Monday, July 23, 2012

Made it Monday! #7




It is Monday and I had another busy week.  Pre-planning is only 2 weeks away. It will be nice to go back and use what I have created and learned from other bloggers but it would be so nice to have a few more weeks. I finally decided to pull out my teacher bag and box that I brought home the beginning of June and see what needs to be done. Before I share my teacher made it I want to show off my home made it.

#1 New Mirror

I am super excited to show off my amazing find from Hobby Lobby. I found the mirror below on the Clearance aisle for $18.00!!! Yes, $18.00!! As you can see the frame is broken but my mind started turning as soon as I saw it.

This is me standing in the store deciding if I am going to buy the mirror.

I bought Hydrangeas to cover the break and TADA!!  Isn't it pretty??


Very excited about this. I then used old canvases I had and covered them with fabric I bought at Wal-Mart. So easy and pretty. My wonderful husband hung the mirror for me and we now have a beautifully decorated wall. :)



#2 Fall Wreath 

My second project was a fall wreath for the front door. It was easy and I love how it turned out.
Supplies
I cut the burlap into strips and then wrapped them around the wreath. 


 I may add a pumpkin or bow at some point but for now I am happy with it.

Completed Wreath

#3 PKM treats


PKM is what I am calling the oh so good treat I made this week. PKM = pretzel, kiss, M&Ms. I found the idea on Pinterest, not sure what I did before Pinterest. LOL! 

When I made mine I made 6 different types, overachiever I know. Plain Kiss and peanut butter M&M,  plain Kiss and peanut M&M, caramel Kiss and peanut M&M, plain Kiss and plain M&M, caramel Kiss and plain M&M, Hugs and plain M&M. I can't do anything simple, but now I know figure out the best combination ;) 


My little girl helping me bake. Proud moment for me!

Recipe
Heat oven to 200 degrees. Line a pan with Parchment paper and lay out pretzels with Kisses on top. I used mini pretzels, I have seen people use circle and the square ones. Put the pan in the oven for 3-5 minutes, do not over heat! It only took 3 minutes in my oven. You want the Kisses to be shiny and soft but not so hot that they are melting and loosing their shape. When you take the pan out gently press the M&Ms onto the top. Put them in the refrigerator or freezer to set. **The Hugs do not need as much time! I over heated mine and they melted everywhere. The caramel Kisses do not melt well at all. I will not use them next time.






Now for my teacher made it.

#4 Facebook Status

I was searching for beginning of the year ideas and came across a Facebook status page for the first week of school. The one I found was for middle school math so I created one for my 4th grade students. I am excited to use this at the beginning and end of the year so they can compare their statuses. 



#5 "What Do You Stand For?" Lessons

This started in May when I saw an article about a girl who was abandoned by her parents and worked as a janitor at her school as she finished high school and was accepted at Harvard. Wow! That takes serious determination and focus. I want my students to understand that their actions can mean the difference between being homeless and going to Harvard. After reading her story my mind started turning. CNN Story: From Scrubbing Floors to Ivy League

I decided to work this year on developing a classroom environment that is more caring and considerate of others and aware of how their actions affect their life and others.  When I went to the Holocaust Museum the beginning of the summer I found the book called "Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change" and a poster that says "What Do You Stand For?". I love that it has positive characteristics listed. I plan to make this the theme for my classes this year. It can be a question that I can ask my students in almost any situation. 


My plan is to start the first week of school with a story each day from the book and news stories about kids making a difference. The book has stories about kids helping the environment, helping others, standing up for themselves, overcoming challenges, and using their talents. The stories are short and can be a great way to discuss kids in today's world standing up for something. I am planning to continue this all year with one story a week. This will be for individual and group reading assignments as well as a homework assignment some weeks.




HELP!!!

I need your help with next weeks Made it Monday! I have a ton of stress apples and fish from my husbands office. The fish come in the little can you see in the picture. I love how others are using light bulbs but I would rather use what I have. Does anyone have suggestions for how to label these for when students need a mental break? I have racked my brain and can't come up with a cute saying. The saying "an apple a day..." comes to mind but I can't tie it into taking a mental break. If anyone has a suggestion for sayings or any other way to use these items please let me know. Thank you! :)


35 comments:

  1. Love your wreath! Super cute.

    ✣ Miss Nelson✣
    Miss Nelson’s Blog

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  2. I love the m&m pretzel idea. My son will love that! I found your blog through the Monday Made It. I am your newest follower. I love when I find other 4th grade teachers. I'm new to 4th grade and I need all the ideas I can find. :-)

    Christine
    Tales From Rm 17!

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    Replies
    1. Welcome to 4th grade! You will love it. This will be my second year and I am still learning so much about the grade. There are lots of grade 4th grade blogs out there. I have a few listed under my favorites.

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  3. Thanks so much for sharing the facebook page you made. I think your plan sound fabulous for using the real kid, real stories book.

    My thought for the fish is something with a play on "catch" like catch a good idea

    I'm also a fourth grade teacher and I just became a follower.

    Heather
    room 4 imagination

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    Replies
    1. I love the fish idea! That might be just what I use. Thanks!

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  4. I love all your projects! I've made those pretzel treats before and they are always a hit! Wish I had some right now...:) For the stress thingies, the only thing I can come up with is maybe "Squeeze an apple a day to take the stress away!" IDK about the fish though! Good luck...:)

    Vicky
    Keep Calm & Imagine

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  5. Your projects look yummy! I actually have a facebook bulletin board activity I made that is free for the rest of this month:
    http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Faces-A-Facebook-Class-Community-Activity
    ~April
    The Idea Backpack
    ideabackpack@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the link to your FB bulletin board. I will definitely check it out.

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  6. I Love what you did with the mirror. So cute! The treats look so yummy! Thanks for sharing!

    Krista
    stellar-students

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  7. Love the FB page. I think it would be a striking opening bb for open house!

    I also love your treats. I've seen them made with rolos but I bet they're better with kisses!

    ✿Lynn
    Inside this Book

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  8. Thanks for the FB page...I was looking for something to use with my science classes and this will be great!

    As for the apple squeeze things...maybe something like "Think like Issac" (Newton that is). And for the fish maybe "Catch a brain break"

    Cheryl
    Spotted Around the School
    spottedinsb@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. I am glad that others can use the FB page. Hope your kids enjoy it.

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  9. Love your mirror wall! How about Fish For Ideas and Fruit - It Does a Brain Good

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  10. I love your made it items this week. Everything looks so cute. For the the fish maybe you could say: "Thinking of an "o-fish"ally good idea." Or "O-fish"ally stress free.

    EmilyK

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  11. That mirror turned out fantastic! Super super cute!! I also love the book you shared and the ideas to make a classroom community in your room. What a powerful thing to have real stories to share with your students. Fabulous idea.

    Amanda
    Reaching for the TOP!

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  12. Love your creativity! I was thinking that the apple saying could be taking a core break.
    I like the idea above about the fish...using the word catch...maybe catch a brain break.
    Diane
    schoolhousetreasures

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    Replies
    1. I like the core saying. It will be hard to decide with so many cute sayings.

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  13. That mirror was a steal! It looks beautiful! I've been wanting to make my own wreath for a while. I should get started! Thanks for the inspiration!
    Learning In Wonderland

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  14. I love PKMs! My best friend makes them all the time!! And the mirror is fantastic :)

    I am your newest follower!

    Susan
    T.G.I.F. (Thank God it's First Grade!)

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  15. I love your ideas and especially that book recommendation - thank you!!

    I want to help you with your stress balls....but I don't know if I have the creativity. Let's see:

    An apple a day brings new ideas your way.

    An apple a day keeps stress away.

    Fish....it's brain food.

    Let's go fishing for some good ideas.

    I don't know. LOL

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    Replies
    1. Wow! Those are great sayings! You definitely have a creative mind.

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  16. Oh how I love your Facebook back to school page-thanks for sharing! I am also going to use your ideas for the what do you stand for theme-I had thought of using articles about kids who make a differenc-but like your wording of what do you stand for-I just linked up a youtube video on my blog about a 9year old-check it out if you have time
    http://morelandmama.blogspot.com/
    thanks again for your inspiring posts

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  17. Nice projects!
    For the fish - Let your brain off the "hook"! (for stress relief)
    For the apple - Brain Candy Apples (for brainstorming)

    I also like the Apple a day stress away stuff! Clever!

    Michele
    MULTIAGE MOMENTS

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  18. in the tin can; write out positive messages on different colored paper, card stock or what ever you have. Label the can "Yes You Can" allow the students to take a message anytime they are feeling low or in need of encouragement. To take it a step further, if they take a message have them add a positive message to the can.

    Janice 5th & 6th grd S/S

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  19. I want to use the facebook idea in my classroom in August. Is there anyway to get an editable Facebook document ? This way the date could be changed from year to year.

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  20. for the apple something about growing from handling stress positively or something humorous like better to make applesauce than visit the school boss (principal) lol corny but you might get an idea from it... fish- they are slippery, rub them the wrong way and they cut ---so something about handling stress like a fish the right way things are cool the wrong way- ouch! well there is my brainstorming for you- good luck.

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