Getting Motivated and Monday Made It Link Up

Well, it's official, my brain is in "Classroom Mode." At the end of the school year our principal passed out grade specific and subject specific books to read over the summer.  She also provided everyone with a copy of the "Teacher Bible," Harry Wong's The First Days of School.  Now the last time I read The First Days of School, cover to cover, was prior to my first teaching year, which was only, (And.... I say only to make myself feel young...) 17 years ago! Well I'm in the middle of its latest edition, and must ask, "Why haven't I read this every summer since?"  I'm so glad that I am rereading it!- As I am sure you have either read it before or currently rereading yourself, it is definitely the motivator I need to get the school ball rolling!-So with that in mind, I am linking up with Tara from Fourth Grade Frolics Monday Made It.

Last Year I changed my classroom color scheme to an Aqua, Yellow, and Gray theme. I'm going to continue with that theme, but I am adding some black to it.  I had a Birthday Chart that seemed too dull, so this year I am going to integrate these small birthday pennants. If you like them, please download them for free. (Just click on the picture below!)  I made them editable, to add student names!- I'm going to wait until I have a class roster before I print them out.

This past week I also made the familiar Mod Podge clipboards. It's my first time to ever use Mod Podge, and I think I'm hooked! It's so easy.  I made a clipboard for each of my fourth grade team members as their beginning of school gift.  I'll add a pencil pal to hold a pen or pencil to it, and on the back side will be a large STOP sign.  What is the purpose? Well, we have to have a dismissal chart to log how our students leave at the end of every day. We pass out clothes pins to each student at dismissal and as they leave they return the pin to us and we write down how they went home. I don't know who thought of this idea, but it has definitely helped with making sure our kiddos left safely.  This clipboard will hold the dismissal chart, the clothes pins, and a handy dandy writing pen.  However, last year, there were times when we had to act as a Crossing Guard.- You know all about school zone drivers...- So hopefully, the STOP sign behind the clipboard will help us multi-task. I'll let you know how it works out!



Another thing I created for my class this year is a new calendar.  I was walking down the endless aisles at Hobby Lobby and came across this Dry Erase Magnetic Calendar...

I loved it, so I made some aqua, yellow, and gray patterned calendar numbers and monthly headers to match my room!  I can't wait to hang it in the classroom!-

Click on the picture to see the file on TPT.

 

 

The big box store has school supplies out, and I'm excited! The stockers and cashiers can always spot us coming.  We're the ones trudging through the cardboard box filled aisles while they're trying to stock the notebook paper and crayons.  We're also the ones buying 24 of every color two pocket folders you can find. You always get the same look when the cashier has to stop the conveyor belt to count them all out, followed with..."Are you a teacher?" Yup, that's us...and proud of it!

Well I saw these matchy, matchy binders and could not resist...

 

I created front and back cover pages and a spine label for my Lesson Plan and Data Notebooks! 

 

 

That's all I have for today, but look forward to sharing in next week's link up.  Don't forget to check out all the bloggers linked up with 4th Grade Frolics!

Have a Blessed Week!