New Blog: Teacher Deals and Dollar Steals

I am excited to announce that I am on a team with some of my blogger buddies to bring you a new collaborative blog called Teacher Deals and Dollar Steals! With this blog, there will be approximately FORTY teachers sharing their excellent work in what we are calling Dollar Steals!

What is a Dollar Steal, you ask?  Each day, one of my bloggy friends will be sharing a post about one of her products. In her blog post, she will share a link to her product where you can purchase it for only $1.00. 

You'll have to act fast because the sale will only last for THREE days.  After the three days, you can still grab the fabulous product, but it will be at its original price.

Click on that button! Follow our new blog  through email or Bloglovin' to make sure that you catch all of our deals in a timely manner. 

We are also giving away a $25 TeachersPayTeachers gift certificate. You can enter by following us!

Now that's working smart!

Crayon Box Books

Friends, I'm repeating this post from last August. I hope all my new friends have a colorful year! Ahhhh...the smell of new crayons. It must be back to school time! On the first day of school, my kiddos dumped two boxes of brand new crayons into their plastic boxes. I just couldn't stand to throw away 50 empty crayon boxes. After all, I'm trying to do my part to keep the world green...and pink and purple...by recycling. Now just what could those boxes be used for?

Ta da! We are going to turn our boxes into little flip books. Begin by cutting off the sides, bottom and top flaps from each box. You can cut blank paper to fit inside your crayon-box covers. Bind the pages between covers by punching holes and using metal rings. Provide color-word flash cards so students can write a different color word on each page. 

I made up some cutie pages to give my students practice writing and reading the color words. If you are interested, I put them in my TPT store for a buck. Click here:

This package includes pages for the eight basic colors found in a box of eight crayons along with pink and white. The books look like this:

Here are examples of the pages:

What ideas do you have for reusing crayon boxes. I'd be tickled pink if you'd leave a comment! For more color ideas, see this linky.

Get Ready for a SMART Year!

Smart Teachers...It's time to work smart! Get ready for the year by shopping the TPT Back-to-School Sale!

Put Down The Marker! Seven Instant Name Tags from ESGI

So you got your class list and you are getting ready to label EVERYTHING in your classroom... Put down that marker, sister! ESGI gives you SEVEN different types of labels and name cards PLUS instant lists. All you'll have to do is click print.

I hope for your sake (and your friends' and family's sake) you are already using ESGI to keep up with all that assessment data. Did you know that you can print labels and lists as well?
Just click on CLASS MANAGEMENT TOOL on your home page. Add your new class.
                               

 If you head over to the right side you'll see your options.
                                                        

I'm going to use these labels when we make graphs. If they are printed and cut, the kids can quickly add their names to charts.

Also, at the beginning of the year I have all the children sign in by tracing their names. I'll print these out and my sign-in sheets are ready!

                                

                                           

Our cafeteria manager and librarian always request cards for the payment and check-out barcodes. Printed and ready!

 These will be nice for student response charts during literacy time. The kiddos can draw a happy or sad face, add a picture, add a word...whatever. Then they can put their responses on a reading chart.
                                            

 Going on a field trip? Name tags are ready!

These are desk tags. I'm actually going to print these on card stock and put them in the writing journals. (We don't have desks in my room.)

                                        

 Our parents fill out plenty of paperwork and permission slips at the beginning of the year. I'm ready to track it and turn in my report to the office.

Here's my last tip. I downloaded all of my options and put them in one folder. Now I can see at a glance which labels I need.

 How can YOU get started making labels, name tags and lists for you classroom?! Just SIGN UP for your FREE 60 DAY TRIAL with ESGI. If you use promo code B6336, you'll save $40 on the license price when you decide to take advantage of all that ESGI has to offer.

If you can think of more uses for these name templates, leave a comment!

Bright Ideas: Popcorn Words Book Cover

Isn't the back-to-school season is a great time to find bright ideas? Teachers are sharing their organization tips, decorating ideas and fun ideas for the first days of school. I'm  joining along with directions for turning popcorn bags into popcorn words (high-frequency or sight words) books.

Purchase a few packs of popcorn bags from your Dollar Tree or other discount store. To make one book cover... Carefully open the bottom of the bag.

 Flatten the bag.

Trim the bottom off the bag so the bag is now 11" long.

 Open the bag and flatten it again as shown.

 Cut along one side.

 Now you have your book cover! Laminate, if desired.

Add the pages you'll be using this year for sight-word practice. Staple the sides.

 I haven't made my books for next year yet, but when I do they will be stored in a popcorn bucket. (Does it bother anyone else that popcorn is two words on these products?!)

Thanks for visiting! I'd love for you to leave a comment and follow my blog, Instagram, or Facebook!
For more bright ideas from 75 bloggers, please browse through the link-up below and choose a topic/grade level that interests you. 

An InLinkz Link-up