Monday Made It - Cooperative Learning Tools

I'm still on a cooperative learning kick!! This week I made some helpful tools for my cooperative learning structures. In a previous post, I mentioned that I love Kagan, but their tools are a little pricey. This week I borrowed their idea of learning chips. {I love these...the possibilities are endless!} I basically used their template and typed different question stems. After punching out the circles and laminating, I used spray adhesive and attached them to cheap poker chips. So far I have made the chips for non-fiction texts, paraphrasing, science, and pre-reading. I will make 1 set for each table group {roughly 6 sets of each} I plan to add several more! {Here is a great article on using learning chips in the classroom!} This was a pretty inexpensive projects {actually free} since I already had the spray adhesive, laminator, and chips. I just had to print them on cardstock. :) Love it when I already have all of the materials for a project! *******UPDATE I WILL BE MAKING THE CHIPS AND OFFERING THEM IN MY STORE SOON!!! Until then, enter to win 3 sets- Non-fiction, Pre-reading, and the science sets!! {enter at the bottom of the page} - I'll pick 5 lucky winners {Thanks Tara for the idea!} Good luck!

I also jumped on the bandwagon and made the dry erase boards using duct tape and report covers. However, I changed mine up a bit! I searched high and low for cheap report covers. The best deal I found was 3 for a dollar something, and they had a frosted cover. So I got home to see what I could use instead. I have several boxes of transparencies...and I don't even have an overhead in my room anymore! I tried the dry erase marker and it works perfectly! I basically just took 2 transparencies and taped around 3 sides so I could slip a piece of paper in. The transparencies are slightly smaller than the report covers, so any papers I slip in will have to be trimmed just slightly. I love how they turned out! This project was also pretty inexpensive since I already had the transparencies on hand. I just bought 2 rolls of the duct tape (around 3.50 each). I also tried the packing tape, but it didn't work as well for me! I plan to have one for each student at the table and wouldn't you know this is also a Kagan tool! I love the dry erase markers from Ikea. They are super cheap and are perfect for these boards!! {Please excuse the black lines - I haven't had a chance to erase them yet ;) }

On another note, I had to select another winner because the last one didn't respond! So congratulations Cindy Toalson! Please contact me so I can give you all of your AWESOME prizes!!!

Now go link up with Tara and share what you made this week!

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Classroom Library Show Off Linky Party

It won't be long before the school year will begin. This will be my 2nd year of teaching! I knew from the start that my main focus of my classroom would be my library. I spent tons and tons of time on it! Here are some pictures....


Here is my library corner. I have my library divided up between picture books and chapter books. In the corner - I have a pop up laundry basket that holds my pillows and small carpets
{I have one of every color}. I was very fortunate - last year most of the college dorm stuff at places like Walmart and Target were bright colors that fit right into my theme.

My color baskets hold my picture books. I also have them separated {fiction & non-fiction}. I made the labels and pouch laminated them. I used a rectangle hole punch to make holes at the top and bottom of the label. Then I used small zip ties I found at Walmart {in their automotive section} to attach the label to the basket. All of my books also have a coordinating sticker on the back of the book that matches the box label to help with keeping it organized. I made the library letters using scrapbook paper and my Cricut {a must have!}

My chapter books are stored in the black mini crates that I picked up at Dollar Tree. The books are separated by series, favorite authors and the remaining books are separated by genre. The chairs are perfect for my library area. They are made of a mesh material that is easy to clean, they fold up for easy storage, and they are low to the ground {perfect for kids}. They are beach chairs that I found at Garden Ridge. I lucked out and found them right before school started last year for only 7$. I grabbed a blue and red one!


I plan to make a few adjustments to my library. I have a ton of new books {I had students donate them at the end of last year}. I also want to incorporate magazines into my library. I have already found the perfect containers for them. I want to know...How do you organize your library? What are some must haves for a classroom library? Or just show off your library.

Here is my first Linky Party. Link up your blog below with your library show-offs! And while you're here...follow my blog. When I get 30 followers I will share my library basket labels!

As promised here are my book labels...Enjoy!! Thank you for following me! {I just printed them on cardstock and laminated them!}

***You don't have to have pictures of your library to participate! I want to see ANYTHING that has to do with your library!!! New seating you found, carpets, how you organized - basically any ideas that have to do with your library!

Summer Finds

School supplies are just beginning to show up on the shelves...but I've already found some pretty amazing finds! Here is my top 5 list of items that I have found so far this summer:

# 5 I found these adorable hanging pockets from IKEA. I was thinking of using them to store sticky notes, notepads, nurse passes, etc next to my desk. I got both the blue/green and red/orange sets.

#4 I couldn't leave my target 1$ spot finds off of my list. I went to eat lunch with my hubby last week and decided to stop at the Target by his work. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had their teacher stuff out early. I picked up some bookmarks, stickers, pocket charts, stamps, and some caddies to hold students supplies.


#3 I love baskets and pretty much anything that has to do with organizing. A few years ago I found these amazing, brightly colored baskets to hold all of my books in my library. A few of them have cracked....well I found these cute, colored baskets at Hobby Lobby. I also found matching magazine holders so that I can now display the kid's magazines I've been collecting all summer. I also love that they have holes so I can attach my library labels to them!

#2 I found this awesome colored rolling cart that can be found at Really Good Stuff normally 80$...but I found mine at Goodwill for only 15$!!!! I found it tucked away at the back of the store. After I found it I had several people following me to see if I would put it down. I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for just yet - but I have wanted one for a really long time!

And......drum roll please........

My number #1
I was searching for misc things on craigslist. I came across the most amazing post! A teacher was leaving 3rd grade and moving on to teach middle school. I got these great center activities for reading comprehension and vocabulary from Lakeshore Learning. I also picked up a respond to reading center. All of these items total almost $400.....but I picked it all up for $55. What an amazing find! The activities are great to reinforce reading concepts!

Do you have any amazing summer finds? Head over to Ladybug Teacher Files and share your stash!