Secondary Smorgasbord Link-Up: Out of the Deep Freeze!

I sure would like things to thaw out around here...we haven't seen the sun in what seems like weeks! Cold and rainy around these here parts! This seems like the perfect time to join in with a bunch of secondary bloggers and take our best products out of the deep freeze!

This link-up is hosted by the ELA Buffet and Desktop Learning Adventures.

I don't know about you, but when we come back from Winter Break, the focus is on test prep. And, since I am from Texas, it is all about the STAAR test! I have worked tirelessly to make sure that the task cards I made last year have been updated to reflect the new TEKS and I have even started using them in my classroom as warm-ups and exit tickets to spiral in some content that was taught first semester to ensure that my students don't see questions like this for the first time on the actual test. 

Right now, I have completed sets for 6th and 7th grade and half of the sets for 5th grade completed. For 6th grade, I need to finish the TEKS for Personal Financial Literacy, and that will be done within the next few weeks.

This is such a great resource because each set has 4 task cards per standard. That means your students will get exposure to STAAR-type questions multiple times whereas on a released test you might see one or two if you are lucky! The other bonus is that there are VERY few materials to help prepare for STAAR math this year since the TEKS are brand spanking new.

This was one of my best selling products last year and many teachers saw great results. If you own these, remember to go back to TPT and re-download so that you get the newest version. 

Don't have them? Click the images above to be taken directly to the listing or click here to view all of my STAAR resources. Be sure to check out what other secondary teachers are taking out of the deep freeze!

An InLinkz Link-up

July is Where ALL My Money Goes!

Seriously, I spend more money in July than I probably do in December! It doesn't matter that I just unpacked 20 boxes of just school supplies in my new classroom...there is always something new that I NEED. My husband is working on this...he thinks if he comes with me he can limit what I purchase. I want to state for the record that he was in tow for all purchases yesterday! (Disclaimer - he did not go into Hobby Lobby with me. His reasoning was that I take longer when he is with me but if he waits in the car, I seem to rush. Ha! We live in TX...so you can all see why his reasoning is silly. And of course Hobby Lobby is where I spent the most! I did, however, make sure to hurry so he wouldn't melt. I guess he was right. Darn it.)

Ok, the first stop of the day was at Office Max. They had glue sticks on sale for 25 cents (for a 4-pack) and I needed to pick up my labels for this project. I am still giddy over how it turned out!

Then, I went to Target to check out their dollar spot. I went to one further from my house the other day, and you never know if they have the same things. Boy am I glad I went! Look at these goodies!

I had been looking for a way to store my task cards, but the small coupon-sized organizers were too small for the ones that were 1/2 sheet sized. These are PERFECT! Only $1 each at Target.

Found these to go in my new toolbox! I think these flags would be great for INBs...I hope I can find more since these were the only two packages they had! Also, the sticky notes to the right? Those are made from brown craft paper! Amazing! I wanted to buy several...but remember, Hubs was there to keep me in line!

I am not sure why these are rotated...but you get the basic idea. They are magnets made from some of the best ecards. It is a great way for me to let some of my sarcasm out in my classroom!

I was about to walk to the register when I saw this set of 5 stamps for $3! They were self-inking which I love and a great way for me to reinforce good work in the classroom!

Then, I was off to Hobby Lobby. This whole summer, I said I wasn't going to get ner fabric for my bulletin board because I could reuse what I had from last year. This is what it looked like:

I LOVED it! However, my new bulletin board is 1/4 of the size, and I was worried the pattern would be too big. Then, it hit me! I had a gift card to Hob Lob and I could get a new pattern :) 

Isn't it wonderful!? I cannot wait to put it up! I couldn't just put up regular border either...I will be using tulle for the second year in a row. I wanted to steer away from pink...but that is the color that matched the best :)

And, finally, to add to my washi tape obsession...I had to get three new rolls! No idea what to do with these bad boys yet...but I'm excited to have them.

Can't wait to see what other deals I find this week!

My Classroom 2012-2013

If you are new to my blog, be sure to enter my HUGE giveaway happening here!

Better late than never, right? Ha! I spent the better part of last summer planning out the decor plan for my classroom. I spent more money than I care to admit at Hobby Lobby, and after all was said and done, took pictures of about 20% of the cutesy things in my room! I had every intention of posting this when I started this blog last summer, but life got in the way and I never got around to it. Now seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on what I liked and didn't like about how I set up my classroom last year since I am moving campuses and will be able to start from scratch. Oh, how I love a clean slate!

First up, my bulletin board:

I am proud of this for several reasons. I had to hunt down this fabric in several locations because I couldn't find enough for one continuous piece! Also, for the first year, I stayed away from typical teacher border and bought tulle to frame my bulletin board! I was more difficult to get up, but it stayed. all. year! (In middle school, we don't change them multiple times.) Love the Audrey Hepburn quote as well...one of my favorites for sure! 

You can also see that I numbered my desks! I did that for several reasons, but one in particular was so that I could use these Order of Operations Seating Cards the first week of school! 

Next up, is something I don't really have a name for :)

At the top of the picture, I have my expectations. I like to keep my class rules short so that they look attainable!

In the middle, I have my 4 passes hanging. I got the rack from hobby lobby in the unfinished wood section and painted it pink (we have a theme going in my room!) and then made the passes by mod podging scrapbook paper to unfinished wood door hangers (again from Hob Lob). I used scrapbook papers that I already had lying around and letters that already had an adhesive backing. I am all for multipurpose. I put my name and room number on the back so that if they were lost, they could find their way home.

Sitting on the table I have 3 different trays for the 3 different classes I taught last year. In these trays I would place handouts (if there were any) for that day's lesson. Since we had 50 minutes per class, I didn't want to waste time passing things out. Students picked up on this procedure quickly and would pick up handouts from the trays before the bell rang. I instituted this in my room 2 years ago and will never go back to passing papers out again! The only exception are tests and quizzes.

 Close up of the passes

Over to the left of that "Command Station," I have file folders for make-up work. They are separated by class period, and I usually would have a student write the names of absent students on any handouts that were picked up that day. This put the absent student in charge of getting missed work and I didn't have to remember who was absent out of 160 kids!

Right above these folders is this beauty:

I have now blogged about this twice, and it is posted for free in my Teachers pay Teachers Store until July 15, 2013! Grab it while you can!

This idea was floating around the blogosphere and on Pinterest and I, too, had to have it! I used a $4 cookie sheet from Walmart, some 50% off ribbon from Hob Lob and some adhesive backed magnets! 

Each student was assigned a number and would move the magnet to the appropriate box when he/she left the room. This way, in case of an emergency, I could glance and see who was missing and where they were!

Having 3 preps, I knew it was going to be a challenge to stay organized! I needed to separate my chalkboard so that students would know exactly what they were doing in class, what assignments they had for homework, and anything upcoming that they needed to know such as quizzes, dates, projects, extra credit, etc. This was extremely useful!

Here's how I did it:

I made the letters from adhesive backed vinyl that was easily removable with a razor blade. They stayed put ALL year! I used my cricut to cut the letters. Hot pink, duh! Then, I got two colors/patterns of contrasting ribbon from Hobby Lobby. I used way more than I originally intended! If you do this, measure first! I didn't account for the two bordering columns on the far left and far right and had to make another trip. Also, wait for it to be 50% off...every other week!

Phew! glad I got this out before I start to think about next year's class! I guess I should get on that...I go back to work in 5 weeks :)

STAAR Prep Task Cards

I know it is July and the STAAR Test (for those of you in TX) isn't until April, but I wanted to get a head start on my kiddos being prepared next year. I decided task cards would be the lowest prep for a stressed out teacher come review time, so off I went. I started with 6th grade because that is the grade I have taught the longest before I make them for 5th, 7th and 8th grades. There are 4 questions per standard and each standard is right on the card!

The sets are sold by reporting category, or you can save money buy purchasing the bundle for $10! That is a savings of 40%.

BUT, for my loyal blog followers, I am going to have these on sale for only $6 for today only! This offer expires tonight, so get in on it now!

It will never be this cheap again, so if you are eyeing it, go for it!

This is also included in my Complete Bundle of Task Cards that can be found here. The value of that bundle is over $60, and the regular price is $35...a great deal already! BUT, today only, you can get it for $25!

This is cheaper than when I put my store on sale...so grab this great deal!

Remember, the Complete Bundle includes every task card set that I create: past present, and future! SO--if you know you want the other sets of the STAAR prep task cards, you may want to buy it now before the price goes up! Just a thought--I'm a bargain shopper.

If you have any questions, please leave those in the comments :)

Happy Shopping!

Excited for August

I know I am not alone--there have got to be some other teachers that start planning their first units before they go back for professional development at the end of the summer. I actually am teaching a new grade level before at a new school...so I HAVE to start planning now so I don't get overwhelmed. Because it is a newer school (only 2 years old), there aren't near as many students as I am used to. That being said, there also aren't near as many teachers as I am used to.

I have always planned on a team and this year I won't have anyone but myself to rely on--oh, and my favorite stores on TpT!

There aren't very many secondary sellers on TpT (yet), but when you find a good one...you can't help but want to buy all of their stuff! Enter Jennifer Lamb from Teaching High School Math! She has some great products for Pre-Algebra and Algebra that I cannot wait to use with the kids in the fall! Let me show you a few things that I have recently acquired:

It's actually a BUNDLE of Pre-Algebra Super Secret Number Puzzles! Right now there are 8 puzzles, and I am sure Jennifer has a few more in the works to add to the bundle. I purchased it when it was $3 to get all future products added to the bundle FOR FREE...Love it when I get a good deal. This was actually a special request that Jennifer did for me because I felt like the Algebra bundle would be too difficult for my kids...I am super happy I have this in my toolbox for next year!

I also just got these Angle Measurement Task Cards with QR Codes:

And I have already printed them out on cardstock to use! There are several reasons why these are great--

1. These are not your average, run of the mill textbook-type questions. There is a reason why there are only 10 task cards...some of these are H-A-R-D and will make the kids think! Always a plus :)
2. It incorporates Algebra into Geometry - literally my two favorite strands of math!
3. QR CODES! Need I say more?? These are now self-checking and kids can assess where there mistakes are--PLUS, they are instantly engaged because they get to pull their phones out in class (strictly for instructional use...but still pretty taboo all the same!)

What great products/ideas have you discovered that you cannot wait to use in the fall? Comment below and leave some links for us to visit!

Have a great week,

The End is Near!

Well, ladies and gents, the last week of school has arrived! I am trying to push on the brakes, but this last month has definitely FLOWN by! I have been at my current school since my teaching career started (7 years ago) and this is my last week there. I am excited for the new opportunities that my new campus will bring, but NOTHING can replace the great friendships I have made over these last few years. Did I mention I met my husband while teaching here?? As you can see...lots of memories that I will never forget!

Don't get me wrong, it is my choice to leave. I am looking forward to teaching 8th grade next year (right now I teach 6th and 7th) and instead of working with a team, I will be on my own since 8th graders either take 8th grade math (with me) or Algebra with the teacher next door. It definitely will be interesting!

The past week or so, there has been a fundraiser for the teachers affected by the Moore, Oklahoma tornado that destroyed the town on May 20. I am grateful to have been able to donate one of my popular products to the cause, and with the sales of the 4 bundles, TPT has raised over $25,000! That is amazing! There is still one more day to purchase these bundles here.

In other news, I have added some new task cards to my TpT store, including this FREE set! Grab it and let me know what you think :).

For those of you who are out of school...enjoy the summer! And for those of you still in school, don't worry--the end is near!

Happy Sunday,
Danielle

Bring on the Task Cards!

Well, we made it through STAAR testing at our school and we should hopefully get our scores in a few weeks. This is the first year that it "counts," so fingers crossed (and toes, eyes, etc!)

I had some time to create some new products after school this week and I wanted to share them with you. I really have been into creating task cards lately. After purchasing a few sets on Teachers Pay Teachers, I realized how much I enjoyed using them in my classroom. Plus, like most of you, things are so much more fun to complete in COLOR! I think my students feel the same way, because they have been diving right in to solve these problems. I have been piloting them in my 7th grade class particularly because it is just one class of 28, so if it doesn't work right, I don't have to worry about scrounging for another lesson the rest of the day. However, I haven't run into that problem yet :-)

Variables and Expressions Task Cards (4 of 20)

Check out some of my most recent sets on TpT and let me know what you think!

Volume of Prisms and Cylinders Task Cards
Variables and Expressions Task Cards
Sales Tax, Tip, and Discount Task Cards
Ratios and Proportions Task Cards
Pythagorean Theorem Task Cards
Probability of Compound Events Task Cards

Take a look at all the sets I have posted on TpT and the first 3 people to leave a comment can have the set of their choosing! You must sign up to follow my blog :-)

Also if you have a set of task cards that you would like to see created, let me know in the comments section and I can get to work on those!

Happy Sunday,
Danielle