It's a Reading Fair!!

I'm so excited!  I am currently working on a non-fiction reading fair with my 7th grade students and I am LOVING it!  It is fantastic to see kids getting so interested in reading non-fiction.  This is a GREAT end of the year project!

When I first took my students to the library to choose a non-fiction book, I was surprised to learn that for many of them this was their first time checking out a non-fiction book.  They had no clue as to where to begin.  We did a mini-lesson on the Dewey Decimal System and then we were back in working order.

Students are going to read a non-fiction text and then create a science fair type try-board that has various required components on it.  They also have to either dress as the main topic of the book or they can create a 3-dimensional visual of some sort.  I am so excited to have so many interesting ideas from students.  Their creativity is really going to shine with this project!

We will set up just like a science fair.  I have asked several people at school (Principal, Media Specialist, etc) to come through and judge using the rubric.  This will determine a 1st, 2nd, and 4rd place winner.  I will use the rubric to grade each project, which will serve as each student's nine weeks' exam grade.

I am so excited about this project and couldn't wait to share!  I've already put the project up on my TPT store if you're interested.  I will post pictures in a month when all of the projects are done.

You can get the Non-Fiction Reading Fair project file by going HERE.

I love saving money!

Wow...I can't believe that March is almost over.  My school system in on a modified schedule and we have 2 spring breaks.  We CELEBRATED the first week off last week and it was wonderful.  My parents bought a beach house in Cape San Blas, Florida and we spent the week with them.  I must say, if you've never visited this part of Florida it is a must see!

I have a longer post that has some CRCT prep information coming a little later this weekend, but I couldn't wait to share with you a new money savings app that I recently found.  The App is called Ibotta and is available for free in iTunes and the Android store.  You take these little one question surveys about products that you might be interested in purchasing and it credits you for each question you answer.  If you end up purchasing the product, you simply snap a picture of the barcode and receipt and they turn your credit into a monetary credit.  You can then transfer this money to your Paypal account or send it to any school in the US.  I went to Kroger earlier tonight and spent $33.  I earned $4.50 using Ibotta.  I usually use coupons, but this was a quick trip in without any and this $4.50 made the trip really worthwhile.  The trip would have been even better had I used my coupons!  The great thing is that the money is credited to your account within 24 hours!  The more you use the app and the more personalized your product offers become.  This is one little money savings app that I am extremely impressed with!  If you're interested in learning more, all you have to do is go here.

Easy grading...and cheaper than Scan Tron!

I used to love using Scan Tron to grade my multiple choice test and benchmark exams.  I especially loved how quick and easy I could grade them.  Then education got hit with budget cuts and we were told to cut back on using Scan Tron bubble sheets unless absolutely necessary.  That's when I found Catpin Production's Bubble Test Form Generator.

The Bubble Test Form Generator is super easy to use and only takes a few minutes to create a bubble form for you test.  The great thing about the Bubble Test Form Generator is the number of options you get!  They have a ton of different ways that you can customize the possible answer choices you give students.  You can have True/False, (1,2,3,4), (A,B,C,D), Fact/Opinion, and even music notes!  It truly is a great tool...and it is 100% FREE!  You can find Catpin Productions Bubble Test Form Generator HERE.

I go a step further to make grading tests super easy.  I make a copy of the bubble form and mark it as "KEY" at the top.  I then mark the correct answers.  Now, here is where it gets fun.  I tape over the front and back of the key using regular scotch tape.  This is optional, but I like doing it because it makes the key much more sturdy and allows me to reuse it if I ever give that particular test again.  Next I take out my single hole hole puncher and punch out the correct answers.  Now I can lay my key over each student's test, quickly see which answers are not correct, mark them and move on to the next test.  I graded 28 fifty question tests today in just a few minutes.

Here I am grading a test earlier today.

I hope you're able to find the Bubble Test Generator to be as helpful as I have!

Free Tissue and Paper Towels...and EASY!

So back in September I posted about a way to get free tissue and paper towels for your classroom.  Today I received not one BUT TWO boxes of tissues and paper towels.  The first box was what I have received 4 times already this year.  It had 2 boxes of Puffs Tissues and a huge roll of paper towels. The bigger box was a reward for having 5 others post their school supply lists.  I was surprised when I opened the box and there sat 6 boxes of Puffs tissues and 6 huge rolls of paper towels!!  So, I wanted to revisit my September post so you guys that didn't put your supply up can do so now.  It's getting late in the school year and the supplies in my classroom are dwindling.  These will come in super handy!

Here is a picture of the big box I received today

And here is my original post from September:

I found a great site today where you can get FREE Elmer's glue sticks, Bounty paper towels and Puffs tissues for your classroom!  It's really easy to get the freebies, too.  All you have to do is enter your school supply list on   TeacherLists.com .  This site is sponsored by great companies like Bounty, Elmer's glue, and Puff's facial tissues. 

When you post your list, you will automatically have get a 2 pack of Elmer's glue sticks, a 2 boxes of Puff's tissues and a roll of Bounty paper towels mailed to you.  For every friend you tell that posts a list you will get 2 boxes of Puff's tissues AND a roll of Bounty paper towels.  Tell 5 friends that post a list and you get a SUPER box clean up kit.  The site says your kit will be "chock-full of tons of Bounty paper towels and Puff's tissues."

The only thing you need to make sure you do in order to receive a Clean-Up Kit is make sure that your list includes Puff's tissues and Bounty paper towels.  Your referrals must include these as well in order for either of you to get the kit.

This is a super easy way to score some free supplies for your classroom!  Go HERE to add your list and get your FREE Clean-Up Kit on its way!