Colorful Pens for Colorful Words

For the writing center to encourage fun creative writing! Also could be used as an incentive ... get to write with a colorful pen for the day!

I found this idea on Pinterest some time ago...not sure where the original idea is from. If you know let me know & I'll be sure to credit them!

Can't get enough of these

Ask Me First! Classroom Management

I got this great but simple idea from Mrs. T at S is for Second Grade. Awesome blog...check her out! 

You use these visors when doing guided reading or any kind of small groups where you need to give an individual child or small group of students your attention with no interruptions. Whoever gets to wear the visors during this time is my ask me buddy...who all other students are to go to FIRST when they have a question..BEFORE interrupting me. This also gives the students wearing the visors a leadership opportunity that most take very seriously. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this! I got my visors for $1 each at Michael's. I used a paint pen to write "ask me" and added some gems & little flowers for extra cuteness! Simple! 

Lost and Found

Something that really annoys me is finding random items on the floor of our classroom. Anything from crayons to puzzle pieces to manipulatives--I find it on the ground! The younger the grade you teach the more true I think this is. Many times my students will come up to me, in the middle of an important lesson usually, and show me something they found. In the past I would take the item or have that child put it away in the correct place. As silly as this may sound it actually takes away precious teaching time. So I made a simple lost & found basket from Dollar Tree. Now anytime someone finds something it goes in the basket. Then during free choice time or centers, I will allow a student to have the job of putting all the lost and found items back where they belong. 


Problem Solved! 


Want to download this label for free? Visit my TPT store here!

Bathroom Passes + Germ X

I saw a similar idea from Stephanie at 3rd Grade Thoughts. And I thought what an awesome idea! I hate the idea of using traditional bathroom passes because then the kiddos are just bringing yucky germs back into the room. Gross! 


My rule is one boy and one girl may use the restroom at a time. They simply go get the appropriate germ-x bottle and place it on their desk while they use the bathroom. This way if I need to see who went to the bathroom I will easily know. Then when they get back they are to take one squirt and return the pass to it's home in the classroom. Brilliant! 


If you would like to download the pass template to make your own click on the image above or visit my TPT site! PLease rate this if you download it! Thanks :) 


Then just cut them out, glue them on, add some sequins & ribbons & you're done!

Teacher To Do Checklist

One of my biggest pet peeves is all the post it notes that pile up on my desk. I'm constantly writing myself important reminders but then they all end up getting lost or making clutter on my desk. I got inspired for this memo board from the Fabulous in First blog where she did a similar project. 


First I took an old ugly frame and spray painted it green. Then I made my own checklist of what I will want to keep track of on a weekly basis. 


YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THIS IN A PDF FILE FOR FREE!!! Just visit my TPT page here!  Or click on the picture above. 


Once I printed this I mounted it on a piece of teacher scrap book paper and put it in the frame. I now can use this as a dry erase board to keep track of all my to do's and reminders! No more post it notes everywhere...Yay! And this will look cute propped up on or hanging behind my desk. 

Upscale your Germ-X

Germ-X is a MUST in any elementary classroom! What a better way to encourage your students to want to kill those germs then making your Germ-X bottle a little cuter! Change the name to Germ Juice and your students will be running to disinfect those dirty hands! Just take the big Germ-X bottle add some letter stickers, rick-rack, ribbon, and a flower made from felt.

Who doesn't love clean hands?