Money Saving Monday #2

Ugh – a day late!  Sorry about that!  I have been fighting a stomach bug that’s supposed to last 24 hours, but I am on my second day of not feeling so hot.

Today’s topic…Books!

Last week I talked about the importance of using your local public library to find books for use in the classroom.  I know that we just have to have our own books too…we can’t resist.  So, if you need to add to your collection, update your library, or just begin one, here are some ideas:

1. Library Sales

Check out the local library sales – especially if they have a dollar a bag sale.  My library does and I always score a ton of great deals.  It’s sad, but the library discards are rarely picked up in the classroom.  There’s a reason they were discarded.  Try to find books that have been donated to bring back to you classroom.  Plus, your donation supports the library.

2. Yard/Garage Sales

I’m always stunned when people sell children’s book for a quarter at sales.  They paid many times that!  Pick up some gently used books by planning to spend a few dollars over the summer.  A budget of $20 will net you 80 books if you can find them for 25 cents. I also can’t believe how many times people just tell me to have things for free or a big discount when I sheepishly tell them I’m a teacher and that’s why I’m buying out their book collection!

3. Ask Parents for Unused Books

Parents sometimes love to get rid of books, especially at the end of the year when their children are interested in more challenging books.  Make a little announcement as part of your open house spheal or put a little blurb in your newsletter. 

4. Use Scholastic

Scholastic is a great way to get cheap books.  You can use bonus points or receive reward coupons for parents ordering online.  I also really like their wish list function.  If parents are aware of it, they will sometimes buy an extra book for the classroom.  Be sure to put some choices on your wish list.

5. Thrift Shops

I love ‘em!  I do!  There are some beautiful thrift stores in my area and, though they are a little more expensive than garage sales, there is often a much bigger selection of books.  I have a great one nearby that alphabetizes their chapter books by author.  I can easily grab a few from a popular series. Plus, Goodwill has discounts for college students on Tuesdays and I qualify now!

6. The Teacher Discard Pile

You know, that pile that builds up somewhere in your building of all the unwanted stuff!  I can’t tell you how many times I have scored some pretty awesome books from that pile.  Especially books for my leveled library.  Teachers in my build(s) tend to get rid of multiple copies and books from old reading series.  They are perfect to put a level sticker on and tuck into books boxes. Don’t be afraid of the pile!  But don’t take too much from it either!

Are there any other sources for inexpensive books?

New Freebie–2 Hours Only!

I made a fun new freebies because I have summer on the brain!!! Check out this fun little watermelon craft to help your students share their plans for summer vacation.  The set includes patterns, blackline master, and a list of suggested summer books.  And…it’s free on TPT for 2 hours!  Check it out by clicking on the link!

TPT Teacher Appreciation and Fabulous Feedback Linky Party

Teachers Pay Teachers is having a Teacher Appreciation Sale!!!

Graphic by Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah-Designs

Can I tell you that I actually got up early this morning to take advantage of this sale and empty my cart?!  I have already put a few more things in to maybe buy before the sale ends.

Here are the linked images to my items:

Best Seller

New Items

    

    

Other Items

  

   

As a newbie to the world of TPT, I truly love to read all the feedback I receive from teachers who buy my materials.  It feels awesome when someone enjoys something you made as much as you do!  Christina Bainbridge is having a {Linky Party} that celebrates the feedback we get from our wonderful patrons!.
Here’s how is work:

• Read the comments below.
• If one is yours, email me at leapingintothird@gmail.com and tell me what product you would like from my TPT store.
• I will email you the product of your choice.

My best selling item is actually the first one I posted, but not the first item I was working on.  My students LOVE these poetry cards and they make a great independent center.

Customer Feedback:
These were so helpful for getting my kiddo's thinking. Being colorful and easy to read made it not even seem like work!

These story dice are so fun and add motivation to writing time.  They are great for free writing or a more focused center time.

Customer Feedback:

So fun! Can't wait to use these in my classroom!


These summary cards were created when I was working on a unit about summarizing our reading.  They are great items to use in whole class and small group instruction with a skill focus on summary or to assess independent reading.

Customer Feedback:
Cards are fantastic. Like that students get a copy. They are very handy during guided reading groups.


I hope that you find something useful for your classroom!

Money Saving Monday #1

I don’t know about you, but I know my budget for next year has been cut drastically.  In fact, I have the lowest supply budget I have ever had – EVER.  For some reason, that makes it impossible for me to choose what to buy for my kiddos next year.  I thought it might be appropriate to have a money saving series, because I have a feeling we will continue to spend increasing amount of money on our classroom so our little ones can have an awesome time learning.

So, today’s tip is use your public library!

(Is this not the coolest library? It’s really not mine, it’s Kansas City Public Library.)

I know that we all love buying books to use in our teaching.  With standards changing and, if you are changing units or topics, You many have your eyes on some new lovelies.  If there is anything I learned the past couple years, with all the changing grades and moving, is that we collect waaaaay too many books.  I love a full library too, but when I can’t actually find the ones I am looking for in my collection it becomes an issue. Do we really need to OWN so many books?

The answer is, probably not! (I know, I love those full shelves!)

A great alternative is to use your public library to find books for your classroom.  Here are a couple tips:

1. Find out how your public library works.
In my region the libraries of 4 counties are all linked.  I can search for a book or a theme on the website and order the books from any of the libraries.  They show up at my closest library for me to tote off to school.


2. Make a list of books or topics you are looking for.
If you are anything like me, I find all these great books and then forget about them before I can track them down.  I started writing my titles or topics right in my week’s plans to search for..It also helps if you are able to order books because you can do it in advance.  Additionally, many librarians are willing to do the searching for you if you just give them a topic!

3. Have a dedicated area in you classroom to keep library books.
My kiddos are so excited when I introduce new books.  The grab them as soon as they can and sometimes I lose track of them.  Decide on your rules and have a place to keep the books.  I had a basket in my  classroom last year and the kids had to put the books back right away.


4. Watch those due dates!
I swear I could fund my own library at this point.  My tip – especially if you have books with different due dates, is to use sticky notes on or inside the cover with the due dates.   I try to return them on the way home since the library is literally around the corner.  (My goal is to bike or walk there this summer.  I’m talking a country around the corner, so I think it is like 3 miles each way. And I need a bike…)I can also renew online at my library.


5. Have a library bag. 
I have a tote bag to store my books in the car.  As I get the books from the library, I put them in my bag and take it into school.  I put the bag in my car after I empty it and add books as I finish them.  That way, I always have a place for books to return and they are conveniently in my car.

6. Check out the online books.
My library system has a growing collection of books online.  I was able to download a Magic Tree House for the class to listen to, rather than having them hear my boring old voice that they tune out…I mean listen to…all day long.  We also have kindle and e-reader books to put up on the Promethean/Smart Board and they are immediately available!


So, the public library is FREEEEEE people!  Use it – that’s what it’s there for! 
Any other library tips?

Five for Friday–On the Weekend!

I know, I’m late.  Nothing new!  At least when I am blogging.  I think I have a couple thousand posts waiting to be read on Reader that I just need to let go of because I have no free time!

I’m linking up with Doodle Bugs 5 for Friday Linky!  This is the clipart rather than photo edition.

1. 200 Followers!

Yeah!  I finally topped 200 followers! ( I wonder if the system will change when Reader is removed.  So not happy about that!)  I am, however, so happy to have 200+ followers!  I have never been super focused on followers because I really blog more for myself and am not super regular. I love to share ideas and printables, but the reality is that I can never remember to grab my camera and take pictures and have so little time to think about it. Finding my writing style has been a process and I keep learning how to inject my real personality into my blog. Thank you to all of you who check in with me every once and a while.  I know I love checking in with all of you!

I thought I would do a sale on TPT, but this week is the TPT Teacher Appreciation Sale.  I have 20% of in my shop, so check it out if you are interested. If I get a breather some time this week, I will try to post a few freebies and plan a sale for a week when there isn’t one!

Here are the linked images to my items:

Best Seller

New Items

   

   

Other Items

2. Crazy Week!

Oh my goodness!  What a crazy few weeks!  We have had state testing for two weeks and a week of craziness!  Three weeks ago we had a bonanza of ELA testing and two weeks ago we had Math testing.  This past week was just full of random craziness.  I was a scoring leader for scoring assessments on Monday.  Tuesday was a somewhat normal schedule, but Wednesday we had a wonderful field trip to the art museum in our area.  Boy did that bring back memories for me from elementary school! I think Thursday was somewhat normal.  Friday was Grandparent/Visitor Day and roller skating.  Oh my craziness! 

3. Movin’, Movin’, Movin’!

On the professional side, I found out that I am indeed moving to second grade next year.  I am really interested in second grade, even though it is the only elementary grade I have not taught. I have received a nice welcome from several members of the team.  I am always a little nervous about learning an entirely new curriculum and becoming part of a new team.  It is hard to enter into a tight team and feel like you are part of it.  As I said, I am feeling welcomed, but it is just finding my spot in the whole picture. I figure if I’ve taught first and taught third in the last few years, second should give me the best of both worlds!  I may still have a chance to stay in third if I want to because there are a few movements that could happen.  However, right now I am feeling like I would stay with second because I know it is a choice that I can make that won’t change in the next few weeks/months.  Plus, it’s not a testing grade!  I never remember being so stressed when I was in a testing grade years ago, but the expectations and impact of the results have changed so much that you can’t help but be anxious. Any how, I guess I can add to my “Teacher Story” posts from last summer!  I guess my career has never been boring! (Check them out if you need reassurance that teaching is a tough profession, but you can survive it! The first post leads to the others.)

4. APPR Binder

Oh, I remember what was big about Tuesday.  We had to hand in our APPR binders.  New York State has this five part teacher evaluation system right now and at our district, we have to create a binder to prove that we do what we do.  It was so challenging because one artifact could be meaningful fro several qualtities, so it was  nightmare to organize.  I think I spent 14 hours on it and still feel like I could have done more.  I go t to the point where I just drew the line because I actually had life things to do – I know, crazy right?!?  Who has a life when they are a teacher!

(haha!  In searching for a graphic, all these choices for cover pages and dividers that teachers have made and are selling.  How did I miss all that?)

5. COLLEGE!

On the college front, I finished my second class – yeah!  I am just finishing up my research project and paper.  What a doosie!  I have loved it, but my brain is tired!  All the philosophies and theories boggle my brain.  As I am finishing up my qualitative project, I am beginning the prerequisite to a quantitative research class, which is a software class.  Four hours on a Friday night is brutal!  Plus, there is an expensive software program needed to do our homework.  So the choice is to either stay and get it done in the lab or shell out the bucks.  So, I stayed and got home around 10 after teaching, grandparents, roller-skating craziness, and four hours of class.  I crashed right away!  Some day, I hope to have all of my college papers and books put away neatly and to actually have an organized house again.  I guess I have fallen into the stereotypical grad/doc student mold where everything around me is a mess because I can’t possibly think about anything like dishes and laundry and day-to-day stuff like cooking real meals!

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Since I am packing – again! – I thought that I would try to do a series of posts on how to pack your classroom.  Goodness knows that I have become an expert!  I know there are sure to be many teachers moving rooms, buildings, or districts.  Maybe there are even some readers who are moving into their classroom for the first time. I also need to work on finding some new books and game for my students this year.  I have lots of first grade things and lots of third grade things, but second grade can sometimes be it’s own little in between word.  I need to get some easy chapter books and my classroom games have been destroyed this year.  Maybe a set of posts about getting materials for your classroom that are free or super cheap?