Monday Made It - June 27

Hey all!  It's me.....hosting my own linky:)  First of all, THANK YOU to everyone who linked up or visited or both last week!  I appreciate you all coming by and the sweet comments you're leaving!  I have been loving looking through all the linkups already and have lots on my to do list to keep me busy!

I'm excited about my made its this week although, they almost did me in....like seriously....but I survived and they are ready, so here we go!

Library Event Calendar

Ok, so.....last year I pinned this idea from Michael that he had shared on the blog Who's Who and Who's New.  What idea you ask?  Well he has a FAB post about having an Event Calendar in your classroom to promote excitement and engagement in your classroom library.  I pinned it and said to myself, "I am SO doing this next year!"  Well, a year happened and I didn't get around to it so, it was moved to the top of my summer to do list!  

Now, I am not going to go into huge detail about this and how it all works because Michael's post,  WAKE Up Your Classroom Library, is fab and filled with lots of info and ideas so PLEASE pop over there and read it!   As soon as I read his post I knew I wanted to make an event calendar for my classroom....sure, make one it will be easy:/  Well, like I said on ig earlier this week......this one about did me in!  Why, you ask....well silly me couldn't be happy with just grabbing a pre-made calendar.....NO, I HAD to make one....one that was cute and would match my classroom:/  Ugh...lol!

This is what I started with.  This board was on clearance at Hobby Lobby:)  Then I grabbed some clips and the rest I had or made.  I used upholstery tacks and jute (I had to replace the ones that were there and add more)

This calendar will be on display in my classroom library and I will add events throughout the year.  The kids will come in and see events on the calendar and the excitement will build.  Michael's post has a TON of different ideas for events to plan, along with explanations:

-Friday Finds

Monday Makeovers

-Tuesday Trades

These are just a few.

Michael also has lots of other great posts about his library on his blog

I added ideas like:

Read with a Buddy

Flashlight Friday

Teacher Takeover

Design a Cover

The ideas are endless!

I made little event cards to go along with this calendar.  I used some of his ideas and made some up of my own, I also have some blank ones included so I can just write the event with a dry erase marker and then change it out as I come up with more ideas.

The little clips I got at Hobby Lobby, will make it easy to move things around and add events throughout the month!

I am so excited about this and even though it took me forever to make, I am thrilled I did it!  I think it will promote so much fun and excitement in the classroom and about reading!  

If you are interested in checking out the numbers, you can see them HERE:)

My next made it was actually a made it "Boo Boo"!  Like I said before, the calendar numbers almost did me in....lots of layers.  When I thought I was done, I printed, laminated and cut them allllllll out.  Then I laid them out and didn't like how the number background colors all lined up (like stripes)....I know, I know, I have issues:/  Well, yes I redid the backgrounds but there was NO WAY I was going to just throw away the set I had already laminated and cut out.....think Tara...what can you do?

Then I remembered the cute little book checkout station I got from Jessica at Mrs. Heeren's Happenings  a few years ago AND....lightbulb!  I knew what I could do with my extra calendar numbers and they would match all my other classroom decor!

I started assigning numbers to my students a few years ago and love it:)  In my classroom, we use book luggage so I don't have them "check books out" unless they are taking them home.  Now when they check a book out to take home, my librarian will just write it on a little post it and tuck it behind the number of that student.  I have included the Checkout Hangout sign in the numbers set in case you also what to do this.  The pocket chart is from Target dollar spot:)  Jessica's Book Checkout Station is ADORBS and FREE, so if you want that, click HERE:)

Now, on to some summer fun made its:)

Summer Monday Made It wouldn't be the same without some of my planting pots and garden posts.  Sadly I have not been doing as much planting this year for a few reasons:

a) saving money for the wedding that is right around the corner

b) we have had tons of rain

c) with that rain there are a TON of mosquitoes...which tends to put a damper on the gardening thing for me:/

So I have had the old (chippy, not dirty for my friend Farley) bird bath sitting around and as you can see, it has a hole.  I couldn't part with it...I have a thing for vintage...so I decided to repurpose it:)

First I covered the hole with some coconut liner and then put some rocks in the bottom and then some soil to fill it with SUCCULENTS!!!!!

Ya'll, I have a serious succulent addiction!!!!  LOVE them so much!  I love how this turned out and hope they thrive:)

Right along with the gardening theme, I decided to brighten up my porch.  Again, I have some vintage metal furniture on the porch that needed a little pick me up.  I have done the whole shabby chic thing and just wanted some fun color, so I decided to #paintallthethings!

I still have quite a bit of work to do out there but I've gotten a lot done and it's a fun place to sit and do work or read!

Ok....done!!!  That was a long one!!!  Can't wait to see all the goodness ya'll add this week!  Don't forget to link up on Instagram too with #mondaymadeit.  Make sure you tag me @4thgradefrolics:)

Now, grab your coffee and ENJOY!  

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Monday Made It Hosted by The Inspired Owl

Hey gang!!  So excited for another guest host for Monday Made It.  This week my guest host is the sweet Marissa from The Inspired Owl's Corner!  She has so many fab ideas and shares so much, I am thrilled to have her here!

Hi! I'm Marissa and I'm so excited to share my Monday Made It projects on Tara's blog! I teach second grade in California and blog at Inspired Owl's Corner. 

Tara was one of the first bloggers I ever found on Pinterest years ago. I have always admired her for generously sharing her ideas and creations with the teaching community. I'm thrilled that Tara started MMI weekly for the summer since I have so many projects I need to get started. Now I have the perfect motivation to get it all done!

Last year I gave each student a writing journal. My plan was to give them a daily prompt to respond to, but the journal quickly became their place to write all of the things that were important to them. They were constantly asking if they could write inside their journals. Next year we will have a new reading program, so I'm not sure how I will have my students use this journal, but I know I want my students to have one. I cut construction paper to fit the covers of composition books (they are 8 1/2 x 6 7/8 and from my school's office supplier) and added the My Writing Journal cover to the front. The students can color them on the first day of school to personalize them. 

Last year was also my first year in my new classroom. There are tons of shelves and cubbies for the students, but I wasn't sure how to use the cubbies, so I didn't assign them their own specific space. Each group had buckets to store markers, colored pencils, etc. on their tabletops.  Since they didn't have much extra space inside their desks, I gave them a durable Ziplock baggie to keep their crayons and other personal items in. This was a disaster! Crayons, erasers, pencils, pens, and highlighters were constantly all over the floor. When the back to school sales begin, I am going to buy a class set of supply boxes, and I will assign cubbies. When they aren't using their supply boxes, they are going to be stored in the cubbies. 

Since our school wide theme will be superheroes next year, I added superheroes to them. You can grab them here if you would like to try them out. 

Earlier in the year I bought a photo storage container from Michaels to organize my math task cards. These containers hold 16 plastic cases that are perfect for holding task cards. 

I picked up a second one on sale last week at Michaels to store my language arts task cards. Since we will be using our new reading program, I want to make sure my task cards are organized for each week. 

I always have task cards available for students to grab and take to their seats during math and language arts Daily 3 rotations. This is something I want to continue next year. I love how Rebecca from Create Teach Share organized her Close Reading Took Kits, and decided to buy two more containers to store math and language grab and go task cards for the week. The individual cases inside are the same size as the ones in the containers above. (Below is what the labels on the containers look like in case you want to pick some up.) There are six plastic cases inside. I've seen them at Joann's, Michaels and Hobby Lobby. Some people have even seen them on clearance at Target. 

I'm redoing my classroom decor next year, so I added these cute kiddos and colors to match my new theme. You can download all four labels here. 

Tara, thank you so much for allowing me to share on your blog today! 

Now it's your turn to share. Grab the graphics and above and link up your blog post below. I can't wait to see what you created!

Marissa

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Monday Made It - June 13

Here we go with another week of #mondaymadeit Summer version!  I had big plans for this week...I even posted a little tease on my IG last week.  Well, my little project is taking way longer then I thought, soooo, it will have to wait, but I did manage a few others;)

Staying in the planner/organization theme that my friend Nicole shared on last week's Monday Made It, I made some things for my planner....and before I share, I will confess, I am obsessed with planners and have tried all types to try and organize this #hotmessexpress....I am constantly trying something new and am sure I will be headed the bullet journal direction at some point.  So my first made it was some new dividers for my personal sized planner.

Yes, my planner may be a little over the top (don't judge), but ya know what?  It keeps me organized and makes me happy to look at:)

My Login Loops have truly helped me (and I hope lots of others) stay organized and sane in the classroom with multiple usernames and passwords.  I have recently had some requests to make a set without kid clipart and a little bigger.

Sorry about the glare on the pics.  These are all printed and ready to roll for my new class.

These are a freebie in my TPT shop:)  Click HERE if you would like to grab it:)

I have foreverrrrr seen these adorable little finger buddy things on blogs and IG and have never found them......until now;)  So I had to make a cute little jar to put them in.

Don't think for a second that fourth graders are too old for reading buddies or things like this!  They love it AND ANYTHING that will help motivate them to read and add to their enjoyment while reading, I'm in!

I got the little "cookie jar" at Hobby Lobby as well as the little finger buddies:)  Can't wait to use them with my new students.

Ok, now it's your turn!  Thank you so much to all who linked up last week!  Grab the buttons to use on your posts and if you IG then don't forget to tag me and use #mondaymadeit:)

Don't forget to leave some love on the blogs you visit!!

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