What is Original? and a Freebie

A while back, I posted a free Number of the Day on Google Docs.  I was then notified by a seller on TpT that mine was similar to hers and that might cause her a problem since she was selling hers.  I took mine off of Google Docs.  Since then, I have had MANY emails requesting the Number of the Day download. 

That got me to thinking about "original".  What does it mean anyway?  I have seen many things duplicated by teachers on TpT and TN that I know the seller did not invent.  I purchased two Matter units from two different sellers.  Both of those packets contained Root Beer Float activities.  And what about Oobleck?  How many sellers have that in a packet?  I have seen things duplicated from Lakeshore, Really Good Stuff, Carson-Dellosa, etc.   Check out the Back to School packets.  Most all of them contain some type of getting to know you bingo with the same questions.  So the only thing original in the way it's arranged.

How many times have you thought, "Oh, this would be the coolest idea to do for ___!", only to find out someone else already thought of it?  In the world of teaching, is there such a thing as "original"?  Math concepts, reading strategies, science stuff...it's the SAME everywhere and the activities are the same.  Seriously, I remember putting celery in food coloring to see how the water travels up the stem when I was a kid (a long time ago).  Someone may put a little different spin on it or add a cute graphic and font, but the concepts are still the same.  Many of these "original" ideas came straight from a text book!

I'm not trying to cause anyone any problems.  I'm not trying to be negative or nasty.  I'm just saying that because my Number of the Day was "similar" to hers, does not mean I shouldn't post it.  So, I have decided to put it back up.  FREE FOR THE TAKING! There are 20 premade numbers and one blank so you can create your own.  I only used numbers that would make the telling time to the nearest 5 minutes.  I'll change up once we have covered time to the nearest minute.

Click here to download

I apologize in advance if this post offends anyone.  That was not my intent.  My goal is to help children become successful. And if I can help a teacher or two along the way, that's even better.  What are your thoughts about "original"?  I'd love to hear them!

Monday Made It and a Freebie

Our beach vacation was wonderful.  I was kinda worried that it would rain the whole week, but the weather was just beautiful.  My family was able to relax and make some fabulous memories.  Now that we're back, it's CRUNCH TIME!  I officially go back to work on the 16th, which is just right around the corner.  I didn't get a lot accomplished this past week, but here's what  I've got.

I made some super cute labels for my kiddos' journals.  The math and science will be the same for boys and girls.  Reading and writing are a little different.  I have half sheet size labels that I printed them on so it was super easy to just peel and stick them to the notebook.  Check 'em out.

  
If you would like these, you can grab them for free here.

Our first science unit will be the Solar System, so I made a solar system vocabulator.  The idea came straight from the host of this linky, Tara.  You can check out here post here.  

The little vocabulary cards are FREE for the taking.  Just click here.
You can purchase the tubes at Forney Educational for only $4.
Well, I'm off to work in my classroom for a little bit.  I have to go to the dentist this afternoon for a crown.  Don't forget to link up!

Family Vacay and Made it Monday

 WooHoo!  Family vacay time.  We are packing up and heading to the beach for a few.  My girlies are super excited and I must admit, I am too!  Can't wait to hear the waves crashing and watch the sun rising up over the ocean in the mornings.  Total relaxation!

Finally went to school to start my working on my classroom.  This is what met me.

View from front door

View from back of room

I've been working really hard to get it back together, but I'm not quite ready to post pictures of the finished product yet though.

Click here to go to join the fun!

And now on to Monday Made It with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics.  One thing that I made was this "Compliment Can".  I found this cute trash can at Dollar General.  I hot glued the lid on and then created the label.  This is where the kids will put their compliments that they have for each other.  Then, at our Class Council meetings, I will read the compliments aloud and give the slips to the kids to keep.  They really get into catching their classmates doing something good.

I also put together some Shared Journals that I got from Tara, used my Cricut to cut some vinyl to put on my clipboard container and made some anchor charts for my math board.

If you are interested in the math charts, you can get them here.

Hope you have big plans for the last few days of your break!  Don't forget to link up! 
 

Monday Made It and a Freebie

Got a few things accomplished this week.  Nothing too spectacular but I did want to share.  My poor fingers should be super sore because seems like I have been doing lots of printing, laminating, and cutting.  Got my letters for my word wall completed.  I also managed to get my math vocabulary for the first semester finished, I bought Tara's Letters for Learning and got them ready, and I created a 3 Ways to Write Numbers foldable.  Other than that, I have just been trying to accomplish a few things around the house.  My classroom is ready, so I'll be heading over there in a bit to get started.  I'll be posting pictures of the progress. 

Click HERE to download this foldable.

Inside of Foldable

Some of the Math Vocabulary

Word Wall Letters

Click HERE to purchase this from Tara.

It's Just Another Manic Monday- I Mean, Monday Made It!!

I'm linking up for my 3rd Monday Made It with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics.  I feel like such a nerd for being so excited about this linky party.  Anyone else feeling it?  Anywho, I got a few things accomplished this week and am pretty happy with the results.  


First off, I saw a pin on the infamous Pinterest on how to make your own scratch-offs.  I thought that would be such a fun way to reward the kiddos so I made some of my own.  They have things like eat lunch outside, no shoes for a day, sit in the rolling chair for a day, etc.  Most things are FREE and that makes it even better for me.  So, I created mine and laminated them in the business card sized pouches.  That way, after the kids reveal the prize, I only need to repaint the square and use it again and again and again...You get the idea.  Here's a couple of pictures of the tickets.

After being painted

Before being painted (sorry it's so blurry!)

I also worked on making some numbers for my calendar.  I found this red polka-dotted calendar at School Aids but they didn't have any sports themed numbers so I had to fix that.  How do you think they turned out?  I still need to put Velcro on the backs but the Velcro is in my classroom and I can't get in yet.

 






   








I took Tara's advise and worked on some FUNdametal things but they aren't quite ready to share.  Guess I'll have to share next week.

Removing the Freebies

Hello everyone!  Hope you all had a great 4th of July.  I certainly did.  


It was brought to my attention from a TpT seller that my Number of the Day printable is very similar to one that she has in her store.  In order to not compromise her sales, I am removing mine.  I am also removing the other posters I had for free because I am not sure I have followed all the rules of clip art copyrights.  I am new to this stuff and would never intentionally break any rules.  I sincerely apologize and hope that I haven't done too much damage. 

Another Monday Made It Linky!

Click above to join in!

YIPPEE!! It's Monday Made It day!  I had NO idea how much fun linky parties would be until I joined Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics last week.  I am so excited to be joining in again and sharing what I've been up to makin'.

You know those behavior clip charts that are swarming all over Blogland and Pinterest?  I love the idea and decided to implement that in my room this coming year.  So that's what I made- a Sports Themed Clip Chart.  And, Amanda over at Reaching for the Top sent me this link to use as inspiration.  Thanks, Amanda!  Oh, and I spray painted some clothes pins to use on the chart.  I'll write about how I plan to use the different colored pins in a later post.  

So, without further ado, I present my clip chart!

Pretend this chart doesn't have arms! ;)

Woops!  She's OUTTA THERE!  (I {HEART} THIS GIRL!)

My silly daughter pretending to get a "Grand Slam"!

I also redid these baskets that I had in my room a few years ago.  Two of them were a pale yellow and the other two were a light turquoise.  A couple of coats of spray paint, some cute ribbon, and a button (those are actually brads I got from Michael's) and they are ready for the game!  Don'tcha just LOVE spray paint!!??!!

Well, I'm off to stalk view other blogs!  Don't forget to link up.