Random thoughts

Starting 2nd week of break (got out the 31st)

First got some tree trimming done (WAY OVER DUE)

Took a crew of 8, but whew did it feel good....

During the rains was good to see a double rainbow....

Great deal on these this week at Target 

(Some ideas how to use in classroom HERE)

Now to find $$ to get some 

We use raz-kids for our summer reading program, LOVE this new

report offered.....

One of the parents is "loaning" me this to my computer museum (for 

classroom)will share more of this when I get it done!

Just had to share this one from WeAreTeachers FB page

Mass Purging while I have everything home, garage is almost back to well ...Being a garage.....

Back to it.....How is your Summer going?

Library info and pictures......

First of all I wanted to share a picture, all summer many of us in the drought prayed, begged, pleaded for rain. Wouldn't you know the minute we turn in our crops for a loss(it wouldn't have mattered but still)

A neighbor a few miles over, didn't get a drop....I kept saying all summer, let me do recess duty and at the exact time it starts it would rain.
2ND warning long post AHEAD....
Now on to the library organization. As you know, I applied for a grant via donor's choose. It was for 30 baskets, a bookshelf, and supplies for organizing the classroom libraries. Now, where I got the idea that the baskets would be enough to share in more than one classroom, I am not sure.  But let me tell you I was getting a little worried on day one, while sorting my coworkers classroom. We went thru 30 baskets like there was no tomorrow. So here are a few tips and tricks I learned along the way.

Library organization tips and tricks

First of all, if you are going to use your classroom library and have students check books out here is the site you need.

FAQ's

Now if you are like me and will just use your books for classroom read alouds or projects. Here is the site for you.

Tour

Neither one is perfect. In fact ISBN's are tricky. Some pop right up. Others take some work finding. But in the end it is worth it Here are some sites I used to find isbn’s for the books.

I also had luck with finding the books better on librarything then copying the isbn to booksource. If that didn’t work I went to amazon and typed in the title and copied the isbn number from there. Note newer books were fine, But my coworker’s library used to be the previous teacher’s and well she was my first grade teacher …. So there were some books published every decade since.

Some sites for reading level help

http://www.jmeacham.com/leveled.books.htm
https://leveledbooks.beaverton.k12.or.us/
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/pohl...lingbooks.html
http://www.arbookfind.com/UserType.aspx
http://listbuilder.scholastic.com/we...0&beginIndex=0
http://listbuilder.scholastic.com/we...?storeId=10001
http://www.leeandlow.com/books/

http://lexile.com/fab/

In the end what I did was load them into Library thing, Export an excel when done. Put into a template from Booksource and upload to their site.

When it came to the labeling. We had already made a categories when I found These

Reagan's Labels 

Do NOT try and do this for yourself. These are SOOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it. Read more about her labels HERE. I had to start from scratch and do these. OY.......the best $10 you will ever spend. Believe you me. Here are some pictures.........But warning ignore the room, We were allowed to come in Only to work on the books as the follow up was due to donor's choose the first week of school. I will share the wonderful job my coworker Andrea did decorating in a later post.

Had to buy another scanner so we could both scan in the books.

Funny story, I shared this pic with friends on facebook,

Sigh ....@Andrea has the EXACT copy of Velveteen Rabbit as I did as a kid......

 Only to find out it WAS from when I was  in that room in 1st. LOL....

And here is the final reveal 

What I know for sure is.....There was several times, when I called Andrea saying WHY are we doing this again. Frustrated with no isbn's, technology glitches but in the end it was soooooooo worth it. Andrea had her kids help out, they were great. Thanks for letting me share!

Last week before BTS

Let's be honest, I am dragging my feet ....I am more excited about this

Last year, a coworker/friend since the 4th grade and I went to see Tim close by, so when this was announced I figured what the heck! Looked at district calendar, woohoo we have MLK off this year, (we waived it last year...went over not so much) SOOOOOOOOOOOOO Excited.....IF you have any Vegas tips ...feel free to share, my friend has gone, but this will be my first time.....The Venetian is a BIT much so hotels around there, places must see......LOL


Back to school.......I am dollar tree stalking today (if I can get up at a decent time) 45 minutes away....I want these baskets

in green. I didn't order online, as I read the comments that some didn't even get these colors. Today look what pops up on $ Tree's website...... new colors

Seriously people, love this green, OY......everyone reading my blog cross your fingers I find green of either shade......as I need to get my behind moving.....One of our Kinder teachers took a job closer to her kids. One of my coworkers that got moved took the spot....woohoo! I can come up with ideas and look forward to helping her and my friend with her library......my room...nope......so Retail Therapy it is.....(sssshhhh we won't mention the 50 billion I have already spent this summer) Will be back this week....with something I've made really....Please tell me I am not alone in this funk!

Library Thing & Booksource

As I said on Monday I am using Library Thing to organize my books

I am also using Booksource (with scanner and Iphone App)

Now why am I using two applications. Well in one instance I need AR levels for the books, Library Thing does not have a spot (I added them to my comments) for them. Then in AIMS there are now links with Lexile Levels. Which Booksource doesn't add either. But it has a spot for both. So I am using 3 different places to look up book levels.

First is 

AR Book Find

Lexile Find A book

Scholastic Book Wizard

With the combination of the 3 I have found levels on most books. I get books various places. But I am a little ticked that the books I buy at Scholastic aren't in their wizard. On some they were but no levels what so ever. Now the site below I haven't used, as I said I found most via one of the 3 above, but wanted to share it.

Leveled Books Database

I've been doing other things, so I am just getting back to this. What I plan on doing is, enter them all in Library Thing (as it has so many more sources to find them) Then export to Excel and upload to Booksource. That way all the information is in one location.

Here is what Booksource looks like

You see in the above picture of Library Thing how I enter AR Scores. 

Again it is all personal preference, but I live and breath excel so it will it won't be hard for me to import into Booksource. Just thought I'd share what I have been doing so far. When I get them all in then I will decide labels....

Also don't forget Last day to enter Giveaway ......... Drawing is tonight!

Monday Made it 7/16 Edition

Link up HERE

Don't forget to enter my giveaway HERE

So begins the work on my personal classroom library, but also those of my coworkers(this mean's you Mrs Firstgradestamper). When my niece was here, I showed her how I could scan my books into the computer using my iphone and scanner. When it comes to reading, she takes after me. She read books like it was going out of style, she found my Berenstain Bears' Chapter books, and had to take a few home back to MD! 

Tonight, I saw the below post from Erica Bohrer's fb PAGE!

 

Link

 FIRST of all, she did not warn you that it was the black hole of loveliness ......OMG......On this page Ashley shared a pic from Melissa's Blog HERE..... She mentioned she used LIBRARY THING......and look what 10 mins did .....

That is 75 books, consisting of 2 orders from Teacher Express (more to add), My orders from Amazon, those books my niece borrowed, and the ones I already scanned from Booksource.

So here is a freebie for the binder you make once you join and start making your library.






Hope you enjoy, 1 month and 4 days until we go back "officially" for Teachers. I am so behind, but hope to share more next week.....Like my library done, and starting on coworkers pictures! Plus some home projects that I have gotten wrapped up!




Items used/Links referred to:

Erica Bohrer's FB Page The School Supply Addict Classroom Management The Library Thing Howser Font 3am Teacher Freebie Frame Polka Hearts Alpha PSE

InLinkz.com

Made It Monday

See Linky Party Here

It's that time again! First of all can I just say how much I love Tara for doing this! I have tons of projects planned. But the Purging/Organizing has taken over. So it has been nice to FORCE myself to stop and make some projects. Now that being said I had a different home one than below but it epically failed. So after I fix it (I do this often) I will show it to you next week! So without further adios..

I ordered some of the printable vinyl from HERE and I wanted to start labeling my containers for the classroom. I have a notebook of projects, so I picked a few to do ......

Camera from Storyteller Kit ©2011 by Baers Garten Designs

This will be a project (details later) for labs, but I have all this stuff together

Freebie camera from Office Depot etc, so I labeled a pencil box and put them all together!

ThistleGirl Graphics

Then I used these in my classroom (dollar tree) but never did labels for them. 

As I always have things (headbands reproduce like rabbits I swear) or kids hand me headphones that don't work, then those DARN foam covers for the headphones....so now there is a place for them instead of piled on my desk ....

Lettering Delights graphics

 Now for the small home project.....in the front coat closet I had one of these without labels, that held

the gloves, hats etc...So now a place for everything and everything in its place. Ok, fine I am getting there ...

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It really is July isn't it!

This was my post the last day of school on facebook

and this is from today

From and including: Sunday, July 1, 2012
To, but not including : Monday, August 20, 2012
It is 50 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date
Or 1 month, 19 days excluding the end date

Alternative time units

50 days can be converted to one of these units:

• 4,320,000 seconds
• 72,000 minutes
• 1200 hours
• 7 weeks (rounded down)

  WOW I have spent 5 weeks (give or take a week) on the house and suddenly I realized I need to get moving on the school stuff. My sister and family  are going to be here next week and I STILL have house stuff to do. So I am going to have to alternate.......I don't want to hit the week before school starts rushing around trying to get things done here and school. SIGH......please tell me I am not alone....Don't get me wrong I am still doing our summer reading with RAZ Kids, but not going in to copy yet for the ones we mail. Found out our TITLE budget got cut ...so now trying to redo my schedule and find the money to pay for my time.....I was exactly 75% Title I and 25% school paid, for last couple but now with the district $$ issues and everything....I don't know.....OY.......Whew anxiety attack over, thanks for letting me stress out....how do you guys do it? I will be back with my Made it Monday ....hopefully on Monday :)

Pinterest inspired

Made it Monday #4

I am linking up again with Monday Made it, I did make this Monday, but waited until spray paint dried.....and dried..now we have a heat advisory in IL...really as I was sweating and sweating again while painting. Guess I would have just passed out if I did it now.....

Close up of the water line from flood ....power washed these before painting

Watching the paint dry and dry

As you know I am cleaning/purging. When this house was built, it wasn't known at the time but it was built amongst a sand vein, so the sump pump go through about 900 gallons a day. This was confirmed after our sump pump died for the 3rd time in 6 years. (we are talking HEAVY duty one at that) So before this was all figured out, we had two massive floods in the basement. One was 18 inches, the other was 10. So ALOT was destroyed....But these cabinets were salvaged. That  was my mission to make over these. (As you can see they were a hot mess to say the least) Below are my inspiration pins......

Final Source

My Version is on left (green and white polka dot vinyl)

Sorry IPhone pictures in basement!

Next up is something home, (but could be used in the classroom)

source

A gal I know is getting married (I am doing crafts on my cameo for her) but her shower was this past weekend. I saw this, loved the idea of the initials, but wanted they could use after the shower. So here is my adaptation. Scrabble magnets.

 What I used in this:
Kitchen items all from Kohl's (her registry)

Avery Magnet Sheets	Scotch TL901 9" Laminating Machine	Scrabble Tiles Alpha
Silhouette CAMEO Info

InLinkz.com

There you have my latest! Hope you learned that while pinterest gives us great ideas, we can adapt it to our own ideas! Thanks for checking in!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
 Btw thanks to Ashley from The Polka Dot Patch I kept seeing Blogpress on her posts, I have been looking for a Way to upload my iphone pics from the phone directly to my Blog....woohoo, I thank you! My ISP thanks you (uploading via phone instead of them) go check her blog it is awesome, and so is she!