BIC Product Awesomeness Giveaway!

Back in early August, I was contacted by a BIC representative to review some new products and I was happy to check them out.  I've always loved school supplies.  What teacher doesn't?

Here are a few words from BIC:

Bic's main goal this year is to encourage students to write more often, because writing is by far one of the most important learning tools for a child's academic success in growth.  As you know, writing fosters children's emotional and cognitive development, helps foster critical thinking skills and improves academic achievement.

To help achieve our goal, BIC has launches the "Fight for Your Write" campaign, which reinforces how fun and empowering writing can be.  The campaign, which can be found at www.bicfightforyourwrite.com, offers information about writing and tips from literacy expert Pam Allyn to help parents, caregivers and students make a commitment to write more often.

From those words, I knew that I had to participate in their campaign!

Check out some of my favorite BIC products:

Do you spot some of your favorites in that pile?  I know you spot the 4-Color Ball Pen.  If you are a product of the eh-hem '70s or '80s, those were THE THING.  And, they still are!!

As much as I love those, however, I was even more excited to check out their newest products geared towards little hands.  Since I'll be teaching children with smaller hands again, I thought these tools would be perfect for my ESOL classroom.  The Fight for Your Write website states that these pencils were developed with teachers and kids and have a unique yellow guiding line for proper finger position:

I've already spotted these gems in Staples and picked up extras.  I know they will come in handy!

Here are a few of the other goodies in the product set:

Amazing items, huh?  Wouldn't you like to get your hands on this awesomeness?  Well, you can!  They have allowed for me to give one of my readers the same BIC product set.  Check out the rafflecopter and enter!  The winner will be announced next Thursday!  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Making Bulletin Board Fabric Work {A Bright Idea}

It's that time again!
Are you ready for some...

BRIGHT IDEAS? 

It's Back to School 2014 and I know that some of us are already back into full swing!  But, I have a simple back to school tip (or really any time of the year tip) for making your bulletin board fabric smooth and tight.

Since I'm a little (ok, a lot) OCD when it comes to my bulletin boards, I've learned a few tricks over the years.

First~ I use fabric.  I know there is a lot of debate over the right covering, but I prefer fabric.  I'm lucky enough to be able to use it.  I know there are a lot of schools that don't allow it.

Let me show you what works for me. First, measure your board and cut your fabric slightly smaller in length and width.  Yes, smaller.  The reason is because you will be pulling that fabric to stretch it to make it more taut.

Next, iron that fabric!

I usually bring my ironing board, but it won't fit in my new, tiny car.  So, an old beach towel worked just fine.

Now, I think you could probably get away without ironing your fabric, but I like to make sure it's nice and crisp when I start.

Next, staple the center of your fabric to the center of your board.  Here's where/why I like using fabric.  It makes it easy for this to be a one-man job.  The beginning of the year can be CRAZY, and it's nice not to have to bug your neighbor to help your hang paper.

Don't worry, it didn't get wrinkled.

Next, staple one side.

Looks wrinkled, but hold on...there's more.

Ok, now that the second side is stapled, I have a HUGE problem. It's too big.  Shoot, I must have measured wrong.  Not to worry, a simple trick my mama showed me years ago to the rescue!!

Cut, and rip it right on the seam.  The beauty of cotton is that it will rip right up at the seam in a perfectly straight line.  Good thing, because I can't cut a straight line worth a toot.

Cut, and rip to the top.  I usually cut the final little bit, just to be safe.

Then, start stapling the bottom.  Don't worry, it will look like this at first:

But, as you stretch and pull that fabric, it will begin to look more like this:

You will notice that it doesn't go to the edge of the board.  I do that on purpose, because the border will cover that right up.

And from the side, you can see it a little better that there are NO bumps or buckles in the fabric:

 Because that would drive me batty.

I hope you found a new little trick while visiting!

If you are new to my blog and enjoyed this bright idea, please consider joining me on Facebook, Instagram or at Teachers Pay Teachers for more great ideas!

For more bright ideas tons of different bloggers, please browse through the link-up below and choose a topic/grade level that interests you. Thanks for visiting! 

What are you waiting for?  Have a great time checking out the links to find more
 BRIGHT IDEAS!

An InLinkz Link-up

Monday Made It {August 4}

August?  For real?  Where has the time gone...

I'm a little late linking up today because I have been busy working in my classroom and spending time shopping!  Have you emptied your TpT cart yet?

My entire store is 20% off right now (and actually through Wednesday) and with the extra from TpT, you will save 28%!  Click on the banner above to head on over.  That's why I have been busy shopping.  I asked for some advice from some bloggy friends, but I could use your advice, too.  I'm looking for materials for my new position.  If you know of any TpT sellers who make materials geared towards English Language Learners, I'd love for you to leave me a comment letting me know who to check out!

On to my Made Its:

I finally finished Math Moves for 5th Grade!

Yay!  It's on sale right now!  Check it out {here}.

I finally put all of this fabric and craftiness to good use:

You saw the toolbox and file box last week {here}, but now, I've made curtains and a chair cover with the fabric!  First the rocking chair:

And now the curtains:

You can also spot the finished pink table in the picture.  Sorry the picture is so dark.  The room is so bright (which I love!), but it makes taking pictures rather difficult.

And one final Made It is not really made by me except that I decided what colors to make my cover....

Isn't she a beauty?  I am loving this new Erin Condren Life Planner.  I can't wait to jazz it up with some washi tape and stickers and post-its and paper clips and tabs and, and, and....

Have you ordered an Erin Condren planner before?

OK, off to go do some more shopping before the sale is over.  Don't forget to give me some suggestions :)


Have a great week!

5th Grade Math Moves is Ready! {A Daily Common Core Spiral Review}

It's finished and ready to go!  Yay!

Last summer, I spent time creating Math Moves for 4th grade.  After using it for a year, I can tell you it is by far worth the time I spent creating it.  I knew what my students needed this last year.  I knew their strengths and weaknesses.  I knew how to differentiate for each student based on their needs...all by using Math Moves.

I wanted a spiral review that was aligned to the Common Core State Standards and didn't find anything that completely fit my needs.  I wanted to have a review that covered all 5 domains each week and also provided a separate assessment each week.  So, I spent my summer creating one.

And, I did that again this summer for 5th grade!  I had promised so many people to work on it. And, I like to keep my promises (for the most part). :)

And, I'd like to share this new resource with you....in giveaway form :)

Let me tell you a little bit about the pack:

It is my belief that one of the most effective ways to foster mastery and retention of mathematical skills is through a daily cumulative review.  Students are exposed to skills and concepts that touch all 5 mathematical domains each week. Math Moves allow you to scaffold instruction to meet the individual needs of each student.

Included in this 150 page pack you will find the following:

*Daily Work- 4 questions per day; 16 questions a week; all 5 domains covered every week!

*Weekly Assessment- A separate weekly assessment page covering the same standards from the daily work; 15-25 tested standards each week; all 5 domains covered every week!

*Answer Keys for daily work and assessment.

*Common Core State Standards listed on each question on the answer key

*Tiered approach-the questions get progressively more rigorous throughout the year

*Questions written to meet the standards for mathematical practice

*Common Core State Standards checklist for a visual of when standards are being addressed

Math Moves works great for morning work, but can also be used for homework.  It can also be used for older grades as a review or for lower grades as enrichment!

So, now it's time for the giveaway....Complete the rafflecopter for your chance to win. This contest ends Sunday night at midnight.  So, hurry!  If you can't wait for the giveaway to end, I've discounted the price to $7.50 (from $10.00) until Sunday night, too.  That way, you don't even have to wait on the sale if you are eager to get it now :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway