The picture above is a basket of laminated folders.  I laminate one folder per child in my class.  Then I put a mailing label on the folder with the child's name.  Laminating makes folders more durable and they will last for the year.  Use scissors or a knife to gently slice along the inside of the folder (top or side of the pocket, depending on kind of folders), where papers are inserted.  Be careful not to go all the way through...just a slight slice through the laminating to allow papers to be put in.  When students finish an assignment, it goes into the folder.  At the end of the week, I am able to easily check to see who has/has not finished all of the assignments.  *Durability makes them great for writing workshop too!

Great Back To School Read Alouds 

How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague                                Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard

Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco                                                 David Goes to School by David Shannon

Oh The Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss                                                   Teach Us, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

Teachers Pay Teachers Sale

Everything in my store is on sale 8/18 to 8/19!  I hope you will check it out!
Just look to the panel on the right and find my store link.
Click on the link and have fun shopping.
Remember to use the promo code from the above add.

I use this chair for birthdays and Author's Chair.  Students love the chance to sit on this decorated chair!  I found the chair at a garage sale.  Once you have a chair, decorate and have fun!  

I love plastic baggies!  They are such a helpful item to have around the classroom.  Each year I ask the kids to bring in a box of baggies.  I have half the class bring small baggies and half the class bring gallon size baggies.  Do you already have a list of things you use baggies for?  If this sounds crazy to you, it isn't!  I know other teachers do the same thing and would agree that baggies are so helpful.

Here are some (and only some) of the ways I use baggies in the classroom:
-putting projects in to take home                                    
-students store their classroom money in them
-girls often ask for something to put jewelry in and I hand over a baggie
-using them for fraction strips, flashcards, etc in math
-vocab cards can easily go in them and be safely stored in backpacks or desks
-I put work in the baggies for helpers who are taking things home (separating book orders, cutting laminated materials, etc)
-putting extra clay in so that it doesn't dry out between projects
-when sick students are absent and sibling/friend/parent is picking work up
-taking seedlings home at the end of the plant unit

A colleague shared this idea with me and I loved it!!  This is an efficient and organized way to collect Box Tops.  Cut a cereal box in half and cover with wrapping paper.  Then print out a label.  Students loved filling up the box and I loved not having to worry about handfuls of labels floating around every morning.

Looking for an efficient way to do lunch count each day?  These are just milk cartons with the tops cut off.  Then they are wrapped in wrapping paper and the choices labeled on them.  Student puts a popsicle stick with his/her name into the carton labeled for his/her choice for the day.  I know a lot of people love to use SMART Boards for lunch choices, but mine is used for other things in the morning.

Has anyone else struggled with how to deal with lost writing utensils?  It made me crazy to find writing utensils all over the room and not know which desk to return them to.  It also made me crazy to have my students bringing them to me all of the time.  Then, after 5 years of teaching, the solution hit me.  Grab a thin basket, throw on a label and put it in the front of the room.  I explained to the class that if a writing utensil was found, it should be put in the basket.  If a student realized he/she was missing one, he/she should go look in the basket.  I used it last year and loved it!  This simple solution has taken care of wasted time dealing with missing pencils, crayons and markers.  If you have a similar story or a clever idea, please share!