When You're Cheap Like Me...

One of my all-time FAVORITE things to do this time of year is to see pictures of other classrooms!  There are so many awesome teachers I follow on blogs or on Instagram who share AMAZING rooms.  I want to be in them!

When scouring these pictures, I'm always looking for cheap ways to do practical things.  We all know we don't have an endless budget.  This year I needed storage for my iPad minis - and they have a large enough case on them.

I know some people use dish racks and some people use drawers (I have drawers for my Chromebooks) but I wanted something else.  While walking around the Dollar Tree the other night, I grabbed some napkin holders.   A $3 board and a handy husband and VOILA!

I do know my husband used screws with a washers and did something while drilling so it didn't crack the plastic.   This has room to add more and I know, for sure, it will fit my bigger cases (unlike the charging docks I've seen online)  

Bloomz

I'm so excited to try this in my classroom this year!  A new parent communication app. It is available for free to parents on iTunes and Google Play Store.

  Private to just your parents.  Share pics, make appts, set conference times, send a reminder!   I will update you as the year goes on to how it's going.

Sign up here! 

Classroom Library Check-Out System!

Classroom Organizer

Need a great classroom library check-out system? Check out the site that I've been using for the past 3 years!

Put your books into this website and have the kids checkout their books on the computer. You'll know who is picking what and who had a book if it goes missing or damaged.

I love the reports options so I can better track what my kids are reading. We all know it's tough to get track of 20+ kids at the same time!

I was fortunate enough to already have my books inventoried in an excel spreadsheet. However, if you don't it would be an easy job for a parent volunteer to tackle!

I incorporate "Book Selection" into a Daily 5 choice (they can go once a week). This way students are rushed and have time to choose books correctly! Feel free to ask any questions you might have!