Happy Birthday at ME and a FREEBIE to you!!

Well, here I am, another year older (47), and hopefully, a little bit wiser.  I have spent most of the morning attempting to get a small Freebie ready for you!!  Several years ago, I heard about and researched the Binder Communication systems.  I fell immediately in love with the organization of the binder, and how it aided the students in keeping up with notes from home and newsletters and important information from school.  A year ago, I used these binder labels and badges as a communication system between myself and my students parents.  The Binder aided students in keeping all papers and notes intact for parents, and on the return trip back to school.  I coordinated badges for students jobs with the detective themed clip art, so that everything matched.  I used an old picture from google of Droopy dog (for those of you who are old enough to remember).  I made a larger version for my door and used shoe prints on my door for the first day of school.  I put the student's names on the ball of the shoe print.  

Click on the picture to connect to Teachers Pay Teachers for a download!!

 

It is my first upload, and it took forever!!  I was able to insert Fonts downloaded from "A CUPCAKE FOR THE TEACHER".  They seemed to give it a little bit of a lift.  However, the kit made my year much smoother.  Maybe with a little bit of practice, my Teachers Pay Teachers account will run more smoothly.  I know that part of the difficulty was that this was an old Word document.  Most of the items I am working on today use other software.  I am still learning, but I am excited about this new adventure in my career and love the idea of sharing and collaborating with others.  

If you have any tips or comments to help me with my next venture, please leave a comment and continue to check in with me here.  

I hope you are able to use and enjoy this.  I look forward to developing this idea with the updated software.  The thought of it, just makes me tingle!!

I want to thank my family for a great weekend of birthday dreams and wishes.  I am truly blessed and fortunate enough to realize it each and everyday.  May I be worthy of the love that they have bestowed upon me.  God bless my humble husband, and the three best children in the world.  I love you!!

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy Sunday to stop by and I wish you a wonderful week!

Kathryn 

Clutter Free Classroom Linky - Storing Classroom Resources

I have looked forward to posting my link to the Clutter-free Classroom Challenge all week!!  Our school has been closed this week for Winter Break, but I was so inspired to complete this challenge and get my books organized, that I went in on Tuesday and worked for over five hours on my desk and small table area.

Since I have my degree in Math Education, I have acquired many more math resources than Language Arts.  That being said, I have accumulated many resource books for Writing, since that is not my forte.  Not all of these books are at school, but the most used have been kept on the shelf behind my desk.  This has not always been efficient, because they have been taking up precious space on an already crowded shelf.  Moving these resources into a recently emptied desk drawer has made space on my shelf for other frequently used items.  Such as my Monday through Friday bins created three weeks ago.  These have made my days run so much more smoothly!!

I even have the toolbox that I made prior to starting the challenge on the third shelf.  I knew then that something had to be done to make my classroom run more efficiently.  Housing my small teacher supplies in this, instead of my desk drawer has created free space there, as well.

I am so glad that I began the Clutter-Free Classroom Challenge.  My days in the classroom are beginning to be joyful.  My students are enjoying their experiences too.  Thank you for giving my the motivation to become a better teacher!!

If you haven't joined yet, come on and begin this week.  The rewards are tremendous!!  Just click on the link below to join me.  Just do it!!

The Clutter-Free Classroom Challenge

I am excited to be participating in the Clutter-free Classroom challenge.  I had said before, that I would go back to school and finish the clean desk task.  Well... five hours later, I am done.  I went to the dollar store and bought some kitchen organizers.  I spray painted them lime green and pink to match my room.  They are now inside my large drawer separating items that are frequently used in my classroom.  I also painted my metal desk organizers to match.  They are now the only items, other than desktop computer on my desk.

Then after purging all unnecessary junk from the drawers, I replaced the junk with my personal books for school.  I left my school books on my shelf in order by subject.  I even have half a drawer empty.  It really feels good to have this done, but my real hope is that I can keep it this way.  I would like to place a single rectangular container to hold papers needed to file.  This way they are all in one place.  As of now, they are in a file folder in my new cabinet in from of my student files.

The last picture is of my new cabinet and the printer off my desk!!  I really love having it in my classroom and I think it looks great.  My plans for the small rolling cart is to house my activities for the week that are too large for my Monday - Friday bins.  I am actually looking forward to heading back to school next week.

Please leave a comment or advise if you see something that I could do to keep it this way!!  Thank you for stopping by! :)

Monday, February 18, 2013 - First post on Pinterest!!

Today I began a project for my classroom.  As I mentioned before, I just lost half of my desk to my printer.  So, I went to our local Goodwill (as recommended by other teachers) and purchased a two-drawer file cabinet in good condition for $7.00. 

Yes, it looks nice, but I thought I might try some of the ideas that I have been seeing on Pinterest.  I first tried to find pretty contact paper at Walmart, with no luck, then Hobby Lobby, still just salt and pepper colored.  Finally, Home Depot in the wall decor section.  I used a striped wall trim in my classroom colors of pink and lime green.  After spray painting the outer area pin, I cut and trimmed the vinyl around the drawer pulls and the lock.  I think that it turned out well, and I can't wait to run it up to the school in the morning.

It only took me 30 minutes, and cost $13.00 for all materials.   I am so glad that I did not go to the office supply store today and pay full price for a gray one.  Leave a comment, follow me on Pinterest and tell your friends!!!  Thanks for stopping by! :)

Come see my Pinterest

February 16, 2013

I am excited about accepting the challenges from Clutter-Free Classroom.  I had decided recently to reorganize my room.  Slowly, one small corner at a time, I began to clean and throw away.  The smaller areas were not difficult.  The areas close to the door, the view as you entered my classroom were beginning to shape up.  The next HUGE task was to become more efficient with my daily tasks and find a home for all my frequently used items.

Here is a picture of my desk Wednesday afternoon

I recently lost the use of my "extra" desk to my 23rd student.  I had used it to support my printer, now on the corner of my desk.

I would love ideas on how to keep this part of my classroom clutter free.  I am heading back in on Monday (during our Winter Break) to finish this project.  Better later than never.  I will post my results then.