Monday Made-It-Cat Litter Container Seat with Storage!!!

Thanks to all who stopped by our Facebook page this weekend for the 2nd grade Fan Freebie Blog Hop! It really was neat to check out all the great freebies being offered. Now remember...we told you that we wouldn't forget our firstie friends. So this freebie (for a limited time - now through 7/24/13***) is for you!

And it just might be perfect for the beginning of the year for 2nd graders too...

Click the picture to grab it quick!

 

Updated: You can get this game as part of our Super Sight Words Pack - 1st Grade edition, but it is no longer a freebie.

 Okay, on to Monday Made-It!

 

In my last blog, I told you how I wasn't very crafty and how I was trying to make something.  Well, I completed it and YAY!  it worked out.  It is not perfect by any means, but it worked out ok.  :-)  So today's Monday Made-It:

 

Cat Litter Container Seat with Storage!

 

I was inspired by Vanessa Levvin at Pre-K Pages to make my own type of seats for my reading table.  I love her crate seat that she made.  I have always thought these were really neat.  I started pricing it out and decided that I wanted to try to make it the least expensive I could (remember I just went to the Dollar Tree the other day and spent too much!  LOL!).  So, I started brainstorming of how I could make something like this with things that I already had here at home.

 

This is what I came up with:

1.  Cat litter containers-my mom runs a nonprofit cat rescue and has a lot of cats.  Therefore, she goes through a lot of cat litter containers.  HMMMMM....FREE containers!  :-)

 

2.  Cushion for the seats-I have been cleaning out a lot around my house and had a huge bag of clothes, sheets etc.  that I was going to get rid of and then thought I could use those as the cushion.  Another Free item.

 

3.  Spray paint-$.97 at Wal-Mart for the black gloss spray paint.  Total-About $6 for 6 seats.

 

4.  Cover-Vinyl Tablecloth at Wal-Mart for $5.97

 

5.  I had a staple gun at home

 

That is it!  So it cost me about $12 total to make 6 seats!  Here is what I started out with:

 

Sheets, Spray Paint, Cat litter Container, Vinyl Tablecloth, Staple gun (not shown)

 

Here is what I did to make the seats:

1.  Cut off the handles on the litter container

2.  Spray paint the container-I didn't do the inside or bottom of it.  I just decided to do the outside only.

3.  Cut your sheets/cloths to fit the lid.

4.  Cut the vinyl tablecloth so it is a little bit larger than the lid.

4.  Put the sheets/cloths on top of the lid and wrap the tablecloth around it.

5.  Staple the Tablecloth to the back of the lid.

 

That is it and you are done!

 

Here is the final product:

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Just take the cushioned lid off and there you have some storage. 
 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Facebook Freebie Hop!

We hope you're ready to get some great freebies! It is officially time for the Blog Hop to begin!

 

Tori, over at Tori's Teacher Tips, has rounded up some of the best second grade bloggers for a Facebook Freebie hop! Each of us has an *exclusive to Facebook* freebie for you. All you have to do is "like" our Facebook pages to pick it up. When you get to the Facebook page, look for this image:

Click on it and grab your freebie! It's that easy!

Take a look at who's participating! Click on the buttons to hop over to their Facebook pages (not yet...read to the bottom first :)).

The easiest way to grab your freebies is to start at Tori's Teacher Tips' Facebook page, as she has all of our links in one convenient place. You'll also notice that she has a Rafflecopter on the page. That's because we all decided to throw in a Winner's Choice from our TPT stores for our Bloglovin' followers as well! That's right! You could win 23 products just for following us on Bloglovin'!!! Here are our Bloglovin' links:

Tori's Teacher Tips

Hippo Hooray for Second Grade

Mrs. Rios Teaches

Surfin' through Second

Smiling in Second Grade

Success in Second Grade

Diving Into 2nd Grade

Second Grade Nest

Teaching Little Miracles

Literacy Spark

Primary Junction

Reading and Writing Redhead

Teach 'n Tex

I Love My Classroom

That's So Second Grade

Stuckey in Second

The Educated Crown

Owl in a Vowel Tree

Across the Hall in 2nd Grade

Hard Core Teacher Resources

Simply Skilled in Second

Second Grade Math Maniac

Tonya's Treats for Teachers

Make sure you head over to our Facebook pages ASAP, because these freebies will only be available THIS WEEKEND! The freebies and giveaway will end at 12:00 a.m. Monday, July 22nd. GOOD LUCK! 

 

Click the Blog Hop button below to get started:

Have fun and enjoy all the amazing freebies!!!

 



 

Dollar Tree Finds!!

I absolutely love the Dollar Tree.  I was excited to make a trip there this week even though I don't like to shop.  I have always dreaded shopping....no malls etc. for me.  But the Dollar Tree is one place that I enjoy going to because you can get so many neat things.  Well, my trip to the Dollar Tree this time did not leave me empty handed by any means.  

  

These are the items I purchased to use in the classroom:

 

1.  baskets-I believe that I will be putting the students in groups/teams at the beginning.  I saw where you can place plastic cups in the baskets and put some supplies in it.  I thought I would do this and keep the group's pencils and erasers in it.  I'm sure I could use it for something else as well, but haven't thought of it yet.  :-)

 

 

 

 

2.  Krazy Straws- last year we did krazy straws for birthdays.  So, I picked up some of these for the kiddos' birthdays.

 

 

 

3.  Mechanical pencils-I bought some mechanical pencils for the kids last year that they could use in their writer's notebooks.  They were so excited about them.  So, I picked some up for this year as well.  This year, I am going to try this idea found by Melanie Pinola on pinterest:

 

http://pinterest.com/pin/244320348507870192/

 

You just tape a straw to the side of their journals and put the pencil in it.  That way they always have their pencil when it is time for them to write. 

 

 

4.  Small magnetic wire baskets-these things are so neat!  I thought I'd put my extra daily 5 choice cards in them.  I should have got more of them because I realized that I could have used them to put my expo markers in as well.....oh well, guess I'll have to go back and get some more and maybe find some more neat things!  :-)

 

 

 

I am in the process of working on a Monday Made-It project.  I am not crafty by any means.  But sometimes I think I am because I will try out a lot of stuff.  I always find things and think....oh I want to do that.  It wouldn't be that hard......then I find out that not only can I not do it, it is hard and it doesn't turn out for me.  So, I am working on something that I have always wanted in the classroom and have seen others do.  I have adapted it a bit and I am crossing my fingers in hopes that it turns out.  Tune in on Monday to see if it worked or flopped.  :-)

 

Oh, and...you might want to check out two new items in our stores. They are on sale for this weekend only!

 

Our short vowel "I Have, Who Has?" games are some of the most wishlisted items in our store. We've combined them into one convenient pack at a great price - $5 this weekend only - that is 50% off if purchasing them separately!!!! Available in our TPT or TN stores.

The possibilities truly are endless with this pack! Check it out in our TPT and TN stores.

 

 

 

P.S. Don't forget about the Fan Freebie Blog Hop!!! Check back tomorrow for the details!

 

 

Psst...Coming Soon...and Schedule Spotlight Series - Writing!

Okay...okay...enough with the suspense. Here's the big secret I've been keeping.

 

 

Did you see that? Second Grade bloggers... As most of you know, our blog has become a 1st and 2nd grade blog with Kristi still teaching 1st and me moving to 2nd.

 

Still feels weird not to be a firstie! 

 

You are not going to want to miss this freebie hop! There are so many great bloggers teaming up for this, I know the FREEBIES will be amazing! While we are targeting second grade, there will be some freebies that would work for multiple grades. The hop will start on Saturday so check back here for directions on how to get started.

 

And if you are a FIRST GRADE teacher, don't worry. Kristi and I are planning something just for you, too!

 

Now on to...

 

When you're done reading, click the picture to go check out all the other great writing ideas!

 

Writing!

 

I have been waiting for this one! I have done my writing differently every year I've taught (3 years) and am already planning changes for next year.

 

Let me give you a quick history (in first grade)...

 

Year One - Taught writing using the basal (Treasures) and was not at all happy with the lack of growth in my kiddos.

 

Year Two - Writer's Workshop! Loved this...mini-lesson followed by 30 minute block of writing time.

 

Year Three - Insert Daily 5. Not enough time for seperate Writer's Workshop so it became their "Work on Writing" time and I required students to do it daily. I did my mini-lessons in the afternoon with no immediate practice time for the kiddos. Did not like this!

 

Next year...regardless of grade, I would have went back to a seperate Writer's Workshop time.

 

Here's what I'm thinking my schedule will look like next year in 2nd grade:

 

8:30-10:00  Reading Block - Daily 5

10:00-10:30  Recess

10:30-11:40  Math

11:40-12:10  Lunch

12:10-12:40  Writer's Workshop

12:40-1:00  Science/Social Studies Extension

1:00-1:30  MTSS (or RTI if you are not in Kansas)

1:30-2:30  Specials

2:30-3:00  Snack/Read Aloud/Pack Up

 

Obviously, it is not finalized yet... The one thing I know is that I will definitely have a seperate Writer's Workshop and "Work on Writing" in Daily 5 will be more 'fun' types of writing...choosing to make a card, write a letter, etc. By making my main writing seperate from Daily 5, I won't have to require students to do "Work on Writing" daily so I will be able to rotate kids through more of the Daily 5 activities. I will also be giving the kiddos time to practice immediately after the mini-lesson which is what I thought was so successful my second year teaching.

 

As for resources, I have been using Mrs. Meacham's mini-lessons and writing workshop ideas. I'm in the process of begging my district to buy this for me:

 

 

Well, I think that covers it. If you're still with me, I'd love to hear from you. How do you teach writing in your classroom?

 

Do you have Lucy Calkins' Units of Study? If so, what do you think of it?

 

Have a blessed day!

 

 

 

Wisdom for Wednesday-Being Thankful

Thanks for joining us again for another week of:

 

I'm sure you have heard this quote before.  This quote has really been on my heart lately and has really made me think.  Unfortunately, if this came true.....to be honest, I don't think I would have a lot left.  I know that I am very guilty of praying for things, having requests, pleas (which is always good to go to God for these things), but I often tend to just do this and neglect thanking him for all the good things in my life. 

I am also very guilty of wishing and thinking of things that I want to have and can't afford or just can't have at this time.  I get so wrapped up in these things that I forget all the things that really matter that I do have.  I personally need to remember this quote daily and thank God for all the things that I do have like having family around me that are all in good health at this time. 

So my new goal that I have started to do everyday is to start my day everyday by thanking God for one thing that I have in my life.  Each day I thank God for something different.  I have done this now for about a week and it has opened my eyes to how truly blessed I am!

 

 

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;  

 

 Ephesians 5:20 

 

P.S. Stay tuned for something big this weekend!!! F...R...