens, and note cards for a penny each. These are items I use all the time in my classroom. To qualify you had to purchase at least $5 in other items. This was easy since they were offering a ream of copy paper for $6.99 with a rebate of $6.98 through their rewards program. So technically I get the paper for a penny too! Of course it is not a straight up rebate, I do have to spend the money at Staples but there is always something I need there and I can use the rebate on sale items!

Staples also allows teachers to buy more than the limit stated in the weekly flyer. So let's say you wanted to buy three packs of eraser caps, you would pay $0.01 for each of the first two and  $1.49 for the third pack. Then  Staples mails you a credit of $1.48 in Staples rewards. 

Below is the result of my trip to Staples with my son. The picture shows our combined purchase. Having us each check out half the items below we will only have to wait for the reimbursement for the paper not the other penny items since each of us qualified for two of each penny items.

Our purchase:

                                                 2 reams of printer paper ($6.99 each)      $13.98
                                                
                                                 4 binder dividers ($0.25 each)                     $1.00
                                               
                                                 4 packs of eraser caps ($0.01 each)            $0.04
                                                  
                                                 4 packs of black pens ($0.01 each)             $0.04

                                                 4 packs of index cards ($0.01 each)           $0.04

                                                               Initial out of pocket total                  $15.10

                                                                            Staples rewards $                - $13.96
                                                                               
                                                                      Total after rebate                     $1.14

Not bad considering I will use every bit of the supplies pictured above.

Another office supply store had a similar sale this week offering glue and folders for a penny. Unlike Staples, this store does not increase the limit of items for teachers. Also there really wasn't anything else I wanted at this store. So spending $5 to get 10 folders is totally not worth it for me. It would have cost me $5.10 to get my penny items. So I went back to Staples and bought 20 folders for $0.20 each for a total of $4.00. So I saved a dollar and have twice as many folders. BONUS! 

So my advice is to "do the math." Don't get taken by the penny sales. Buy only what you need.

Kim Follow my blog with Bloglovin

July Currently!

I am so excited to be linking up with Farley over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade. I love this linky and couldn't wait to start my blog so I could get a chance to participate.

Listening to lots of giggles. My son's favorite word is "literally". He uses whenever possible.  Nana is teasing him every time he uses it. He is loving the attention.

Loving that our friend Josh is visitng from New York. It has been way too long since his last visit. We have been enjoying time at the beach and lots of great, fresh, seafood.

Thinking I need to get going on my TpT products. I have so many items I have started that I want to use this coming year. I need to get motivated.

Wanting to make the most of summer. I always start the summer with a huge to-do list. Then next thing I know it is the week before school starts and I still have several projects to complete. I need to be more productive this summer.

Needing to exercise! I went to Boot Camp on Monday night and was sore for three days. I am so out of shape. I need to change that.

Slow down and take your time!



 



Enjoy!
Kim

Middle Grades Bloglovin Hop!

I am linking up with Jamie from over at Sixth Grade Tales for a Middle School Bloglovin Hop! 

So head over to Jamie's blog and find some fabulous new middle grade (5-8) blogs to follow and then head out and enjoy the 4th!

Happy 4th of July!
Kim