PlayDoh Containers

I found this post on Pinterest last year from Chickbug and thought it was the cutest idea, and I've been dying to recreate my own version of these containers.  It wasn't until my Mother's Day project failed that I had to resort to PlayDoh and remember about this craft.

I'm you have dried out PlayDoh somewhere in your closet or craft corner and with a few pieces of scrapbook paper you could make your own monster containers.

After creating the strips, I laminated them to ensure that they would hold up to five year olds handling them.  

I'm using the monster containers to store my letters for when we use them during a small group or a Language Arts center.  

Syllable Sorting

So, here's is my newest center that I just love and so do the kiddies!  It's called Syllable Sorting!  I came across this idea because I recently got the will power to organize the previous teachers' filing system and moved a whole bunch of stuff around.  There were all these craft books and educational books, so I organized them all together.  Of course, while organizing I had to look through all the book!  I came across this book, which was filled which tons of goodies!

Inside I found these super cute picture cards, that could be used for a syllable game.  All I need was a box to sort the cards into.  I had saved some containers from our Christmas party and I had the perfect one for the job.  Before I did any of this, I photocopied the pages and sat on them for about a week.  I was deciding whether I wanted to color the pictures in or scan then and color them digitally.  I finally decided and photocopied the originals onto card stock and took them home over the weekend to color them, and here is the final product.

Now, came the box to sort the cards in.  I knew I wanted to use something plastic that would make slicing the top to be easy.  So, I got out my Cricut and cut out the numbers 1-4 and glued them on the top.  I then added a coat of Modge Podge on top, so secure the numbers.

Over night, I put rulers through the slots to make sure that sliding the syllable cards through would't be a challenge.

Unfortunately, this didn't work that great so in the morning I got out my Xacto knife and made the slots bigger.  Now, the game is good to go and students can independently count how many syllables each picture has and drops it in the right slot.  We played today with my EA and they LOVED it!!!

Making 10

As you are all of aware with Common Core Standards, one of the standards that our grade level found challenging to teach was "Making 10".  Over the summer, I did a lot of research and I found a great idea to teach the concept, a rainbow!  I figured to introduce students to this concept right off the bat, so hopefully it will sink in without them even realizing.

 I've made a huge poster, 24x36 that I printed at OfficeMax and then painted it.  I used my Cricut to cut out the letters and viola!

Before

After

I also made a smaller version to put on the students' pencil boxes.  You can download the template here: Making 10 Freebie

Classroom - Currently!

I'm new to the blogging world but thought I would give it a try, since I love reading other people's blogs so much!  As the school year will be starting sooner than we think.  I want to make some "adjustments" to my room for this school year.  Here is what my room looks like so far, let me know what you think!

Back of the classroom..Pono Tree, Sight Words, Expectations, and Behavior Modification

Birthday Wall - made from my Cricut, which I kinda abuse!

Morning Business!