You are O"fish"ally in 3rd Grade Bulletin Board!

I finally got everything moved into my new classroom! It feels so great having most everything put away. I'm not done, but I still have 3 days I can be in the school before the students come so I'm not stressing. (BIG deal for me, I'm really trying to not stress out like I did before the start of last year.)

I actually felt unpacked enough that I put things on the walls and even got my bulletin board done!



I don't have the most recent class list, but I know I have more students, so I saved the fish bowl for their fish.

Now take a look at these two pictures. Can you see it? Are you a perfectionist like me?

Yep. Try as I might I couldn't leave the "in 3rd grade" line where it was.

How much time do you spend on bulletin boards?

New Design and Back to School Treats

I am loving my new blog design. It was a lot of work, though! I used Photoshop Elements to create the banner, background, and navigation bar. Then it was a lot of looking up stuff about html and CSS that I didn't really, and still don't, understand. But I did it! I like how it turned out, it's just what I wanted!

Today I finished moving my classroom, yay!! I really hope I'll stay put for awhile. Moving every year really stinks!

Now I just have to put everything away and get things ready for the students to come. That's the fun part.

I am trying really hard to not buy a lot this year, so I went through my bulletin board things and found some fish and a fish bowl. I'm thinking of doing an "O-FISH-ally" theme.

Eighteen 25

The Creative counselor has an adorable treasure hunt with clues to find the fish! It goes to places within the school to orient the students. There's also a cute poem to attach to the treat. I'm in love!

The Creative Counselor

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I love these fish bowl cards, but there was no link on Pinterest, just the picture. Please let me know if this is your idea and I'll link it up!

 

 

Back in the Game

Wow. I cannot believe it's been almost TWO years since I said anything on this blog! Last year was a pretty rough one for me personally and this blog was the last thing on my mind.
But, I'm ready to dive in again and share new ideas and DIY projects.
I LOVE the techy stuff so I thought I'd redesign my blog from scratch! I've been researching and learning through articles and youtube videos. I've created my own background and header and am working on a cute navigation bar. If you are interested in customizing your blog check out The Cutest Blog on the Block and Kevin and Amanda; they both have great tutorials.



Dollar Days at Scholastic!

YES! I am so excited that Dollar Days is back at Scholastic. For one week they will be selling hundreds of ebooks for $1.00 each!

Click HERE to be connected to Dollar Days.

On a side note, I have math games I've been meaning to post. Blogger only posts jpegs so I am looking for a way to post my pdf worksheets and games so they are easily accessible! There are some free file sharing online sites so I am looking in to those now. Any suggestions would be appreciated :)

Have a great week!

50 Books for $50

Scholastic is selling their 50 book sets, normally $178 for $50! Great to build your library or for beginning teachers just starting!

Clich HERE to go to the site. Sale ends 9/5/11

First Week of School

How did the first week of school go for everyone? :)

For me it was a bustle of getting to know my students, planning, signing up for PE times/library times/computer times, learning where everything was and trying to stay cool (my school has no AC!).

I have been a little MIA as I get into the groove and prepare for the dynamics I have in my class. Don't worry! I have not abandoned the blog and will be posting fun, quick, few-material Math Games in the next few days!

Have a great week!

Getting to Know You Activity with a Beach Ball!

Here is a super simple and fun getting to know you activity!

1. Get a cheap beach ball from the dollar store or Target $1 Spot.

2. Using a permanent marker cover it with getting to know you questions.

3. Throw the ball to someone. Tell them to answer the question that is touching their left/right thumb/index/middle/ring/pinky finger. For example, "Answer the question that is touching your right index finger".

4. After the question is answered the ball is thrown to another person, and so on.

Here are the questions I wrote on the ball:

• What is your favorite TV show?
• What instrument would you like to play
• If you were stranded on a desereted island what 3 things would you want to have?
• What do you want to be when you grow up?
• What was the best gift you've ever received?
• Do you usually buy your lunch or bring it from home?
• What chore is your least favorite?
• What is your favorite game to play?
• What is your favorite cartoon character?
• How many siblings do you have?
• What do you like to learn about?
• What was your favorite part of summer?
• Name 3 things that make you happy.
• What is your favorite animal?
• What is your favorite book or book series?
• Would you rather be indoors or outdoors?
• If you could have a super power what would it be and why?
• What is your favorite toy to play with?
• What is your favorite color?
• Do you like sports? Which one?
• What job would you never do and why?
• What do you like to do for fun?
• What food will you never eat and why?
• What do you like to do for fun?
• Are you a cat-person or dog-person? Both? Neither?
• What famous person would you like to meet?
• What's your favorite school subject?
• When do you usually do your homework?
• What would you do if you won $10,000?
• If you could have any pet you want, what would it be?
• What king of movies do you like?
• Do you prefer white or colored socks?
• What was your favorite part of summer?
• Where were you born?
• What color of clothing do you like to wear the most?
• What is your favorite home-cooked meal?
• What is your favorite food?
• What is your favorite treat/snack?
• Do you like having dreams? Why or why not?
• What are you going to be for Halloween?
• What are three adjectives to describe you?
• Are you more a talker or a listener?
• What place would you like to visit?
• Do you have a favorite singer or band?
• Do you have a nickname? What is it?

Your questions may differ from mine depending on the age of the students, and your dynamics. For example, I know my school hosts a Halloween Parade so I felt comfortable asking the students about Halloween costumes.

What are you doing to get to know your students?