TPT Sale!

I'm happy, happy, happy!  It's that time of year again!  Teachers Pay Teachers is having their annual Back to School, (BTS), sale.  Of course, my shop is participating with its own 20% off sale, starting Sunday, August 18th to coincide with TPT's sale.  Yes, that means you can save 28% on any product purchased in my store on the 18th and 19th!  Although, the TPT sale runs from Sunday, August 18th through Monday, August 19th, I am extending my sale through Tuesday, August 20th.  That means that even if you miss the TPT sale or you decide you really should have bought that item, it will not be too late.  You will still be able to save 20% in my shop, even on Tuesday .

I can't wait to start buying products that I have been saving on my wish list!  Remember to type in the promo code BTS13 when making purchases.  

Now...let's go buy some stuff!

Just click on the picture below to begin browsing.

Remember the sale starts Sunday, August 18.  

Let's Get Organized with TPT

I am a binder kind of person.  I put my recipes, important papers, ideas, and even instructions that come with my appliances, etc... in notebook binders.

 At school, I have a binder I use for all classroom organization, a binder for student information, and my lessons plans have been in notebook binders way before they were cool to use.  I have a binder for every unit I teach.  I have the unit binders with everything I need in them, or if it doesn't fit, then I have a page that tells where the item is.  I am obsessed with  binders, because they keep me organized.  I, personally, know how unorganized I can be without the right system, but, it is truly amazing how many people think I am one of the most organized people they know!  I still look shocked each time I hear this! :)   I give a great amount of the credit to my binders. 

I work hard at staying organized.  That's why I knew I needed a binder to help me with my TPT shop when I first began on Teachers Pay Teachers a few years ago.  I have added to the binder, taken away from it, revised and revised some more.  I finally feel I have it the way I want it.  This binder gets me organized so, I'm not feeling overwhelmed by the whole business thing.  I don't have to search for items, I don't have to guess if I listed a product on a certain collaborative board or not, I don't have to hunt down passwords,  or try to remember an idea I had a few weeks ago.  It is all written down in my TPT binder.  I have even included a form for writing down all the technology problems I encounter, and a place for the solution, and websites that were helpful in finding the solution.
(Um...I won't go into how many technology help pages I have in my binder at this point!  Let's just say it's more than 10 but, less than 1,000.)

I can compare sales from month to month, quarter to quarter, or year to year.  I have a form for expenses and donations, (also helpful during tax season).  There are helpful blogging forms, (including linky parties), pinterest forms, and TPT shop forms, such as a form for the infamous TPT Newsletter submissions.  There are forms for contests and giveaways, listed items, free items, works in progress, a product idea organizer and much more.

I have also included a 12 month calendar which I will update each January.  I hate nothing more than to have to fill in a blank calendar when I buy something. All anyone will have to do is re-download the binder each January and print a brand new FREE yearly calendar, because once the TPT Business Binder is purchased, the new yearly calendar will be free!  YAH!

If I made a form with color on it, I also made a duplicate black/white version so there are options to choose from.  I even did this with the cover pages for each section and the binder cover page and spine.

If you are interested in getting organized, please check out my TPT Business Organization Binder by  clicking on any of the pictures below!

I have also included a Table of Contents below the pictures, since there is even more to this binder than is shown here!  

TPT Business Organization Binder

Table of Contents

·      Introduction

·      Binder Covers & Spines - Divider (3 Choices)

v Binder Covers (4 Choices)

v Binder Spines (2 sizes/7 types, including a blank spine)

·      Ideas - Divider (3 Choices)

v Notes to Self (Color & B/W Version)

v Product Idea Recording Sheet

v Product Idea Graphic Organizer

v Works in Progress (Color & B/W Version)

v Product Checklist

·      My TPT  Products - Divider (3 Choices)

·      My Teachers Notebook Products - Divider (3 Choices) – (Just in case you sell on this site).

v Listed Items Chart (Color & B/W Version)

v Items to be Edited (Color & B/W Version)

v Free Items (Color & B/W Version)

v Newsletter Submissions Recording Sheet (Color & B/W Version)

v Contest & Giveaways (Color & B/W Version)

v Items Contributed to Giveaways (Color & B/W Version)

v I’m Having a Sale (Color & B/W Version)

v Promoting Items (Color & B/W Version)

v Questions for the Forum

v My Accomplishments

·      Graphics & Clip Art - Divider (3 Choices)

v Graphics/Clip Art

·      Fonts - Divider (3 Choices)

v Fabulous Fonts

v Awesome Alphabets

·      Pinterest Boards - Divider (3 Choices)

v Pinterest Collaborative Board Pins

Pinterest Ideas 

·      Blogs - Divider (3 Choices)

v Blogs I Follow

v Ideas From Fellow Bloggers

v Blogging Ideas – Quick List (Color & B/W Versions)

v My Blogging Ideas – (Color & B/W Versions)

v I’m Having a Linky Party! (Completed and Blank Versions of the Chart)

v Yes, I Will Join Your Linky Party! (Completed and Blank Versions of the Chart)

·      Facebook – Divider (3 Choices)

v Facebook Friends

v Facebook Favorite Finds

·      Financial Info – Divider (3 Choices)

v Monthly Shop Sales (Color & B/W Version)

v Quarterly Shop Sales (Color & B/W Version)

v Tracking Sales @a Glance

v Expenses (Color & B/W Version)

v Purchases (Color & B/W Version)

v Donations (Color & B/W Version)

·      Technology Resources – Divider (3 Choices)

v What’s the Password? (Color & B/W Version)

v Favorite Websites

v Technology Help

·      Misc. – Divider (3 Choices)

·      Notes – Divider (3 Choices)

v Notes Clipboard (Color & B/W Version)

·      Common Core Standards – Divider (3 Choices)

·      Calendar of Events – Divider (3 Choices)

v Current Year – Monthly Calendar Pagers – (Color & B/W Version) – This calendar will be updated each year.  This is a free update each year!…

·      Credits Page

·      Appendix A

Blank Divider Templates (9 Choices) 

Apple Glyph

I am so excited!  I just finished an apple glyph for the first day back to school. I wanted to do something fun with my students, and I thought a glyph would be a fun activity.  I just couldn't find one I liked so, I made my own.  This glyph can be used on the first day back to school, or at anytime during the year.  

The glyph comes with directions, suggestions, survey, answer key, apple pattern, and glyph pieces. There are 8 pages total, including the cover page.

You can purchase the Apple Glyph by

 clicking on the link below.

Below is a detailed tutorial to make it
 even simpler to use the Apple Glyph!

• Students will fill out a survey.  There are 8 questions/statements.

• A large apple pattern will be used for gluing the glyph pieces.

• Students will use the answer key to see what glyph pieces they are to use.  

• The color or shape used on the apple pattern will vary according to the answers on the survey.  Therefore, the colors will vary between students, making their glyphs their own creations.

Below is an example of how to 
complete the apple glyph.

Question 1 

The apple is colored.  Only the apple is colored, not the border around the apple.

Question 2

The border of the apple and the border around the leaves are colored.

Question 3

A mouth is chosen.  When cutting the mouth out, leave some white around it.  This makes it so much easier to cut out!

 Then, color the white part of the mouth the same color as the apple.

 Once the mouth is glued onto the apple,

 it will blend right in.

Question 4

 A moustache is chosen and colored.

 I am going to allow students to use the moustache as bangs instead if they want to.

Question 5

A shape will be chosen for the nose.

I am going to allow my students to place the shape of the apple in any position.  This apple glyph still has a square but, it has been rotated.

Question 6

Students select a pair of eyes.  As with the mouth,  don't even attempt to have students cut out the white between the eyelashes.  Just cut around the eyelashes and color them the color of the apple.

Question 7

The leaves and stem will be colored.

(with moustache)

(with bangs)

Question 8

Legs and sneakers are added.

The Apple Glyph is completed!

Here is another example of the what an Apple Glyph might look like, depending on how the questions on the survey are answered.

I have included a list of suggestions with the actual Apple Glyph in my TPT shop.

Greek Week

At the end of last school year, when the dreaded state standardized test was finished looming over us like a big, ugly cloud, my class had a great time with our Greek Week unit.  Around March, I had decided I wanted to do a big, over-the-top unit to end the school year with a bang!  I began a couple of different units, but, just wasn't satisfied.  
It was during this time my oldest son, Nathan, called me one evening from college.  During our conversation he told me a few stories about some of his events from Greek Week.  On a college campus, Greek Week is where fraternities and sororities participate and compete throughout the week in different events.  Nathan always has such a good time during these events.  
A few days later, as I was still searching for a really good end-of-year project, a light bulb went off in my head.  I could do a Greek Week!  I could create events and activities in keeping with Greek history, and it would be educational all at the same time!  So, that's just what I did!  
My kids and I had a blast with our Greek Weeks, (the unit can be longer than a week, if desired).
Even though we had our Greek Week at the end of the year, I know there are grade levels that study Greece throughout the year.  This unit would be an excellent source of activities for those who are studying the Greek customs and way of life.  There is an Classroom Olympics included too!   I call it the End of Year Unit or Anytime Unit. 

Below are some pictures of my kids creating and designing a Greek Vase.  My unit has an actual large vase template, but, I had my students draw it, since testing was over and we were not in any hurry.

Next, the kids colored the vase either red, orange, or a combination of both.  We chose these colors to represent the clay the ancient Greeks made their vases from.  They pressed down very hard on the crayon and left no spaces.

Notice how dark the vase is colored.  This is very a very important step in the creation.

Some of the designs were quite fancy and unique.

The next step was to color over the entire vase with a black crayon.  Again, the students had to bear down hard with the crayon and not leave any spaces uncolored.

Once all the hard work was over, my students were excited to move on to the final step.  Each student received a toothpick and drew a design on the vase. As they drew over the black crayon, the red/orange crayons from underneath begin to appear. 

The design had to keep the ancient Greek tradition of displaying daily life. They drew a picture, or a collage of pictures of their life.  One student drew her mom and her cooking supper.  Several students drew their hobbies or recreational events they participate in.

Here are a couple of finished vases!

     
 My students worked very
 hard on these vases and 
 were exceptionally proud
 of how they turned out.  
 More importantly, they 
 learned a bit of Greek   
 history that they want  
 forget!

If you are interested in viewing more of the Greek Week unit in my TPT store, simply click on the picture below.

Place Value Unit NBT.1

Good morning!  I hope everyone is having a great summer so far!  I am still having the nervous jitters I get every year for the first few weeks of summer break.  It's like I can't wind down and relax.  It gets more difficult every year to just breathe and take it easy.  I am already planning for the fall!  I finished a place value unit this week and have posted it on TPT. It is a 4th grade unit...MCC4NBT.1. 
This standard is a difficult one for students since it requires a working knowledge of multi-digit numbers requiring multiplication and division.  I've tried to make a unit that gets to the heart and soul of the standard, while including fun, engaging activities.

Just click on the cover page below if you are interested in taking a look.

Teacher Appreciation!

I am always thankful for the kind words and gestures from administrators, students, and their parents during Teacher Appreciation Week.  It always makes you feel good to know people are thinking about you and appreciate the hard work and long hours you put in each year.  I think everyone just needs a little pat on the back every once in a while.  Sometimes that's all we need to carry on with the good fight.

With the popularity of Pinterest, however, the gifts that I received this year really made me smile.  I had one student who brought me a daily present for the entire week.  Each gift was such a cute idea.  I looked forward to see what this child had in store for me each day.  

All the ideas were adorable and I want to share them with everyone!

Monday's gift:  Large Gumball Tower  

THANKS FOR "CHEW" SING TO BE A GREAT TEACHER THIS YEAR.  I HAD A "BALL"!

Tuesday's Gift:  Three Cookies

YOU ARE ONE SMART COOKIE

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!

Wednesday's Gift:  A $5.00 Gift Card to 

Dunkin' Donuts & Chocolate Stir Sticks

Thanks a Latte' for your hard work!

Thursdays Gift:  Pretzel Crayons.  The tips of each large pretzel were dipped in chocolate, (I'm guessing white chocolate with food coloring), and then a crayon paper was taped around each one.

A note was written and placed in the box with the pretzels.

Friday's Gift: A $10.00 gift card to the movies and a bag of popcorn. 

Thanks for a PICTURE PERFECT Year!

TPT Sale

I hope you visit Teachers Pay Teachers on Tuesday, May 7th and Wednesday, May 8th for the big sale!  You can save 28% on purchases in many TPT shops, including mine.  

Simply click on the TPT sale badge below to visit my shop.  Happy Shopping!