Michaels...#create2educate #sweepstakes

It's that time again! Time to start setting up our classrooms for another successful school year! This year, I am especially excited to set up my classroom, because I have teamed with @Michaels to help teachers and parents to Create2Educate with DIY projects and crafts. And here's some more great news! If you decide to get your craft on too, you can enter to win a $50 gift card to Michaels! I'll explain more about that later, after I finish showing off my creations.

I went on a shopping spree at Michaels and bought some supplies to help me make two different projects.

Here is what I purchased...

This year, I am changing the way my children go to stations. In the past, I always used a pocket chart for the children to choose their station. The pocket chart hung on a door, my students put their name next to the station they wanted to go to first, and then went to that station. However, my kindergarten students sometimes forgot which station they chose and would wind up at the wrong station or they got confused and went to a different station. So, I decided that this year I was going to have the children bring their name to the actual station they were visiting, to alleviate this problem. I knew in my head exactly what I wanted at each station to hold their names, and I went to Michaels and found just what I envisioned. I couldn't possibly have asked for a better holder.

I bought 5 of them, in the prettiest colors, along with some cute stickers to make them look even nicer. I attached my station signs using a hot glue gun and stuck on the stickers, and love the way they came out. 

Each student will have a colored pencil, labeled with his/her name, to use to go from station to station. And I know they won't wind up at the wrong station anymore!

For my next project, I decorated a bulletin board to use for Nice Notes.

Creating a positive classroom community is very important to me. My students will be writing nice things about their peers all year long. And their sentiments will hang on this beautiful board.

This display was super easy to make! I printed out the Nice Note letters and banners, and hot glued them to the boards. I also glued on some white ribbon and the colorful wooden stars.

This beautiful board will look great in my classroom and will serve a very important purpose. 

Click here for more information about the Nice Notes!

And there you have it! 
Two super simple DIY crafts that anyone can make. 

I hope I have inspired you to get creative because now it's your turn! Michaels is having a DIY crafting contest on Instagram from August 1-15.  Each day, a winner will be chosen to win a $50.00 gift card to Michaels! To enter, all you have to do is create something for your classroom, take a picture of it, and upload it to Instagram. Tag @Michaels and use the hashtags #Create2Educate and #sweepstakes starting August 1 on Instagram. If you don't have an Instagram account, then get one now! It's super easy to do! 

Happy crafting!

Create a Classroom Community and Learning Resources Giveaway

Today was my first day of school! It was fun and I am so tired. I see first grade in the morning and kindergarten in the afternoon. Kindergarten wasn't in my room longer than 5 minutes, when one little cutie said, "Can you talk faster? I want to go home now!" So, in true form, I said, "Sure! I can talk super fast!" And I started using my super duper fast voice and they all started laughing. 

Gets them every time! 

Since I'm so tired, I'm just popping in fast to tell you how I am going to start each day so that I can quickly create a positive classroom environment. Once I am done with the morning chores (collecting lunch money and paperwork), which usually takes me about 5 minutes, we will all gather on the carpet, standing in a circle, holding hands. Together, we will recite our classroom promise. Then, like I did as a girl scout, I turn to the child on my left, smile at him/her and gently squeeze his/her hand. That child turns to his/her left, and does the same. I did it today, on my first day, and the children loved it. We decided that starting each day with a smile and a squeeze, makes us feel really good!

Would you like a copy of my classroom promise? 

This is a picture of it last year and the posters have been updated.

This year, my door is yellow, but I didn't have a chance to take a new picture.

Click here to download it for free!

In other news, I recently posted photos of my new classroom and promised you two giveaways. I am so happy to be able to offer a 4-pack of magnetic storage pockets from Learning Resources!

I am using 2 of them to hold my agenda cards and my dry erase markers. These are the markers for just ME to use. Free of little germs! LOL!

I haven't hung these two pockets yet, but will most likely use them to hold whole group activities, like word cards, letter cards, and small activities, so they are always ready for me. The pockets are very sturdy and super magnetic. I love how they are both functional and attractive!

Would you like a set of magnetic storage pockets for your classroom? Of course you would! Just enter my giveaway using the rafflecopter below. There are only 2 mandatory entries, but lots of other ways you can enter to help increase your chances of winning.

The last thing I'd like to tell you, before I go to bed (it's not even 9:00 here!) is that I made a new game for those who use first grade Journeys. 

It's called Read it, Make it, Write it.

Students place a HFW card under read it and read it out loud. Then they make it, using alphabet letters. Last, they practice writing the word a few times. I included 3 optional recording sheets. It also includes 6 boards, which should be printed and laminated. Since it contains the first grade Journeys review words, my students will start playing it this week. Can't wait!

a Rafflecopter giveaway