Getting Lost - and the Growth Mindset

How do you get lost in your own hometown? Let me say - it is possible. I did this. Just yesterday. Yep. Plumb lost! I went out on a new mountain bike trail and saw a "single track" to the left and decided to take it.

It split into multiple single tracks and before I knew it, I had worked my way into a pickle. The single track disappeared and I found myself with my bike on the side of a mountain trying to figure out where to go.

Isn't life like this? Decisions all around. We are on one path, and all of a sudden find ourselves on another. And...sometimes...we find that the path isn't clear --or that it's down-right gone. How do you handle those difficult times in life? In class, we teach about the growth mindset. We realize that challenges can be good. In fact, some challenges - like my ride - are beautiful if you just look around and focus on the good.

Perseverance.  Determination.  You can do this. 

Every mistake you make is progress.

There is a difference between not knowing, and not knowing yet. (Sheila Tobias)

Sometimes learning isn't easy. Embrace the struggle and grow. Remember to talk to your child about having a growth mindset.

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Monday Made It - July 10!... and a FREEBIE

Once again I am teaming up with the linky and Fourth Grade Frolics for a fun and fabulous Monday Made It!

My son gets married THIS WEEKEND! So, I have been off my creation game a bit. But, I did have fun making a few items to share with you...

I've used an Erin Condren planner for a couple years now and have always LOVED it. This year, I saw the darling planners at Michaels for a great price (Brand 365) and decided to try it out. I LOVE that it comes with tons of stickers, calendar, planner, checklists...oh so many things! I went through and made STICKERS for each of my subjects with times and placed them throughout all the weeks so that I won't have to do it each week. It turned out lovely!

I don't know about you, but we use post-it notes ALL the time in class. I love them for all our ELA work. One thing that drove me insane last year was how the students misused the post-it notes. I found students drawing pictures on them, folding them, making flip books, writing notes to friends...so many things. Despite all of our discussions about appropriate and not-appropriate usage, it wasn't getting through to them. This year I decided to hang up a sign and discuss the use (and why). It will be one of our first discussions of the year!

It's all laminated and ready to go! I made a plain version to share. All you need to do is add your own text! CLICK HERE for a freebie!

I've been having fun joining in on the Instagram #teacherswholetter 30 day challenge. I've been able to practice my lettering...and it is therapeutic!

This one above was my FIRST digital attempt at lettering! With a little practice I hope to get better. My c in School turned out really weird but by then I had so many retakes I decided to keep it!

There are more but you will need to visit my Instagram account to view them! 

Also on Instagram, I found a teacher who makes AWESOME paper flowers! You can read HOW here! Her website it The Happy Teacher's Palette. I gave my try at a flower. I didn't have the colors I wanted but I did have yellow for my first attempt!

Be sure to visit her site to see how she incorporates them in her room!

I will be off the next two weeks! See you when I return ~ Au Revoir AND Ciao! (Hint hint!)

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Mason Jar Class Jobs - Monday Made It!

Welcome to another Monday Made It! Thank you, Tara, for hosting this great link up!!

I'm excited about my first project this week! I have always used store-bought job charts. But, I love mason jars and decided to create my own theme for job charts this year. It's a little different - but I really like how it turned out!!

I found a clip art of a mason jar and wrote the jobs on each. Then I cut them out and cut a slit in the top of each...

Next, I went to Dollar Tree and purchased 2 stems of flowers for a total of $2! I cut them apart and will use them for student names. I have dry erase tape and envision putting the tape off the stems and writing the names of students on each. 

That's all I got done this week!! I'm on vacation at the ocean! Yessss.

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Monday Made it! - July 18

Welcome to Another Monday Made It!

Thanks once again to Tara from 4th Grade Frolics for hosting Monday Made It! We share a love of God, teaching, and making things!

I saw so many posts for creating a Close Reading Toolbox. Thanks to Create Share Teach, she offers a FREEBIE of her adorable toolbox. All I had to do was print them out and assemble the kits! You can get her freebie HERE.  I found the plastic boxes on sale at Michael's for 40% off so they were a little over $1.00 each. I decided to use ModgePodge to get the pictures to stay on the boxes.

I decided to make 10 for groups of 3 students. Inside are bookmarks with close reading tips, pencils, highlighters, and sticky notes. I need to go to Dollar Tree to get magnifiers. 

Do your students sign a social contract? As I sat watching Dual Survival one night, I felt like doodling so I decided to draw a social contract tree. I used Tombow markers and paper. I looked up a font I liked on DaFont so that I could try to copy it with my pen! I will have students place their thumbprint to "sign" the contract. Then I hope to frame it!

I'm sorry I don't have a ton of pictures of this one! I invested in a Silhouette Mint Stamp Maker! I got a great deal on it during Amazon Prime Day on the 12th. I wanted to use it to make stamps for school - plus my daughter just got engaged on the 12th - her birthday! I figure it will come in handy! Her fiancee set up a beautiful breakfast table for her...

Pretty, right?! He's a keeper. :)

And, she blessed me by asking me to be her matron of honor. Such a surprise!

For her birthday and upcoming wedding, I bought her the Erin Condren wedding planner. So pretty!! 

The Rose Gold pattern is BEAUTIFUL and I almost wish I got it for my teacher planner - but I do love mine...

Did you know that on Erin Condren you can type in a "style" and everything that coordinates will show up? I typed in "Rose Gold" and found some beautiful coordinates for Lauren's wedding planner. This beautiful tray has inserts so you can change them out for the season! I love this one that matches:

Or these clip boards! 

Wow! Love!! Click any pictures for my referral link. Once you sign up you get an extra $10 off with your first purchase. 

Oh - back to the Mint!  I designed my first stamp using their software. It was really, really easy! I'm not too thrilled with the choice of colors I put on the stamp so when those colors wear out (after about 50 uses!) I will put on new colors. I also smeared the sample (sad face) but you get an idea!

My Made It #4 didn't really make it! I fully intended to work on my classroom this week and get all my boards up. That just didn't happen. I am working at a new school this year and wanted to move everything out of my attic and extra bedroom to the classroom. I won't bore you with all the details, but it comes down to being told I am in 2 different rooms. So until I know for sure, I won't be putting anything up. I did take pictures of the one that I hope I am in!

Pretty view, isn't it! Both rooms are on the 3rd floor.

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Monday Made It!

I'm excited to team up with Tara and 4th Grade Frolics again for another Monday Made It! 

Every year I seem to forget having birthday "stuff" ready for kids so this year I am starting cheap, easy, and early! The new school I am going to does not allow parents sending food items for birthdays. (yay!) I was happy about that one! That means I probably can't pass out little goodies, either, if food related. I found these cute, colorful pencils at Target 18 count for $3.75. 

I printed out "coupons" for a free late assignment...

...cut 2 slits at the top and bottom to insert the pencil and - D.O.N.E.! It just happened to work out that the colors I printed on matched the pencils! I didn't plan that but was super happy about it! 

Anyone out there with a do-it-yourself husband? How about one that ropes you into helping with the construction stuff? When you are terrified? My husband is awesome and I try to help out when I can...but construction...up high?  yikes! Yes. This is Made It #2 - shutters. You may remember my post a few back where my hubby was throwing the old shutters off our house to throw away. I grabbed a few and made stuff for my classroom with them:

Well, new shutters had to be made so I was called into the installation! He made REAL working shutters this time! They are not 100% complete but they are getting there. I didn't mind helping but...it involves holding things up on the roof...in 90 degree+ heat. Okay. I can't complain because he does it all the time. He made a nice platform off of our porch...

This is a view out the second story window.

Lee doesn't mind being up high. He climbs this ladder no prob to work on the gable:

I had a hard time just taking the picture without vomiting. 

So - onto the platform...and the roof...I went. And...we got them hung! woo hoo! All that we have left is painting! (They will be the dark blue color in the one photo.)

Open shutters...

...and closed! 

I'm so excited that I finally figured out my Cricut and vinyl. I had the hardest time transferring the vinyl to objects without sticking it all over my hands. I finally googled ideas and - duh... transfer tape! It works WONDERFULLY! 

First, my board was getting "dull" so I gave it new life with Krylon's Easy Tack:

I covered the edges of my board with construction paper. Painter's tape would be a better choice! 

 I bought these great note blocks from Staples for only $2.00!

Then...I cut my name and decorations out of vinyl.

Ta-da! Sorry - I forgot to take picture of the transfer tape!! I know! Sorry - but it did work! 

I made a bunch of fans for my new room and wrote an early blog post about them. They turned our really pretty! READ IT HERE.

Read my full blog post HERE!

Two projects took almost no work. In this next one, I just used my Cricut to cut words for above my whiteboard on "wood" paper and glued them on black paper before cutting them out again!

FINALLY (I know, a long post!) this is a no make made it project! I found this Italian Sangria at Whole Foods (or the Nugget??) and had to buy it simply for the bottle! (My daughter loves Sangria so it was a win-win.) I took one of my flower pens and placed it in the top. So cute!

Here is a link to their web site.

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