CopyCats - Shareable Resources for Teachers: SCHOOL SUPPLIES and CHOCOLATE

CopyCats - Shareable Resources for Teachers: SCHOOL SUPPLIES and CHOCOLATE: Back to School Night... We all love the parent who sweeps into the room with the bouquet of flowers and the basket of chocolate ...

SCHOOL SUPPLIES and CHOCOLATE

Back to School Night...

We all love the parent who sweeps into the room with the bouquet of flowers and the basket of chocolate truffles to say "Hey, I'm glad your going to have Julia in your class and let me know if I can help in anyway!" Love them, love them, love those parents!

And then there are the parent complaints....

Here are some things that can help the relieve the occasional parent meltdown on Parent Night (which is quite embarrassing for you and the other parents in the room).

1. School supplies are way cheaper in August so we ask the parents to bring them in and we store them even if means putting a plastic bin in the middle of my living room...

2. The pencils don't last that long and the other supplies don't either. There is a reason for this. Which leads me to my third point.

3. School supply manufactures have made materials very cheap so the materials aren't lasting very long. I have noticed a difference over the last 10 years. Glue is short filled. The paper and folder paper is thinner. Plastic folders are the way to go now. 

Shake a pencil. Hear that??? It's broken graphite. So your child is going to go through pencils rather quickly.

4. It will be okay if you didn't find or purchase the name brand fancy schmancy brand I requested. I just know from experience that brand I requested last longer and I won't be bugging you in January for a new set of crayons/ binder/ paper or what not.

5. The supplies are for your child not the staff. I need chocolate, K cups, chocolate, Advil, chocolate, soda pop and CHOCOLATE to get through my day. I didn't add it to your list (this year).

6. You could ask that the school to purchase the supplies next year but I can only imagine it will raise your tax dollars.

7. Lastly, If you have a financial need I WILL provide your child with what they need to learn. I save up for such circumstances. Usually I kick in a $1000 or $2000 per year. Some donors in my community also provide for students that have financial need.

Somehow we will all make through the year with enough pencils and chocolate.

Summer Project!!! Homemade Laundry Detergent. Soooo Easy Phosphate free :)

       Musings, ideas, projects, thoughts....on life, family, home, shopping and classrooms. 

Summertime means project time around the house and for school. Boy, I have plenty planned. From soap making to painting. From name tags to reading passages.

LAUNDRY DETERGENT {Easy~Phosphate Free Suds}

So let's get started with some good clean fun! A few years back my daughter had a lot of skin issues and the phosphates in the detergents were clearly the issue ....Then I stumbled upon this {hmmm....Looks like something I can share with friends}. Here is my soapbox (aka pet food dispenser) from Walmart.  You can see how much I used over the last two years.  That's just a little crazy I think. The container wasn't even full to the top! Now granted I only have a family of three but my daughter is a teen and might change 2 or 3 times each day depending on what activities or whims she might inspire her to do so :/

Once everything was made I think it was a whoppin' $25!

​​SMLXL

I think it is time replenish so I don't run out during the school year and there is no way I am buying detergent ever again and get taken to the laundry ;) ! 

So here is what I need to make the magic happen:

3 Bars or Fels Naptha

2 Cups or Washing Soda

2 Cups of Borax:

Here's how to make some suds:

Microwave 3 bars of Fels Naptha (2 min per bar) Crazy I know but just do it.

Grate soap in a blender.

Dump soap in  a bowl and mix in 2 cups of washing soda and 2 cups Borax.

​​

No phosphates! 3 cent per load. Works great! I use it on floors, the car...you name it! Give it a try and let me know what you think! I can't wait to hear from you!

EGG-citing EGG EGG-PERIMENTS!!

You can find this experiment and TONS more in these products. Just click on the picture to find the product:

Thanks for Reading!

$1.00 FLASH SALE! I needed Substitute(S)

I needed  a Substitute {should have knocked on wood!}

Hello Everybody,

 This winter I started making LIFESAVERS.  It is a line of daily lesson plans that can be used by substitutes and classroom teachers when there is an emergency... IT HAPPENS TO US ALL!.  

I usually don't get sick.  My body has had every childhood illness early in my career and now I am pretty much in the clear. So I thought....

I forgot it could HAPPEN TO ME until this week when my upper respiratory infection became three days of laryngitis!  I was really grateful for my own Substitute Lesson Plans I was really out of it and there was no way I could plan for this week of health mayhem.

I slept for about 36 hours straight and am feeling much better and I can TALK!  To celebrate my good health I am have a $1.00 SALE on my LIFE SAVER PACKS this weekend at TPT.  I place my bundles on SALE as well...So we can really get this party rolling!

CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO GO TO COPYCATS!

STAY WELL EVERYBODY!

FEELING CRAFTY... SCHEDULE CARDS AND SIGNS!

FEELING  CRAFTY... SCHEDULE CARDS AND SIGNS!

Hello Everybody,

Every once in a while I get to feeling a little crafty and then I have make something for the classroom. I always think that my classroom is my home away from my own house.  I want it to be comfy and attractive.

One of the things I struggle with is trying to remember when the students are supposed to be at specials.  It tends to change frequently and then I just get confused.  

There are so many cute little chalkboard products out there right now. They seem to fit every style. 

• If you are into the retro look chalk boards fit.  
• If you like traditional classroom chalkboards fit!  
• If you like contemporary trends, just add some chevron stripes and chalk boards fit! 

Me?? I like bright colors so I added som bright ric-rack and buttons with a hot glue gun. 

 The whole project took me 15 minutes to complete

I've seen mason jars, clothespins and just plain old slates.  How perfect for things that change often.  I can use them over and over.  Just erase, write and go!

Here is my latest artsy-crafty endeavor.  I hope they inspire you to craft away an afternoon or to put the idea away for summer vacay!

Of course, having my teacher supply e-stores has led me to be an avid digital scrapper.  Last year I teamed up with Libby Pritchett and created schedule cards that have digital scrapping elements rather that clip art.  Here are examples of the final project.  I laminated my cards so I could program the times ( If I remember them !)  Here's what the final product looks like:

If you want to see Libby's designs then hop over to her blog....
blog.libbyweifenbach.com/2014/10/digital-scrapbook-day.html

You can purchase completed classroom decor kit from me as well.  Here' the information for my  kit:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SCRAP-HAPPY-DAILY-SCHEDULE-POCKET-CHART-KIT-1268861

I hope that you have lots of fun creating your own space.  Your classroom is home away from home.  Make it a good home for you and the kids!

HOORAY FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS!

HOORAY FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS!

Substitute teachers are super (superheroes –really!). Substitute teachers are crucial to quality education for all students.  Here are my top reasons why I appreciate and truly admire all of the substitutes I have worked with:

• Substitute teachers follow the lessons that I provide.  However, they put their expertise and personality into the lesson.  The students look forward to the unique perspectives that guest teachers bring to the classroom.
• Substitute teachers hone the craft of teaching.  They can “read” student needs quickly and differentiate for individuals and learning styles so that all children can learn and succeed.
• Substitute teachers have incredible classroom management skills.  They grasp onto classroom routines and the big ideas of lessons with lightning speed so that students understand concepts and learn in a safe and orderly environment.
• Substitute teachers are remarkably flexible.  The can adapt to changes in plans and diversion with ease and a smile!

Here are some of the products that I have available to make you and your subs SMILE!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/LIFESAVERS-NO-PREP-EMERGENCY-SUBSTITUTE-and-YOU-LESSON-PLANS-FAIRY-TALES-1637908

smile! 

SPRING IS HERE!