Wow, I'm late to the game! I'm hoping that by posting this, I will be part of the Bloglovin' community! I've been following so many awesome teachers on Bloglovin', but I've neglected this poor little blog of mine in the process! You can click here to follow me on Bloglovin'!
I don't know how all of you amazing women do all you do - create products for TPT, update your blogs weekly, if not daily, and follow all of the other blogs out there!!! It's truly astounding!
I will be back later in the week to share an epiphany I had about plastic envelopes - you know, the ones from the Dollar Tree. They're actually plastic binder pouches, but I'm in organization mode, and I found a great use for them!!! Stay tuned!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Organizing with a "Fantastic Library"
Do you have a classroom library that is difficult to keep organized? Do you find it difficult to keep up with all of the books you have? That has been my problem lately, not to mention that I can't fit all of my books in my classroom. Most are in my basement, and it was a mess!!!...until....
I found a new app - it's called "Fantastic Library."
It's awesome. I have about 3,000 books in my basement and they were EVERYWHERE. I started organizing them based on categories and genres. Then I had to organize somewhat based on the size of each stack that I had. I didn't want to use GIGANTIC clear storage containers. So some of my containers have a somewhat random "mishmash" of books. Therefore, I decided to create a database of all my books. THEN, I found this app, and it's even better! Once you download it, you just start scanning the barcodes of each book with the app. It takes a "picture" and leaves it on your bookshelf in the app.
How convenient!
I'll still need to make a list of which bin each book is in, but it's nice to have a picture list of my books. From what I found out of all my books, I have quite a few with the same title, but very different books, especially non-fiction.
The app will also help you keep up with the books you loan to others.
It even does this with with games, music, and movies! (But this post is more about educational uses for the app!)
There's even a quick "scroll view" - similar to album views in iTunes.
I found a new app - it's called "Fantastic Library."
It's awesome. I have about 3,000 books in my basement and they were EVERYWHERE. I started organizing them based on categories and genres. Then I had to organize somewhat based on the size of each stack that I had. I didn't want to use GIGANTIC clear storage containers. So some of my containers have a somewhat random "mishmash" of books. Therefore, I decided to create a database of all my books. THEN, I found this app, and it's even better! Once you download it, you just start scanning the barcodes of each book with the app. It takes a "picture" and leaves it on your bookshelf in the app.
I'll still need to make a list of which bin each book is in, but it's nice to have a picture list of my books. From what I found out of all my books, I have quite a few with the same title, but very different books, especially non-fiction.
The app will also help you keep up with the books you loan to others.
It even does this with with games, music, and movies! (But this post is more about educational uses for the app!)
There's even a quick "scroll view" - similar to album views in iTunes.
I can't remember who told me about the app or where I read about it. Whomever suggested it, thank you! I hope others who read this will be pleased with how it helps you organize your own libraries! :)
P.S. It's a FREE app!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
No April Foolin' Freebie
Wow, it's been a while since I posted. So sorry!
What a day to get back on track...it's my brother-in-law's birthday. He told me today that when he tells folks that it's his birthday, they say, "Good April Fools' joke! I've got a gift for you too, let me just go get it...April Fools! Aww! :( I felt so bad for him, but he can laugh it off and appreciate it for what it is.
Hopefully you all can appreciate this little freebie for what it is. Recently, I found a game where you roll a die to draw different parts of a turkey and one for snowman parts. I can't remember where I found those two files. If you created one, please let me know so I can give you credit.
Anyway, I used both of those files, and created a few myself for my kiddos. They really love it, and it's a good way to help them practice those spelling words that keep tricking them on tests. They write down all of the words they missed (up to 10) from the last few spelling tests. They use these words as their spelling game words. They partner up with a friend, use a die, and the paper below. If their neighbor calls out a word from his partner's list, and the partner gets it right, he draws a part of the flower, and vice versa.
So enjoy this little freebie on a beautiful April day! Click on the pic to download.
Have a great week...4 and 1/2 days til my spring break! Vegas, Baby!!!
What a day to get back on track...it's my brother-in-law's birthday. He told me today that when he tells folks that it's his birthday, they say, "Good April Fools' joke! I've got a gift for you too, let me just go get it...April Fools! Aww! :( I felt so bad for him, but he can laugh it off and appreciate it for what it is.
Hopefully you all can appreciate this little freebie for what it is. Recently, I found a game where you roll a die to draw different parts of a turkey and one for snowman parts. I can't remember where I found those two files. If you created one, please let me know so I can give you credit.
Anyway, I used both of those files, and created a few myself for my kiddos. They really love it, and it's a good way to help them practice those spelling words that keep tricking them on tests. They write down all of the words they missed (up to 10) from the last few spelling tests. They use these words as their spelling game words. They partner up with a friend, use a die, and the paper below. If their neighbor calls out a word from his partner's list, and the partner gets it right, he draws a part of the flower, and vice versa.
So enjoy this little freebie on a beautiful April day! Click on the pic to download.
Have a great week...4 and 1/2 days til my spring break! Vegas, Baby!!!
Friday, March 9, 2012
My Teacher Techie Party
Oh my...it's been a while. In the last post, I said I would comment on my teacher-techie party. I also said I would include lots of pics. Guess what....I did not take one.single.picture! I was so busy at our "party" that I didn't even have time to take a picture.
That is not to say that the party was not a success. It was a huge success! I had about 15 teachers show up, but the most important thing is that they all learned at least a little something that they could take with them right at that moment and use in their personal lives and/or classrooms.
I started off showing them Pinterest! I explained the opening log-in page and how to sign up for an account. I assured them it was very easy to get started. I proceeded to go on to my "Boards" page. I showed them the Education page because I had been pinning grade and subject-specific pins for them the weeks before the techie party. I showed them how to click on the pictures and go to the original websites. They really liked it.
Then I went through a little packet I created for them with a few websites I thought they could use. I don't have a copy of the packet here at home (where I'm writing this post), but I'll post it next week.
I included some interview questions for them. I would like to profile a few of them on my blog. I called it my "Teacher Feature" page. The questions centered around favorite classroom management strategies, favorite lesson plans, advice for future teachers, etc.
If you were going to interview teachers at your school for your blog in a "Teacher Feature," what would YOU ask them?
My "Teacher Features" coming soon!...
That is not to say that the party was not a success. It was a huge success! I had about 15 teachers show up, but the most important thing is that they all learned at least a little something that they could take with them right at that moment and use in their personal lives and/or classrooms.
I started off showing them Pinterest! I explained the opening log-in page and how to sign up for an account. I assured them it was very easy to get started. I proceeded to go on to my "Boards" page. I showed them the Education page because I had been pinning grade and subject-specific pins for them the weeks before the techie party. I showed them how to click on the pictures and go to the original websites. They really liked it.
Then I went through a little packet I created for them with a few websites I thought they could use. I don't have a copy of the packet here at home (where I'm writing this post), but I'll post it next week.
I included some interview questions for them. I would like to profile a few of them on my blog. I called it my "Teacher Feature" page. The questions centered around favorite classroom management strategies, favorite lesson plans, advice for future teachers, etc.
If you were going to interview teachers at your school for your blog in a "Teacher Feature," what would YOU ask them?
My "Teacher Features" coming soon!...
Monday, February 27, 2012
Not Much, But a FREEBIE!!!...
Well, fellow bloggy friends, I have not been on in almost a week! I apologize. It's been crazy around here. And even still, I don't have much to add tonight. I'm getting ready for my teacher techie party tomorrow at school, so that's consuming a bit of my time. However, I wanted to post a St. Patrick's Day FREEBIE! I've looked at a ton of awesome creations from all of you out there in Blogland, and don't worry, I will be purchasing a few of them (I LOVE all things green and St. Patrick's Day!!!), but I had to create something for my kiddos based on our current spelling/language arts unit. And, I wanted something Irish-y. :) So click on the picture below to get your FREEBIE!
Enjoy, and I'll be back tomorrow with pictures and news of how my techie party went! I'm excited!!! TGMO - Thank God Monday's Over! :)
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
We LOVE Legos!!!
Not only do I teach technology classes at my school, but I'm also the technology club instructor as well. I wanted to try something different this week for tech club, and we have a contact with a company called Bricks 4 Kidz.
It is a company that works with school systems (and I assume individual families) to provide play, challenge, and critical thinking activities using legos. I have to send out a little praise to Sharon Dodson, our local Bricks 4 Kidz representative/teacher. She did an awesome job with our kids yesterday!!! They got to make a windmill that actually worked. Some of the legos were typical ones, and others were technic bricks, which hooked up to a motor with a battery pack. I have not seen my technology club kids so quiet, interested, involved, and focused on something in so long. I am posting a few pictures and a video of one of the windmills. Hopefully the video will work. Please leave me a comment and let me know if it doesn't work for you. You can click on the Bricks 4 Kidz picture or link above to go to the website. You'll have to check your area of the country to see if there are places or representatives that you can take advantage of for your kids. It is well worth the LITTLE amount of money that it costs, and trust me, your kids will LOVE it!!! (I apologize for the video - I took it with my iphone and I can't figure out how to turn it upright. It's a sideways video! :( )
It is a company that works with school systems (and I assume individual families) to provide play, challenge, and critical thinking activities using legos. I have to send out a little praise to Sharon Dodson, our local Bricks 4 Kidz representative/teacher. She did an awesome job with our kids yesterday!!! They got to make a windmill that actually worked. Some of the legos were typical ones, and others were technic bricks, which hooked up to a motor with a battery pack. I have not seen my technology club kids so quiet, interested, involved, and focused on something in so long. I am posting a few pictures and a video of one of the windmills. Hopefully the video will work. Please leave me a comment and let me know if it doesn't work for you. You can click on the Bricks 4 Kidz picture or link above to go to the website. You'll have to check your area of the country to see if there are places or representatives that you can take advantage of for your kids. It is well worth the LITTLE amount of money that it costs, and trust me, your kids will LOVE it!!! (I apologize for the video - I took it with my iphone and I can't figure out how to turn it upright. It's a sideways video! :( )
Here's the video (hopefully):
Have a great rest of your night...it's almost Hump Day!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
You Like Me, You Really Like Me!
Wow, that sounded really conceited! I just had to channel my inner Sally Field for a minute. I'm so excited because my blog got an award! It's from Staci at Let's Teach Something. Thank you so much, Staci! It's exciting to get an award when you only have 5 followers!!! I think I'm writing all these posts for myself sometimes! (Woe is me, ... j/k) Seriously, I really appreciate anyone who reads my little blog. Go check out Staci's blog by clicking on the link above. I met Staci at the Tri-state Blogger meet-up. It was so much fun. I tell you what, those ladies were the ones to push me and inspire me to start this blog. So really, I should be giving them all the awards...which I think I will do...
Here's to
Cathy at Sunshine and Happiness in First Grade - so funny! She had me cracking up. She has a "presh" blog! I was one of her first followers!!!! Exciting!!
Chelsea Rose at Blooming into First. This is a new blog I've been following since the meet-up. Plus, I love that she worked at Red Lobster during college. My BEST friend in the world worked at Red Lobster in college, and bless her heart, she still does!!!
Erica from Rausch's Readers - she mostly posts for her students and parents, but she has a really cute blog and lots of pictures!!!!
Shannon at Langston's Learners - her blog is also mostly for parents and students, but it's really cute. She's almost up to 200 followers...go follow her now.....go, go, go!!!
Claire from Special Speckled Eggs - I remember her talking about her blog's name at the meet-up. I could only hear parts of what she was saying about it, and it sounded like she was downplaying it. It's a VERY CUTE name! I love it! :)
Go check out these blogs and follow all of these amazing ladies!!! Give them a chance, and thanks again to Staci for giving me a chance and supporting my wee little blog! :)
Cathy at Sunshine and Happiness in First Grade - so funny! She had me cracking up. She has a "presh" blog! I was one of her first followers!!!! Exciting!!
Chelsea Rose at Blooming into First. This is a new blog I've been following since the meet-up. Plus, I love that she worked at Red Lobster during college. My BEST friend in the world worked at Red Lobster in college, and bless her heart, she still does!!!
Erica from Rausch's Readers - she mostly posts for her students and parents, but she has a really cute blog and lots of pictures!!!!
Shannon at Langston's Learners - her blog is also mostly for parents and students, but it's really cute. She's almost up to 200 followers...go follow her now.....go, go, go!!!
Claire from Special Speckled Eggs - I remember her talking about her blog's name at the meet-up. I could only hear parts of what she was saying about it, and it sounded like she was downplaying it. It's a VERY CUTE name! I love it! :)
Go check out these blogs and follow all of these amazing ladies!!! Give them a chance, and thanks again to Staci for giving me a chance and supporting my wee little blog! :)
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