Small Group Notebook

I am linking up with Tara for Monday Made It over at 4thgradefrolics.  I used a composition book last year with my small group students.  I kept notes regarding their reading progress, any difficulties that I noticed while reading/working, and their progress.  It worked out great to use during parent-teacher conferences.  The only problem that I had was that it was not easy to flip through and I had a difficult time finding the pages for each student.  I decided to re-vamp it this year and I came up with this.

Here are all the supplies that I used:

I started with a $0.50 composition book from Walmart.  I took the cover off and unbound the book by cutting the strings in the binding.  I then cut down each page to 7" wide just to cut the binding part off.  I used my Zutter binding machine to punch the holes for the spiral.  By having a spiral on it, I can fold the pages over which will make it easier to jot notes in.  I pulled out some old double sided paper from my stash and made a front and back cover.  I used the Paper Studio vinyl (Hobby Lobby's brand) to create the title for the front of the book.  That vinyl worked out very well.  It's not the best quality vinyl because it is really thin.  Since I wanted to laminate the covers, the vinyl didn't add a lot of bulk which was perfect!  

After I had it all put together and bound, I punched out tabs from some coordinating cardstock for the tabs.  I also stamped numbers on each tab for each student.  I number my students, so these numbers will correspond with the student numbers.  I divided the notebook by 5 pages since the composition notebook comes with 100 pages each.  I am hoping that it will be enough for each student.  If I need to, I can cut up more pages and add them later to the book.

I really enjoyed this project.  I hope that it holds up well for the whole year.  The best part was that it only cost me $0.50.  Everything besides the composition book was in my stash.  I'm glad that I was able to use up some old supplies.  Thanks for stopping by!

Last Monday Made It 2014

Well, its back to school time here so this will be my last Monday Made It for the year.  For more great ideas, visit Tara at 4th Grade Frolics.  On with the creations.......

I wanted a new, stylish clipboard for all of my important teacher stuff (and mainly to be able to clip things to a place that I won't loose them the first week!)  So, off to Walmart I went and picked up this clipboard for just under $4.

Well, you know I can't leave well enough alone, so, I added my touch!  I pulled out some trusty vinyl from my stash, got my cameo all set up, and went to work.  I got the inspiration from this fabulous teacher blogger HERE.  She was even so kind to tell me what font she used (because it was perfect) so that I could copy her.

I did place the vinyl on the back of the clipboard so that when I write on the clipboard I don't have lumps and bumps.  I forgot and cut my name out in pink regularly, but I went back and flipped the text horizontally so that the sticky part would be on the front and I could place it on the back. (not pictured correctly)  

I also use drywall tape to transfer my vinyl.  Its not as sticky as the transfer tape and I can see through it better.  I don't do a ton of vinyl work, but this roll has lasted several years so far.

And here is the finished product.  I did also add some black vinyl circles.  I used Cricut brand (black and white) and Silhouette brand (pink).  Both cut great on the machine, but the Cricut vinyl is thicker and more opaque than the Silhouette brand.

Since the machine was out, I decided to add my name to this caddy to use at my group table.  

Thanks for looking.  If you have any questions, please let me know!  Thanks!

Monday Made It #4

 Wow, I have been busy getting ready for my new classroom this week!  I have another Monday Made It for you.  I'm linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics.  This is my last "official" week of summer, but I will be heading into my new classroom to start getting it ready!  I tried to finish up the last little bit of projects I had before this week.  I still have a couple more to go, but that's ok!  Here's what I finished up last week.

I went to one of those painting events with a friend about a year and a half ago.  I painted the owl on this canvas then.  When I was finishing it up, I thought it was too plain and I'd add something to it when I got home.  Well, I got busy and never added anything to it.

Several years ago I saw this quote on Jennifer McGuire's blog.  I loved it and thought it was appropriate for a classroom.  I decided to paint it onto the canvas.  Out came the cameo (I'm loving this more and more!).  I used the cameo to make a template out of contact paper.  I used the font Things We Said for the white letters and I used a bold font for the rest.  I painted the white letters with a paint pen and they came out very neat.  I painted the bold letters with acrylic paint.  They seeped a little under the edges so I used a black sharpie marker to line the edges and give it a finished look!  I LOVE how it turned out!  I can't wait to hang it in my new classroom!

This was inspired by all the Monday Made It's I've seen this summer.  Here is my version of the 'No Name' board.

I think it goes well with my owl theme! All the supplies are from Walmart.  I loved that the wood piece was black chalkboard so I didn't even have to paint it black!  I used vinyl for the words, attached the painted owl and clothespins, and called it done!!

This last project is something that I wished I'd had done years ago.  I've never had a classroom set of clipboards and I thought that now was as good a time as any.

 I picked up the clipboards at Walmart.  They are $1.44 each there.  That was about $.44 more than I wanted to pay, but after finding cheaper ones online and paying shipping, it would have come out to be about the same price per board.  I also used this paper pad from Walmart and some Mod Podge.

I Mod Podged one paper to the back of each clipboard.  I did two of each pattern.  I figured that I could use this to group students also.  I'd have them all select a board and then tell them to find their partner by finding the person whose pattern paper matches theirs.  

I chose the flat clip clipboards so that they would nestle nicely into this container.  I bought this container two summers ago to use for my sister's baby shower.  I'm glad I have an official use for it now.  I used some black vinyl to label it up and called it finished also!



Thanks for looking.  I'm off to enjoy the last little bit of summer with my little guy!!!

Monday Made It #3

I am so glad that I've joined up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics to get so classroom projects completed this summer!  I am back with my third week.  I actually completed more projects that I'm showing you this week, but this is all I've had time to photograph.  I guess I save the rest of my goodies for next week's fun!!

I have had this chair floating around the house for years and I decided it was time for a makeover.  I spent less than $5 on this project.  I only had to purchase the fabric because everything else I had on hand.

Here is the Before---->

I found the really cute owl fabric at Hobby Lobby.  I did injure myself in the making of this project! :(  I know the owls on the bottom are facing the wrong way, but after all those staples, I was NOT about to pull them all out again!!!  Maybe next year!! LOL  It will still look great behind my group table!

Here is the After------> 

On to the next project.......

My mom found this owl chalkboard on one of our summer Michael adventures.  It was too plain so I decided to dress it up a bit!

Here is the Before----------->

I added some vinyl that I had on hand, took a couple of paint pens to the eyes, and added some ribbon!!  What do you think?

Here is the After------> 

Thanks for looking!! Let me know if you have any questions!!

Monday Made It #2

Hey!!  I'm back with another Monday Made It post!  I'm linking up with Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics with a project for school.

For the last five years, I have used these bins from Lakeshore for my daily papers.  I would take time on Friday afternoon and get everything ready for the week and put them in the corresponding bin for each weekday.  That way, if I was out for whatever reason, everything was ready for the sub.  Well, fast forward to this upcoming school year.  I'm moving to another school and since the bins were part of the school's property, I couldn't take them with me. :(  I was going to just purchase them for my new classroom because they worked so well for me in the past, UNTIL I saw the price!!! Seriously!!!! $60 for bins-I think not!!!

That led me on a search for another solution.  I've seen examples of these drawers floating all over the internet and I decided that I would give them a try in place of the ones for $60.  I have an owl theme in my classroom so I went to TPT in search of an owl themed set.  I found this one and I fell in love!  I liked that she gave you a file that you could edit and make work for you however you needed it to!

I found these sterilite drawers at Walmart for just under $10 a piece.  I picked up three sets and I now have a drawer for each day as well as a set of file, copy, and grade for my desk.  The best part-they were HALF the price of the ones from Lakeshore.

I do, however, have a little tip for you.  I printed mine out on white card stock and laminated them with my Scotch thermal laminator that I purchased at Walmart a couple of years ago.  I do NOT recommend doing that.  My thinking was that I wanted them on the outside and I wanted them sturdy.  I did not think about the drawers being curved.  If I ever have to redo them, I will print them on regular paper and then laminate them.  I ended up having to hot glue them to the front of the drawer with quite a bit of hot glue.  I tried double sided tape and they ALL popped off overnight.

Thanks for looking!  If you have any questions, please let me know!

My First Monday Made It

So if you aren't familiar with Monday Made It, you should visit Tara at 4th Grade Frolics. I've browsed other's Monday Made It projects for a couple of years, but this is my first tine to actually participate.

So a couple years ago burlap door hangings were the "rage."(They are still popular) I pinned a couple of similar projects then but never made anything. Well since I'm moving to another school/grade I thought now was as good a time as ever.

I started by finding an owl image on my Gypsy and cut out the layers of the owl with my Cricut. I found this owl on Noah's ABC's cartridge.  I then used the layers to create my template and I traced the layers with a sharpie onto the burlap.  I cut out two body layers-one for the front and one for the back.

Then came the paint!  I started by painting the entire front piece with brown paint that matched the color of the burlap.  I let this layer dry overnight, but the acrylic paint dries fairly quickly.  I found that it was easier to add other paint layers on top of a painted surface.  The burlap absorbs a ton of paint on the initial layer. It was easier to paint the base brown so that when I added the lighter colors on top, it didn't take as much paint.

I also used various cricut and svg files to create the chevron backdrop and the name.  I cut these out of plain paper and sprayed adhesive on them.  I let them "dry" so that they were tacky and had a temporary bond when using them as stencils.

When all the paint layers were dry, I used a fine paintbrush and black paint to draw the outline lines.  I also used a white paint pen to add the "highlight details."  I added the wire, bow, and a bunch of spray glitter!

If you have any questions, please let me know.  I'm entered into the #cricut #imadeit contest with this also! Thanks for looking!!!