Monday, August 5, 2013

Made it Monday GiveAway and Freebie!

My old library box finally bit the dust. I have used an old scholastic box that book orders came in for years. It really held up well, but I wanted to clean up my act a little bit and have a spiffier place for students to return their books to. I found this bright yellow crate and bought some cute ribbon to weave into the holes in the box to give it a put together look. I hope this helps my Owlets remember to bring their books in each week so that they can check out more.


 I've tried to convince them to put their library books away in their backpack instead of down, but...You know what happens! I'm hoping this little incentive will help them remember, too! If they return their books on time five weeks in a row, they can pick a pencil out of my special pencil box! I have some great Smencils that I keep picking up on clearance, so this might do the trick. Would you like a punch card, too? click HERE for your own set! Two punch card sets are included.

Here is a little something that was pretty easy to make! Carson Dellosa asked if I would preview these...
Thinking Mats
These thinking mats are making it easy for me to set up math centers to get the school year started. Everything I need to make the center isn in this box except the dry erase marker. They are all aligned to CCS standards. Fifteen thinking mats help students to develop critical thinking skills that will deepen their mathematical abilities. Colorful, durable, fun engaging are some of the adjectives I would use to describe these mats. The mats have a learning guide with reproducibles for each learning mat holding students accountable for their work. Did I say fun? I meant to because I played with a couple of them today. Here is a great video showing them in use...

 This is probably my favorite mat! It looks so yummy!
Be sure to wipe of the dry erase marker after each use...I had to scrub hard when I left it on
for two days...Whoops! It DID come off!




If I wasn't sold on these I wouldn't give one away! I think these are great resources for classrooms. Though they are designed for 2nd grade they would be an excellent tool for the advanced 1st grader or the 3rd grader who may need some extra practice. Would you like one for yourself or a friend? I'm offering this as well as a winner's choice from my store and a 10 giftcard to Starbucks...I love my coffee!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 I made one more thing today. I feel a little funny about it, but I also want to do what  is best for my students. If you think this is totally inappropriate, please unfollow me! I wanted to sign up for DonorsChoose. I can't participate . . . I teach in a parochial school. DonorsChoose is only for public schools. I've always taught in a faith based school and LOVE it! I have always had students that come from families that struggle to make ends meet. My church is always ready to help families in need who are seeking faith-based education for their kids...One of the reasons I love my church family. I put a donation button over on the right along with a picture of the chairs and desks I would LOVE to have. Thank you, Karen! I headed over and found a group that will sponsor ANY school!!  I'm saving my change and empty bottles to try to make my dream come true. I don't think I can do it by myself! If you would like to donate, I would deeply appreciate it! I've been chuckled at by my family, but I know that if I don't ask, I won't get anything! Thanks for listening and stopping by!

54 comments:

  1. Entered! Good luck, I hope you get your chairs.

    Kristi
    disneymum.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's a shame that you can't do DonorsChoose!! Just because a school is private/parochial does NOT mean that the school/parents are wealthy! I hope you get the chairs and desks you want!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, First Grade Circus! I was a little disappointed, but I'm not giving up!
      Jenny

      Delete
  3. I love your "return to library" basket! I have one too but it is just a beat up bin and doesn't look all snazzy like yours! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your's sounds like my old one! All it takes is a little ribbon and a hot glue gun to snazzy it up a bit!!
      Jenny

      Delete
  4. I see that we have a couple of things in common. I, too, like owls, and I would love new desk!

    Kelly
    Teaching Fourth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hopefully one day we'll have new desks in common!
      Jenny

      Delete
  5. Those owl punch cards are the cutest. Have you made any that are for behavior or homework completion? kganon@sanjuan.edu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's funny that you would ask...I woke up this morning thinking I should make some for Daily Five, AR and behavior...Guess what I'll be doing today!
      Jenny

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. Thanks, Irene! You made my day with your kind compliment!
      Jenny

      Delete
  7. I love your book return bin and the punch card! What a great idea to motivate students to return books promptly and teach responsibility! :o)

    Å“Karyn
    A is for Apple B is for Blog
    Kideducator@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope it works, Karyn! Only three more weeks before I find out!!
      Jenny

      Delete
  8. Thanks for the chance to win. I hope you get your desks and chairs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good luck, Cecilia! I will...There is power in positive thinking!
      Jenny

      Delete
  9. Cute punch cards...of course they are owls. I expect nothing less. I completely agree with First Grade Circus' comment. You should get to Donor's Choose. Or you could tell your class, you are pretending to experience Japan and all sit on the floor:-)

    Laurie
    Chickadee Jubilee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like the Japan idea...I wish I liked Sushi! I could take those wobbly legs right off the desks and put the tops on the floor. Then we could make sitting pads or use carpet squares...We may be on to something big!
      Jenny

      Delete
  10. I teach a 3rd grade EIP class...this would be a great resource!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. These would be a great resource for you! Good luck!
      Jenny

      Delete
  11. Love me some owls! Your blog is so cute. Thanks for the chance to win some fab prizes!

    Take Care,
    ~Amanda
    3rd Grade Fabulous

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good luck, Amanda! I hope a fellow owl lover wins!! I'm headed over to see you!
      Jenny

      Delete
  12. This would be great to win! I would go with a set for Kindergarten.

    kellybrown28021@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would like to have the first grade set, too! Maybe even the 3rd grade set for my math whizzes!!
      Jenny

      Delete
  13. I would love to win this, thank you! Good luck with your donations.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love all your owls...I have an owl theme in my 2nd Grade classroom too. Glad I found you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm going to make a crate for my teacher friends. Thanks for the give away!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love the crate idea. Super cute!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm a new teacher and new follower of yours! All of your blog posts and TPT resources are great! I'd love to win...good luck everyone! :D

    ReplyDelete
  18. I was also at a school that didn't qualify to sign up for DonorChoose - a special education school. It's a shame that our schools cannot benefit from that program to help our students. Just because our school is "private" doesn't mean we have all the resources we need to benefit our kids!

    Rae
    Mindful Rambles

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love this - I am going to be at at home "teacher" so say and this is all so cute to help me :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Check with Laura Candler from Corkboard Connections. She has information on other groups that provide funding to non-public schools. Here is the link. http://corkboardconnections.blogspot.com/2013/01/funddaysunday.html?m=0

    ReplyDelete
  21. These thinking mats are adorable! I also love your library book return bin :) Great idea to do the punch cards as an added incentive!

    Ashley
    ashley.kock@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your owl punch cards look cute!

    ReplyDelete
  23. The punch cards are adorable! Thank you! Great giveaway :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great giveaway! Love the Owls...so adorable!
    Michelle
    mjaquillard@oregoncs.org

    ReplyDelete
  25. I teach second grade, and this resource would be great!

    ReplyDelete
  26. One of my 2nd grade teachers loes owls and it would be SO great if i could win this stuff for her... she probably already follows your blog and follows you on TPT... :-)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great giveaway!

    Crystal Shepherd
    lucytumnus@gmail.com
    Lamppost in a STEM classroom

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for the opportunity!

    danrhon@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'd love to win! I teach 1st!

    melindacasas@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. These look awesome! Would love to win :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Love the OWLS! I have changed to owls this year and am having great fun. Love your things, spending lots of time on T-P-T.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Love your library crate! I started using a milk crate last year after my dish tub broke. I never thought about making it cute with some ribbon.

    Amber
    ambs98@nc.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thank you for the idea. It looks so nice!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I am a new teacher and could really use these items. Thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I have been so busy gathering, printing, laminating and sorting ELA stuff I have completely left out math stuff... could so use new math stuff. Thank you for the chance.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love the idea of the book return crate. I have one I can use for that!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks for the chance to win. Your book basket is adorable!
    Abby

    ReplyDelete
  38. I am so glad to read that you found a group to sponsor your chair drive. Private schools do NOT always have the funding. My nephew had to take two reams of paper to school in kindergarten, along with everything else on the list. If they don't even have paper, how can they have anything else they need?

    ReplyDelete
  39. Thanks for the opportunity to win on this great giveaway.

    ReplyDelete

Please give me a hoot!