Organize it Tuesdays!

Okay Teachers it is time to get organized!  We are normally start the year pretty organized, but after the first six weeks things start to get a little messy.  One thing I have found difficult to organize is my units of study.  I labeled them, put them into file folders, and placed them in a filing cabinet.  Seemed like a good way to organize my papers, but over the years the folders have gotten fuller and projects are bent or torn from the over crowded drawers.  I found myself looking for other ways to organize these materials.  I needed something that would not take up a lot of space.  I had a fabulous mentor teacher my first year (and a fellow FBU girl)  who organized her units by notebooks.  She stored them in empty cubbies.  So I have collected binders, sorted through materials, and I now have notebooks that are storing all my materials for my units of study!  I LOVE IT!  I can pull the notebook and bring it home with me to do my planning.  Everything I need is secure in one place.  No worries about things falling out of the folder or being torn up as you pull the drawer open.  I am also getting rid of a filing cabinet which creates more space in the classroom.  This could be an expensive way to organize, but be on the look for bargains!  Collect what you can and gradually covert your old files into notebooks.  You can organize them by letters, units of study, season, months, etc.  Since I teach Kindergarten, I organized mine by letters.  Inside the letter Aa notebook, I created dividers using my old file folders (a little cutting and hole punching is all they need).  I can pull my letter Aa notebook and find all my letter Aa work, and my units of study that begin with Aa (like apples, all about me, etc.).  I LOVE my notebooks and feel much more organized! 

Jack Hartmann

Today I was looking through some blogs and stumbled across a fabulous children's musician who write songs specifically for learning! Most of us have heard of Dr. Jean , and she is AWESOME, BUT Jack Hartmann is definitely someone new for me! I checked out his webpage and even though his songs are a little silly, I am thinking that my kids will LOVE him.  He's got moves and the songs are pretty catchy. Check out his webpage to check out the clips. I'm thinking you will enjoy them too!

{New In the Shop}: Five Little Pumpkins

I'm sure you all have heard at least one version of the rhyme, "Five Little Pumpkins."  I used to do that rhyme as an activity with my Kindergartners every year!  


This year, I taught the rhyme to my 2-year-old & he LOVES it!   I had a magnetic cookie sheet waiting to be used, so I decided to make some printables to go with the rhyme.  So, available in our shop today is the "Five Little Pumpkins Printable Activity."  It includes a spooky moonlit background page with a gate, a page with 5 numbered pumpkins, and the rhyme printed on cute Halloween scrapbook paper {courtesy of Paint it Sew Thrifty.}

This year, I taught the rhyme to my 2-year-old & he LOVES it!   I had a magnetic cookie sheet waiting to be used, so I decided to make some printables to go with the rhyme.  So, available in our shop today is the "Five Little Pumpkins Printable Activity."  It includes a spooky moonlit background page with a gate, a page with 5 numbered pumpkins, and the rhyme printed on cute Halloween scrapbook paper.  


What I did was print out each page & laminate them for durability.  Then, I simply taped the background image onto my cookie sheet (because I want to be able to use it for other activities).  I cut out the pumpkins and then added adhesive magnetic tape to the back of each one.  Then, your Little Pumpkins can move the pumpkins around as you act out the rhyme together.   You could also cut out the pieces and add to a file folder.

This activity reinforces (1) number sequence  (2) number identification  (3) rhyming,  & (4) fine motor skills.  You can purchase your printable activity HERE!      

"Boo"tify Your School

Want a fun Halloween idea for your school this year?  Get all the teachers & staff excited about this spooky season by having a Secret Boo-ing!


Brand new to the shop today is our "BOO-TIFY YOUR SCHOOL" printable file.  It includes a "I've Been Booed" Sign and an Instruction Page.

{This is what you do...}
1.  Purchase our listing here.
2.  Print out the files.
3. Make or buy a Halloween treat.
4. Secretly deliver the sign, instructions, and goodie to a fellow teacher.
5. S/he puts the "I've Been Booed" sign on/near his/her classroom door and then "Boos" another teacher.
6.  The fun continues until your school is officially "boo"tiful!


**Hint:  If you purchase this item, you can make several copies and put them in a central location in your building (workroom, office, etc), then teachers can just take one when it's their turn to do the boo-ing!

We've done this before at our school, and it really is a lot of fun!!!  Happy Haunting!!! :}

Letter Block Shop

One evening I was looking around on Etsy and discovered the cutest site and I just had to share it with you! It’s called Countryside Sayings and the owner, Lara is FANTASTIC to work with! I ordered my name in blocks for my desk and it could not have come out any cuter! Lara was so helpful and patient as I changed my mind on the font-many times! I am including a picture because I am so amazed at her work! Thank you again Lara! Check her out for all of your seasonal, baby, wedding and birthday needs! Letterblockshop /  or Countryside Sayings -her etsy shop.

Open House Scavenger Hunt

If your school is anything like ours in Tennessee, you’re probably getting ready to have Open House. If you’ve already had it this is something you can write down and make sure you do for next year. The year I student taught I was fortunate enough to meet both of my best friends, Daphne and Heather! Along with meeting both of them also came with lots of ideas! I had no idea what to do at open house my 1^st year teaching and I imagine many other teachers feel the same way. So, I went to my friends who always seemed to have the answers. Daphne had always done a scavenger hunt- having the children guide their family around the classroom showing them every inch! This makes it SO super simple for you! Most parents want to talk about academic or social progress during this time, but the key is to keep them busy! If you send them around to every inch of your classroom I assure you that they will not have time to “talk your ear off!” So sit down and start at the door and have the children go to various special spots in the room. Tell them if they find all of them you will have a special treat for them waiting at the end! This could be anything that you want! I usually do something that is tied into my classrooms ocean theme. Here is a picture of what I gave my students at our open house! 

I called this “Fish on the Beach” the recipe was vanilla pudding on the bottom then on one side I sprinkled blue sugared sprinkles (ocean water) and on the other side I used vanilla wafers that were crushed up (sand) and to top it off I put 3-4 Nemo themed gummies. The kids loved it! 

Our First FBU Party

Last week, our own Jennifer celebrated her birthday on the same day as her husband, Stephen.  So, we decided to have a little dinner party at our house to celebrate!  I wanted to design the party around a tv show, so I asked Jennifer what show she & Stephen both liked, and she said The Bachelor.  So, since The Bachelor Pad is on right now, we decided to have the shindig on a Monday night, enjoy dinner, and then watch the show together. 

 I was at a slight disadvantage because I had only seen The Bachelor one time, but with Heather's help, we pulled it off without a hitch!  We ordered Chinese (Jennifer's fave) for dinner & I made "Secret Kisses" (peanut butter Hershey's kiss cookies) and "Love Bites" (cheesecake bites) for dessert.  

We also wanted to prove that a chic soiree can be achieved without spending an incredible amount of money!  I made all of the paper goods, the BACHELOR PAD Party Collection, which is now available in our shop!  Take a look at the photos.

The Door Sign

I hung our door sign on the front door & tied red and black balloons on the porch sconces.  We also had a red candle burning in a black wrought iron holder next to the door (sorry, I forgot to take photos of that part).

The Tablescape

I found black tulle on sale at Jo-Ann's (1 3/4 yards was perfect to make a table runner).  We used Heather's china (for the 1st time), and we added votives down the center of the tulle.  I bought 2 black taper candles at Michaels ($1.99 for both) & anchored them in my crystal candle holders.  The table looked stunning with the lights dimmed!

The Place Setting

At each place setting, we had a black place mat (scrapbook paper from Jo-Ann's - $1.99 each), a red napkin wrapped with our BACHELOR PAD napkin ring, Heather's China plate, my Ikea glass, our BACHELOR PAD menu card, and the guest's name attached to a red rose as a place card.

The Appetizer

While we waited on the Chinese, Heather made an appetizer called "Mingle & Mix."  Click the picture to enlarge & read about the ingredients in our mix.

The Dessert Table

I finally got to use my new buffet table from Ikea (i love it)!  I found black sparkly beaded fabric on sale at Jo-Ann's & I used it as a backdrop for my table.  With the leftover fabric, I draped two boxes to make stands for my two desserts.  In the center, I put my black wrought iron chandelier with red candles.  I made a pennant banner with scrapbook paper and added our tent fancy labels for the food names.

Picture Frames

We, of course, had to have pictures of our guests of honor just like on the show.  We used red glittered scrapbook paper as mats. 

The Birthday Couple - Jennifer and Stephen

Heather and Matt

Me and Sam

So, if you're planning a Girl's Night, Bachelorette Party, Birthday Party with The Bachelor Pad theme, we have the collection for you!  It includes 9 printable PDF files listed below.

Order yours today & have it ready in time for the finale of the show ~ a perfect party time!!!

To celebrate the introduction of our collection, it will be on sale for one week only! {until Sept. 15}.  Regular price is $25, but during our Introduction Sale, it can be yours for only $15.  

Click here to purchase!!!