We're well underway!

Hello! School started Aug. 25...we've hit the ground running! Here are a few pics of my classroom before the first day...

We've been busy learning classroom routines and procedures. I really love our Superkids reading program and will post a little more on that later....

Here's a quick idea for birthday hats I am doing this year.  You just need die cuts (Dollar Tree)....

...construction paper strips....

....and a printer....

I printed "Happy Birthday ___" on the balloons, stapled strips of paper to each side, and presto! Birthday hat complete!

Thanks for checking in and have a great day!

Printing on those cute die cut papers!

Hi! I've been working in my classroom this week...not a whole lot of photos to share yet, but I thought I'd share how I use my ink jet printer to print on die cuts.

I am using these cute cupcakes I found at the Dollar Tree for my birthday board. They are pretty light weight paper, but this method also works on card stock die cuts.  First, I print whatever I want to put on the die cut onto a white sheet of paper.

Then I center the die cut on top of the paper...so the word is lined up where I'd like to be...and put a little piece of tape on the back of the die cut, so it's stuck to the paper. I run it through my printer again, with the die cut taped on, and the word prints right where it should. Once you have your template done, you can change the word (like I typed February), tape on the die cut and print again.

It's pretty quick and easy and you probably already know how to do it...but every once and a while a co worker will ask me, "How did you print on those???"  Here's a sneak peak at my birthday board:

Eventually, it's going to look similar to this:

(source)

I still have to make the candles and add a title....

Also...on a sidenote...you may have seen this on pinterest: using dollar store table cloths to as bulletin board backgrounds.

I thought I'd try using a table cloth or two to see how they work. I used a red one on my birthday board and I have to say, I like it. I thought it might be too thin or tear easily, but since I won't be changing this bulletin board all year, it should last. If you're going to pull staples or pins in and out a lot, I'd say go with fabric or paper. I also tried using a yellow table cloth for another board, but the color was too light and the cork showed through, so I took it down. I'm going to try a blue one instead.  I would suggest using bright or dark colors vs. pale. Just my opinion...

thanks for checking in and have a great day!

Birthday Bag

Every child has the chance to take home the "Birthday Bag."
The bag includes these items:
*Birthday Reading Buddy: Isn't this thing cute!! When you push the button on its hand it sings "Happy Birthday."




*Birthday books to read and share at home
*Class book--each child adds his/her name to the correct month. (For example, if my birthday is in September, I write my name on the Sept. page.)



*Class book: Each child draws/writes about how he/she celebrated his/her birthday

The bag is sewn out of red fabric and measures about 15 x 16 inches.