Back to School Blog Hop and Giveaway!

I'm a little bit excited about this post

because I've never participated in a blog hop before.

I think you will really enjoy visiting each blog.

We are all sharing a Back to School tip.

We'll also give a preview of the product we

donated to the giveaway.

Some of us are also offering you a FREEBIE!

 

So be sure to "HOP" on over to the other blogs

and be sure to enter the giveaway.

 

BACK TO SCHOOL TIP:

Give your students dough to play with on the first day.

The kids can be so nervous that day

and dough is so familiar to them.

I got this idea from Clutter Free Classroom

last year and it really worked.

My third graders were laughing and talking to each other.

It was a very fun to watch.

 

MY BACK TO SCHOOL PRODUCT DONATION:

 

 

 

My students loved foldables last year

and so I'm starting this year with some.

I created this to be used two different ways.

1.  Make a lapbook about the beginning of the year only.

2.  Make a lapbook.  

Half of the book can be about the beginning of the year.

Save it and add the other foldables at the end of the year.

 

Of course, any of these can be used in a writing notebook

at the beginning of the year.

They are a nice way to prompt your students

and let them write about a familiar topic - themselves!

 

FREEBIE:

I am sharing a freebie with you also.

 

 This is an activity to help review classroom rules and procedures.

Five categories are in the boxes:

Fire Drill

Tornado Drill

Hallway

Snacks and Drinks

Washroom

 

Your kids cut out the rules and place

them in the correct category box.

For example:

Stop working immediately and line up

would go in the fire drill box.

 

I've included a blank rules sheet so you

can customize it for your classroom.

 

Well, I hop you enjoy the rest of the blog hop

and again, don't forget the enter the giveaway!

 

 

Duck Tape ID Tag and a Giveaway

Are you required to wear an id badge at school?

We are and we also have two keys

and a class list.

 

I've gone through at least five different holders

because they end of breaking or don't fit well.

 

I was so excited when I saw an id holder

made of Duck Tape at Joann Fabrics.

 

Here is what you need.

Both products were at Joann Fabrics,

but I'm sure you can get them elsewhere.

 

Figure out how long you want the holder

and cut the tape.

Then fold in one of the sides. 

 

Do the same to the other side.

Try to make them overlap a little bit.

Then put the folded tape through the loop. 

 

Bring the two ends together

and wrap a piece of tape around them.

There you go! 

 

I love this idea because it is super cheap

and there are so many designs/colors of Duck Tape.

I tried it on and it is comfortable.

There's a good chance I'm going to make a few more.

 

I wanted to let you know about a huge giveaway

that is going on right now.

There are six prize packs and therefore 6 winners!

Click on the button above to enter.

 

Have a great Sunday!

 



Giveaway Winner and Ikea Finds

It's Friday and I'm so excited to announce

the winner of my giveaway...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check your email Diane,

I'll be sending you all the files tonight!

Thank you so much for everyone that entered.

 

Today I took a trip to Ikea to pick up some stools.

I ended up finding some other great things.

These are the stools I bought.

I got two blue and two black. 

 

 Another great find were these fake plants.

We aren't supposed to have real plants in our rooms.

Plus, I'd kill it.

So I bought a few of these fake ones.

They actually look pretty real.



 

Here was a stool I've had in my room for a while.

It's so ugly!

I finally decided to spray paint it.

I tried to paint the seat black,

but some black  got on the blue.

So I repainted the blue,

but some of it got on the black.

So I tried to fix the black

and it got on the blue.

 

I gave up and bought a cushion at Ikea.

The cushion fits perfectly

and has those sticky things on the bottom.

It even fits on the stools.

 

What great finds have you

found this week?

 

Enjoy your weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

Super Simple Social Studies Bulletin Board

Today I'm sharing a picture of my

social studies bulletin board.

I was going to show it with my classroom reveal pictures,

but Becky at Teaching, Learning & Loving is hosting her first linky
and I wanted to join in on the fun!

 

 

So here it is....

That's it!

 

In third grade, our focus is on Illinois history.

Throughout the year, we add facts for each letter.

Some letters have more than one word or fact.

There is still space on the sides so I can

put up other pictures and vocabulary words.

 

Why do I love this board?

Because it never changes during the school year.

We add to it, but I don't have to take it down

and put up new things.

 

I can't wait to see your bulletin boards!

 

Also, last call for my giveaway.

I'll be picking a winner later tonight!

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win, Loss and A Thing of Cost

I'm on my way to work on my classroom

so this post will be short and sweet!

Today is Wednesday and it's time

for us to share...

WIN

My room is pretty close to being finished

and then I can start lesson plans.

I have a goal to have everything done

by next Tuesday.

Then I can enjoy my last few days of vacation.

LOSS

Things are going well for me.

I guess I'll stick with my usual loss

and say I would like a few super

hot weather days before school starts.

My girls and I have not had

any sprinkler or pool time.

It's just too cool outside for us.

THING OF COST

I went to Mendards and got some

cheap carpeting for my classroom.

I was really excited because it is black 

and only cost 49 cents a square foot.

Don't forget to enter my 400 Followers Giveaway! a Rafflecopter giveaway What is new with you?

Monday Made It - Curtains

Last night I was sitting around relaxing

and then I remembered that today was Monday.

Oh crap!  I need to make something

so I can link up with Tara for...

This was a project that I started last summer

when I bought the fabric.

That's as far as I got.

So last night I finally made the curtains.

It only took a year, not too bad!

They were really easy to make.

1.  Cut the fabric into a rectangle about 

two times the size of the window.

2.  Fold, iron and sew all four sides.

Make the top edge bigger so 

the curtain rod will fit.

I got the curtain rods and hooks 

from Home Depot.

The hooks are great because you can

move them around. 

I already had to do that once today!

My curtains are not meant to

keep the sun out, but rather make

the room feel a bit cozier.

Back to working on my classroom!

400 Followers Giveaway

Wow! 

What a summer this has been!

I've gained over 200 followers here at

Third Grade Galore.

It has been so much fun hearing from other teachers

and reading all of your awesome ideas.

I hit the big 400 yesterday so I'm having a little giveaway.

School starts in two weeks,

so I'm sorry that it's not a huge event.

Just a little something to say

thank you for supporting me.

 

You have a chance to win over $20 worth of products.

They are some of my favorites that I use

often in my classroom. 

Good luck!
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway