Monday Made It: Teaching Organizer

It's Monday again! Time to link up with Tara for Monday Made It! 

This past week I've been getting a head start on creating a couple things for my classroom. Once August hits everything happens so quickly and I always feel too rushed to create new things, so it's best for me to start in the summer. This little project didn't take long at all. 

 I created a cute little sign to hot glue on the front of my box, matching my Hollywood theme of course, and purchased these other supplies at Wal-Mart. I love this particular box because it isn't flimsy and can be carried from home to school and meetings and back again, a million and one times without breaking. I don't have to worry about shoving 3 huge notebooks in my teacher bag anymore! I have all the student information I need in one place that isn't a huge filing cabinet. 

I don't bother writing student names on folders until about 2-3 weeks into the school year. Rosters have a way of changing every. single. day. until about then, and it drives me bonkers when my student numbers aren't in ABC order. But after this time I do assign students each a number that corresponds with many other things in our class. At this time I do write their names of their folders. 

I have tried many ways in the past to keep track of my communication with parents, and this is by far the best I've found. I simply take a legal pad and tear off pages that are stapled to the left side of the folder. When I use up an entire page, I staple another page over it and keep recording. Inside the folder I keep important documents and forms. 

Don't forget--today is the last day to enter a class set of novels and my Sophie Simon novel unit! The winner will be announced on my blog and FB page tomorrow!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday: Disney!

How have I not seen this linky before?! I love that it's super easy and simple--just perfect for summer!

I don't think these pictures need an explanation.. but they sure do make my heart happy! :)

If you haven't entered to win a class set of novels yet, you still can! Who doesn't love free stuff? :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two for Tuesday Deal--Task Card BUNDLE & Novel unit

Have you heard of Two for Tuesday? Where teachers put two of their TPT items on sale for 50% off the entire day?! Talk about a steal! 

First up, my NEWEST novel unit, Sophie Simon Solves Them All, will be on sale. 

The BEST part about this novel unit? I'm having a GIVEAWAY to win a CLASS SET of the books to go along with it! Check it out by clicking here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Next  up, Task Cards! I'm putting ALL my task cards on sale--as in the entire bundle! That means 6 sets of task cards, 188 cards in total--for only $5.25!

If you're doing the math, that means each set of task cards will be LESS than $1! 

I hope you check out these awesome deals, as well as many others today! Tuesday's have never looked so good! 

Monday Made it: Shelf, Novel Unit & SUPER BOOK Giveaway!

Hi, friends! Aren't you glad it's SUMMER break and we have time to MAKE things again?! Seriously, the last few weeks of school are so draining, but I'm slowly gaining back my energy. Enough energy to make pretty things, at least! With that being said, I'm super-duper excited to link up for Monday Made it with 4th Grade Frolics! 

If you follow me on instagram (@mrsmandylopez) you have seen bits and pieces of this project, but here is the finished piece. I think. Unless I decide to add more pieces to it. We shall see. :)

I bought wooden crates from Wal-Mart, for around $11 each. Sometimes you can catch them on sale for $9.99. I then just used white paint my husband had left over and went to work painting. Note--that took longer than expected because of the space in between each piece of wood. I spread this out between 2 days, working about 2 hours each day. 

I bought this clear vase (is that what it's called?) from my Ikea trip yesterday, and sat it next to a few books I already had..

..and this vase and picture from are from Wal-Mart, on clearance. I still have to put to family picture in there, probably one from our trip this weekend to Disney! More to come about that! ;)

A novel unit!!  & SUPER BOOK Giveaway!

My 3rd graders read this book, Sophie Simon Solves Them All, written by Lisa Graff, towards the end of the school year. They LOVED it. As in--"Mrs. Lopez, can we read more about Sophie, please?" Yes! I made activities to accompany this book as we went along, and worked out the kinks and I think perfected this unit. 

Here is the amazon description of the book: For a third grader, Sophie Simon is one smart cookie. She enjoys teaching herself advanced calculus and has performed successful heart surgery on an earthworm. She’s also very clever when it comes to dealing with her clueless parents. But Sophie is no genius when it comes to calculating the high value of friendship—until, that is, she has to use her incredible IQ to help out some classmates with their own parental troubles.

680 Lexile----DRA: 30----AR: 3.9----F&P: N

The unit includes the following: 

-materials for student booklets--each booklet comes with an expectations page students must sign, chapter questions (in a variety of formats), and a task for each chapter

-2 assessments with answer keys

-a jeopardy powerpoint review game

-a differentiated calculator craftivity

-detailed teacher directions with pictures to help

The novel unit is discounted at 50% off until next Monday, meaning it's on sale for only $3. More good news? I'm doing a SUPER giveaway for a CLASS SET of Sophie Simon Solves Them All!!!! Enter the giveaway below to win 20 copies of the novel as well as my novel unit! Good luck, and PLEASE... Share away! You can use this picture if you'd like!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Technology Thursday: Study Jams! & Summer Break

Sweet summer break... life is grand! Let me share with you what the plan is for break and then I'll share a little technology Thursday.

Oh yes.. I'm digging deep with the 21 Day Fix (more like SUMMER FIX!) and drinking tons of H20. Way more than I would like, but at least my new machine makes me feel better about it.

The husband got a new toy, so we're having lots of fun with it. Lilly and I stay on the beach while he fishes, then we go for joy rides with him after. 

And now for Technology Thursday with Teaching Trio! Link up each week to share your best technology tips or favorite websites. This will be my first link up, but look forward to reading what everyone has to share!

Have you heard of StudyJams? It amazes me how many people have not heard of this awesome-sauce site, which is such a valuable teaching tool. I seriously check out their site before every math lesson I teach, so I can introduce my topic with a video.

StudyJams offers step-by-step tutorials, videos, and karaoke songs for math and science. Click on the operations on the top, such as Numbers, and topics pop up on the bottom, such as place value. 

This particular topic, single-digit division offers a step-by-step demonstration, a karaoke song and a mini-test at the end. There's key vocabulary at the bottom, and related jams as well. Love!

Here's an example of a video clip that StudyJams offers as well. My kids always enjoy watching these, and I enjoy sitting back letting these 2 guys do the teaching for me!

There's also numerous science topics, as well, with the same features offered.. all for free!

I hope you add this site to your list to use, because it's awesome!

What technology tips do you have to share? Don't forget to link up!