Buying Discount Books in Bulk

Okay, so you don't need to buy discount books in bulk...but I always wind up filling my cart to the brim and then having about 3 giant boxes of books arrive at my front door. I can't help it! Confession: I have boxes of books in the basement, ready to go for every upcoming holiday and birthday and just-because gift. I just love books!

My favorite discount shops are:

https://bookoutlet.com/

Anyone can buy from here. Great deals. Literally, thousands of steep discounts!

https://www.fbmarketplace.org/

You need to register. This site is for teachers in Title 1 districts. 

Both of these websites offer tons of great books, but also toys, games, puzzles, craft supplies, and more! All at a great discount price. If there is one thing I love, it is a DEAL!

Check them out!

Christmas Traditions at Home and at SCHOOL!

Starting a new Christmas tradition?

Don't forget about this gem I shared last Christmas!

We flipped our Christmas tree skirt over and started annual handprints! We date the handprints and label with the first initial of the name. Over the years, we will make our way around the reverse side of the tree skirt and have a really special keepsake.

In the classroom, you can do something similar! Not with a tree skirt, of course. (If you do celebrate holidays in your classroom, you COULD use a tree skirt and do thumbprints to save space, maybe!) A teacher I used to work with actually had kids put their handprints in the hallway outside her classroom on the wall each year. They were labeled with student first names. It didn't take up much room, despite there being many many years worth of classes' handprints outside her doorway. Kids loved coming back for Open House to find their handprints. This is a fun tradition that can easily be done in many buildings with administrative approval!

Happy Holidays!

Christmas Traditions for Families AND students!

Can we talk about Christmas traditions that work in the classroom and at home?

The 12 Days of Christmas!

Which is what we call it in our house. At school, it might be the 12 Days of Winter Break! Either way, as soon as we hit that 12 day count down, 12 wrapped gifts appear with the numbers 1-12 on them. We open them in reverse order, counting down to Christmas or winter break. And each gift is a special book to add to our collection.

It's time to get kids EXCITED about books!

Reading IS fun!

If you prioritize it, and make it magical, they will buy in!

My daughter is me. She is a reader through and through. My son likes books, but not quite as obsessed. But when he opens those daily books under the tree? He will read that book over and over and over again. (In our house, Mr. Elf delivers them.) If all it takes is wrapping books up in brown paper to get a kid to engage with them, I will do that! Any day!

Elf on the Shelf Thoughts?

We have an Elf on the Shelf in our house. He is Mr. Elf. He comes after Thanksgiving to visit until Christmas Eve. When he arrives, he has some kind of family gift, like matching pajamas that we can all wear for a holiday photo op. (Yes, the kids are more likely to wear the matching jammies if they come from Mr. Elf, not Mommy.)

On December 12, Mr. Elf also delivers the twelve days of Christmas gifts. 12 presents under the tree. (Spoiler alert: they are all books. Always. Every year.)

The 12 days of Christmas serve a few purposes. We get new books! We get excited about these new books and read them A LOT!

Also, the kids get practice opening gifts. They are still little and need some practice before actual Christmas or we might be unwrapping gifts for days. So, we practice and learn some techniques.

To summarize, Mr. Elf is just a fun visitor from the North Pole. Bringing some early gifts and hiding around the house. He is not watching for Santa - he is just a friend from the North Pole who needs to go back on Christmas Eve to help Santa.

In my classroom, I had an elf one year. Again, the elf delivered some new books to the room and caused some chaos. It was fun to find him each day and naming him was a little graphing lesson. He did not become part of my classroom management system - he was just for fun. *I should add that 100% of my students that year celebrated Christmas and believed in Santa. Also, we researched holidays around the world, so we were exposed to all kinds of winter celebrations, not just Christmas.

I think the elf on the shelf is fun! It absolutely should not become a management tool you whip out to scare kids into being good around the crazy holidays. So, when you are thinking about using an elf in your classroom or home, be really mindful about HOW you are introducing it and HOW you are using it.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween with a throw back to Lucy and our pumpkins!

Now that I have two toddlers, carving pumpkins doesn't look the same. We do stickers. We do markers. We do not do knives. :)

Oh, and Halloween on a Monday? Bring me back to a weekend Halloween, please! Let's survive this week where kids and families will decide that a plastic baggie full of left over Halloween candy is a totally appropriate snack. Or breakfast. Or lunch.

Throwback! Classroom Seating Edition

Once upon a time, this was my classroom:

Do you see those low white seats? They are the popular IKEA bookcases, turned on their sides. Very sturdy! They lasted for 10+ years!

I made those cushions. Horrible. Did not last 10+ years. They are simply foam covered with fabric. They slid all over and kids pulled at the fabric, which I hot glued together. It did not work.

Fast forward...well, 10 years!

These are the same bookshelves. The EXACT same bookshelves. You can see there is wear at the bottom, where kid feet rested, but overall, still in amazing shape! Sturdy and functional and cute!

The biggest difference is the cushion. I got plywood, foam filler, batting, and covered all of that with the cute indoor/outdoor fabric. Then, I did not use a hot glue gun, my old best friend. Instead, I used a nail gun. Seriously, these things have held together!!!

Currently, they are in my basement at home, being used regularly by two toddlers, a dog, and a cat. But they were in multiple fourth grade classrooms, a third grade room, and a second grade room. They lasted through more classroom moves than I can count. They were the perfect meeting area for every mini lesson and classroom meeting I ever held. When I had to move classrooms, first I would place my benches for our meeting area, then I would figure out where my classroom library would go, and then everything else just fit in where it could because those two elements were top priority in my mind. 

Whether you are homeschooling, teaching in a classroom, or a mom looking for functional seating in the playroom, I highly recommend using the IKEA hack!

I've Said it Before and I'll Say it Again - The Pure Joy of Having a Box is UNMATCHED.

We order from Boxed. Have you heard of it?

I live kind of in the middle of nowhere and I love bulk shopping. Like, love it. When everyone was hoarding toilet paper at the start of the pandemic, I was totally fine because I naturally keep every single bathroom fully stocked and have an extra 30 pack in the basement just in case. I also happen to love saving money, so buying in bulk is a way to do that in the long run.

Anyway, I always drove out to BJs once every few months to stock up on essentials. Then the pandemic hit. I was pregnant and not about to go into a big store surrounded by tons of people, so I cancelled my BJs membership and discovered Boxed. It doesn't have quite the selection, but they deliver! To my door! No more leaving my house and hauling giant, heavy boxes to my car! So, I love it.

And here we are. A Boxed delivery means my children have access to the world's biggest boxes.

For this box, we used markers to draw inside. We drew a scene and on the ground was a pond with fish and of course my one-year old swam in it. 

I have set my kiddos down in the box like a playpen, thrown some markers and paint sticks inside and let them go nuts for a while. Do we need a bath afterwards? Yes, usually. But I can also make dinner without worrying about the one-year old trying to twist the knobs on the stove, so I call that a WIN!

Anyway, I think it is important to remember that expensive toys are NOT always where it's at. A plain old box from an awesome online bulk supplier can do the job, no problem. Well, the only time it becomes a problem is when my three-year old hoarder child decides to literally fill that box with everything she owns for no reason. And then put a chair on top and sit on it. But that's my problem. 

A Change in Scenery to Get Kids Reading

I've found both at home and in the classroom that switching things up sometimes can be really valuable and reinvigorate some enthusiasm. I am a major supporter of routines and procedures, but every once in a while it is motivating to make a change.

At home, we will create "reading nooks" every once in a while that will stay in place for a few days. For example, turning our two chairs into a little bed and adding a bin of books. Later, we added cozy pillows and blankets. Additionally, every few weeks I take a huge armload of books from one kid's room, bring them to the other kiddo's room, and switch up the books on their bookshelves. It always leads to them rediscovering books they love but forgot about, or spending an hour going through their "new" books.

In the classroom, I would bring in different flexible seating options throughout the year, introduce new books to the library, switch things up with a "Flashlight Friday" routine that involved reading in the dark with flashlights, reading marathon days, etc. Just something different and exciting to get kids refocused on their love of reading! Isn't that the point? Kids who love reading, read. Kids who read, learn. 

Just give kids a box. That's it. Save your money.

Seriously. I have spent A LOT of money on toys in my life. Wonderful, open-ended, purposeful play-type of toys, all highly recommended. But you know what really entertains? A box.

A box can be a fort. 

A box can be a canvas for artwork.

A box can be a ride.

A box can be a boat.

A box can be ANYTHING kids can imagine. And it's GREAT play! 

When we get a massive order in a giant box, my kids immediately come and help me unload everything. It makes my heart happy that they like helping until I realize that they are only doing it to get to the empty box faster. Which is okay, too, because then I get to witness the toddler imaginations at work and it really is a beautiful thing. 

LEGO Building Brick Challenges for Kids of ALL AGES!

You know what I really love about STEM challenges? SO many of them can be posed for kids of all ages. You'll always be surprised by the responses from kids! They can truly be thoughtful, innovative, and motivated!

I have created LEGO Build Brick STEM Challenges for seriously all ages. Using them in school for our STEAM program, as well as for myself as a classroom teacher and a summer school teacher, I continue to be dazzled by the new ideas kids come up with. (I even test some of these challenges out on my 3-year old, pictured below!)

STEM challenges create a community - kids love sharing and reflecting on their creations, supporting each other through hiccups, and cheering their peers on when there are successes. It also builds on the collaboration of classmates. I oftentimes hear kids say, "How did you build that?" or "Can you help me with this?" or "Wow, I never thought to try that! Great idea!"

Now, when I use these challenges in my own classroom, I have always used plastic pencil boxes or larger plastic totes to house the actual LEGO building pieces, and typically each child gets their own. Each tote may have a varied assortment of pieces, and kids are allowed to share, but they have their own place to store their pieces. From there, I usually project the quick challenges on the Smart Board, discuss them, and set a timer for building. We have a share time, and move on. For challenges that take longer, I have written responses for kids to plan, build, reflect, and revisit their build. But really, the beauty in using STEM challenges like these in your classroom or home is that you are able to tailor it to fit your specific needs!

Click here for ideas to incorporate LEGO STEM into your home or classroom today!

Just Reintroducing Myself, for Those Who Need it!

My name is Meagan!

Currently, I am a reading interventionist and instructional coach for grades 2-4. In the past I have taught fourth grade, second grade, third grade, looped from third to fourth, and was a reading teacher a long time ago, too! Yes, I have done it all. My school has provided me with a lot of opportunities to grow professionally, and I am grateful.

Isn't that funny? Before actually becoming a teacher, I thought I would find a grade level I loved and stick with it forever. Then, I started teaching. I moved schools a few times. I moved grade levels and classrooms a lot. And I realized that I actually LIKE change. I like switching things up because it makes me more flexible and a better teacher. I know the standards and expectations for every grade level because I realize how helpful that is. Funny.

Anyway, I also have two lovely children. They're small. Toddlers. They're the reason I left the classroom and went into coaching and being an interventionist. I thought I would have a different kind of workload, and I do. There are less parent needs from me - no more late night emails and text messages or mountains of grading and report cards. There are definitely different expectations. I feel like I answer to my administration more and that can be stressful. But I love my job and I feel like I can be successful at it while still being present at home with my children.

And who are you? :)

Class Shirts - Perfect for Field Trips, School Activities, and More!

Check out Whitney Daniels Designs NOW!

I have used that company for my class shirt designing needs for...forever! (Ten years +)

We start by having every child use a fine tip Sharpie tow rite their name and draw a picture of themselves, neck up. (Great for talking about details that make you unique, like glasses, curly hair, dimples, etc.) We also vote on a color shirt as a class. One year I made it a surprise.

Typically, I send the order form from the website to the families, and most families spend the $7-8 on a shirt for their child. Some buy for themselves, too! If anyone does not send the money back in for whatever reason, I pay for that child. I also buy 1-2 extra shirts every year in case a new student moves into our class or someone loses their shirt. (We order these mid-way through the year because it takes time for the order to come in. Also, most of our field trips and special days are near the end of the school year and we want to wear them for those days - it's fun and it helps me to easily spot all of my students because we are dressed alike!

This is definitely a keepsake that I love. A tradition that I would hope that my children's teachers do as well because it's so special!

Easy Spring Craft Alert!

If you're looking for a fun way to occupy those kiddos, look no further!

I happen to have an extensive craft supply closet. Like, too much. So, I am always looking for ways to get rid of stuff. And not throw it away but actually use it.

We used some craft paper, cut it in the shape of a rabbit head, cut a hole out for our little faces, colored the pink part of the ears, and had a BALL gluing white cotton balls all over it!

All in all, it was about 20 minutes of craft, 20 minutes of running around as a rabbit. 

That's not bad, in my book!

Make Your Own Slime: The Easiest Recipe Ever!

I have always been afraid of slime.

As a teacher. As a parent. As a person.

Sure, it looks like a lot of fun, but using borax? It just didn't sound great. 

And the mess? Um, no, thank you.

Anyway, my little one wanted to use the Elmer's glitter glue I had laying around in our craft bin, so I googled some ways to use it and the easiest slime recipe ever came up. I thought, why not?

Here it is:

6 ounces Elmer's glitter glue

1/2 tablespoon baking soda

1 1/2 tablespoons contact lens solution

(You may need to add more contact lens solution if your slime turns out a bit sticky, like we did. We just added a little more and stirred until it was not...well...ooey and gooey and messy.)

Click here for thorough directions and experiment activity pages!

This is right after mixing the ingredients. The moment when I was panicking because it was a huge mess. A few minutes later, as we mixed and kneaded and it was not becoming the mess-free slime I wanted, I brought my kiddo in the bathroom to wash her hands and hopefully forget this slime mess.

When we came back from the bathroom, with clean hands, the slime had been sitting for a few minutes and seemed less, goopy? So, I added a bit more contact lens solution and we got back in there mixing. It worked! It got to the point where we could play with it and just peel it off our fingers without a goopy mess!

The look of success!

And pretending to eat slime even though I asked her not to.

So, good luck, if you try it! It really is easy!

Click here for thorough directions and experiment activity pages!

SUM BLOX - Make math hands on again!

Have you heard of Sum Blox?

We got them for Christmas last year and they make me want to go right back into the classroom. (I am currently an instructional coach and reading interventionist in my building.)

Currently, I use them with my three-year old. They are BEAUTIFUL wooden blocks that are shaped like numbers. The bigger the number, the bigger the block, which makes the concept of 5 being greater than 2 a lot easier for small kiddos to understand. That's a basic way to use Sum Blox, and that's where we are right now with the three-year old, but there are plenty of other ways to increase the rigor!

Primary:

- Adding or subtracting becomes visual! the 2 block and the 3 block will match up with the 5 block! Create some number bonds to connect it to math in school.

Intermediate:

- Multiplication and division are suddenly interactive! Stack up four 2 blocks and match it up with an 8 block! Deconstruct numbers!

The Sum Blox also come with challenge cards! These are STEM cards that any age can work on, such as stacking the numbers from 1-10, and then reversing the order!

Anyway, if you are looking for HIGH QUALITY blocks that will last forever and engage your kiddos in math, check out Sum Blox!

Click here to check out the Sum Blox website!

 

LEGO BUILDING BLOCK CHALLENGES GALLORE

I love all things STEM! 

Currently, I am an instructional coach and I encourage the teachers I work with to incorporate STEM into any part of their day possible - soft start morning tubs, STEM bins, Brain bins, recess, whenever! But also, the subject areas! STEM is not always a separate activity. It can fit right into your current curriculum.

Now, at my house, we have bins of LEGO build bricks from when my husband and I were kids. Like, TOTES. Tons. So I used them in my classroom as a teacher.

Below are some really fun, ready to go ideas for incorporating LEGO building bricks into your teaching, whether you are in the classroom or teaching little ones in your own home. (Believe me, I have a three-year old who I test many of these challenges out on and she is a little bit obsessed.)

Click here for more LEGO building brick STEM challenge ideas!

FOCUS ON WRITING:

There are so many opportunities to ENGAGE kids during writing with a STEM challenge. Sometimes, when they have the opportunity to break up the physical act of writing with some building (as long as the building does not take over), the writing is actually better. There's true purpose there because it is tangible.

I used these STEM challenges for YEARS during Summer School as our STEM initiative and I was always impressed by the creativity and perseverance of the students. They're special challenges because you can present them to primary learners or intermediate learners, and they can all be successful in their own way.

Station Rotation during MATH!

Set up a challenge station during math to review concepts previously covered in a new and motivating way! Such a simple area - task cards and a tub of LEGO building bricks!

Click here for more LEGO building brick STEM challenge ideas!