Friday, July 7, 2017

Dollar Spot Deals: July 7


I'm back for week 2 of #DollarSpotDeals Friday linky party! Today I'm going to be sharing with you how to make a fun and cute gift using items from the Target dollar spot. What's fun about this one is that ALL ITEMS are only $1!

Even though we don't have family close by, we have some FABULOUS people in our lives that love to love on our baby girl. This past week, we had two friends offer to babysit for us (#blessed), and I wanted to give them a little something for their generosity and sweetness! So, to the dollar spot I went....


 We're a family on a budget these days, and I was so thrilled to find these adorable and affordable stationary items in the dollar spot!
 notepad (80 sheets) -$1

 blank cards (8) -$1

 wooden pencils with gold writing (6) -$1

 Each pencil had a different fun phrase written at the top - so neat!

 gift bag - $1
*This did not come from the dollar spot, but was still only $1 in the gift bag section.

 Everything fit perfectly in the bag.

Add some white tissue paper and the look is complete!

Whether you need to give someone a quick "thank you" or looking for a sweet gift for a "secret pal" at work/school, the dollar spot is where it's at for cute and low-cost finds for anyone!

Now it's time to link up! Click the blue button and add in your post about your #DollarSpotDeals!




Monday, July 3, 2017

Monday Made It: July 3

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Today, I'm joining 4th Grade Frolics for #MondayMadeIt! 
I love love love decorating for holidays! I had an old pickle jar that I set aside for weeks hoping for a fun project. With the 4th of July coming up, I found this simple project that I was able to complete all during baby's nap time! And it only required minimal materials!

twine, an old jar*, a small flag, mod podge
(not pictured: scissors, newspaper, brush)
*I used a 16 oz jar and it was a little small for this project. For a seamless finish, I would use at least 20 oz or larger.

First, peel off the labels. The front label peeled right off, but the back one did not. I used fingernail polish remover, soap and hot water, and a lot of elbow grease to get it off.

Unstitch the flag from the pole. You may want to use scissors to help you with the thread until the pole can slide right out.

Flatten the flag and lay it flat.

With mod podge and a brush, coat the jar with glue, then layer the flag on top. Once it is positioned how you want, thickly brush glue over the flag. Don't worry, it will dry clear!

Be sure to lay on newspapers so your mess is contained. (Ok, so maybe I'm the only messy one, but a lil newspaper doesn't hurt! Easy cleanup!)


When it's dry, wrap some twine around the top and arrange as desired. Fill with sand or salt and a candle for a fun votive or some festive flowers for a vase!

 Happy 4th of July, everyone! 


Friday, June 30, 2017

Dollar Spot Deals: June 30


There's few things that teachers love more than strolling through the dollar spot in Target while sipping on a lil coffee (or big coffee....no judgement here). The summer seems especially equipped for teachers who are on break and thinking about the upcoming school year. Obviously, I am no different. I want to share with you some fun resources I think will be great for my 4th grade classroom!
 1. United States felt map ($5)
2. 50 Great States info book ($1)
3. Division and Money Fun practice cards ($1 each)

I am especially excited about the United States felt map! My 4th grade Social Studies curriculum is all about U.S. regions and states and capitals. I love that this felt map is colorful, interactive, and very visual. This fact book contains state name, capitals, nickname, flag, and a fun fact about each state. A quick and easy reference for students curious to learn more about the states.


Why I love this felt map: it comes with landmarks attachments! We study the states by regions, so this would be perfect to introduce the landmarks as we go through the regional studies. It will be a great visual reference to keep up in the classroom all year long!

The division and money practice cards are dry erasable and will be perfect for math centers, early finisher activities, or small groups! Dry erase is instant engagement for 4th graders!

Now, let's connect and share! Link up in the linky party below and share your Dollar Spot Deals! Save this button for your post:




Friday, June 23, 2017

Summer Review Packet for Entering 5th Graders

There's nothing that teachers fear more than a year's worth of teaching flying out the window during summer vacation. We envision them reading nonstop and practicing long division just for fun (ha!). At the end of the school year, I reflected on what I want my 4th graders to remember for 5th grade, and came up with this summer review packet for entering 5th graders.


Some special features of this packet are:
-->Aligned to CCSS and NGSS standards for 4th grade
-->Fiction and nonfiction passages in ELA, Science, and Social Studies
-->Answer keys included (when applicable)
-->Reading log with set goal

10 Math pages
-place value
-addition/subtraction
-math facts
-multiplication
-division
-decimals
-geometry
-fractions

10 ELA pages
-editing sentences
-grammar
-prefixes
-suffixes
-context clues
-commonly misspelled words
-writing
-reading log

5 Science pages
-organisms
-space
-energy
-waves
-rock layers

5 Social Studies pages
-government
-geography
-transportation (reading graphs)
-Independence Day (U.S. history)

Grab it HERE to start prepping your students for summer!

Sunday, June 11, 2017

#mondaymadeit Editable 4th Grade Pacing Guide - Language Arts

I'm linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for a linky party called Monday Made It!

It's time to get organized for 4th grade Language Arts! (If you missed the post about Editable 4th Grade Pacing Guides for Math click HERE.) These editable pacing guides with 4 different versions to fit your needs are the perfect tool to map out your instruction and match it to the standards your school/district requires.
Based on my school system's standards and language arts curriculum, I've identified these units that should be covered in 4th grade:
1. Sentences
2. Nouns
3. Verbs
4. Adjectives
5. Pronouns
6. Adverbs
7. Prepositions
8. Poetry
*9. Writing

*In order to break up the writing units and have a diverse writer's workshops throughout the year, I planned a writing unit at the end of each grammar unit.

In this product, there are 4 different pacing guides to meet your classroom/planning needs.
Skills and days allotted are already filled in, standards column is blank and not editable.


Skills and days are already filled in, standards column is blank and editable.

Skills, days, and standards columns are blank and editable.

Skills, days, and standards columns are blank but not editable.



A standards column is included to make lesson planning for your administrator/district quick and easy! To edit, find the version that has the editable boxes where you can click and add whatever you need. If you want to match the fonts in this document, you will need font PB Make It A Venti (download here). Of course, you can use any font that you want!

Whether you're a newbie to 4th grade or a veteran looking for more organization, I hope this will ease your worry about planning your year of 4th grade language arts!
 CLICK HERE to check it out in my TPT store - Mrs. Elementary!

Friday, June 9, 2017

Editable 4th Grade Pacing Guides - Math

When I moved grade levels to 4th, I was the only teacher in my new grade level (hello, small private school!) and confused as ever! I had no idea what skills to cover, how long it should last, or what order to go in - it was all very overwhelming for this Type A teacher. 2 years later, I've come up with a pacing guide to help organize my math instruction and planning.

Based on my school system's standards and math curriculum, I've identified the math units that should be covered in 4th grade:
1. Place Value
2. Addition/Subtraction
3. Multiplication
4. Graphing/Probability
5. Division
6. Fractions
7. Decimals
8. Geometry
9. Measurement

What's great about these pacing guides is that they are made any way you want them! There are 4 different versions to suit your needs:
Skills and days allotted are already filled in, standards column is blank and not editable.

Skills and days are already filled in, standards column is blank and editable.

Skills, days, and standards columns are blank and editable.

Skills, days, and standards columns are blank but not editable.

A standards column is included to make lesson planning for your administrator/district quick and easy!


To edit, find the version that has the editable boxes where you can click and add whatever you need. If you want to match the fonts in this document, you will need font PB Make It A Venti (download here). Of course, you can use any font that you want!

Whether you're a newbie to 4th grade or a veteran looking for more organization, I hope this will ease your worry about planning your year of 4th grade math!
 CLICK HERE to check it out in my TPT store - Mrs. Elementary!

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

7 Easy Ways to Save Money for a Teacher's Budget


It's no secret that teachers are on the low end of the salary ranks. Many teachers have to supplement their income with after school or weekend jobs just to make ends meet or have enough for savings. There are 7 ways you can save/earn a little extra money without changing your lifestyle. These tips will have your bank account growing in no time!


Oh, the classroom treasures I have found at yard sales. Books, craft supplies, furniture - you name it, a yard sale has it (for cheap!). Last summer, a teacher friend and I went yard sale hopping one morning with coffees in hand and helped each other pick out perfect finds for our classrooms. You've hit the jackpot if you've found a retired teacher with an arsenal of children's books!


I am forever grateful to the friend who introduced me to this app! Get cash back on select items you purchase at the grocery store. Select the items, scan the barcodes, and take a picture of your receipt. You can later redeem your cash back for gift cards at popular restaurants and stores! You can even team up with friends to take your rewards further. Want to start with $10 already on your account? Download the app and use the referral code iskjyhx

Couponing doesn't have to be as extreme as what you've seen on TV! We get the Sunday paper just to take advantage of the coupons. I love this tip because I can save money on items I would have to purchase anyway, such as toiletries, baby essentials, household items, and pantry staples. We also save coupons we get in the mail - many date nights have been possible this way! Some people say it's not worth it because you only save $0.40 here or $0.75 there. But all those coupons add up in a shopping trip and can help you save more than you think in the end! Plus it's FREE MONEY on items you would purchase anyway. Winning!


Do you ever get to the end of the month and wonder where all of your money went? Make a monthly budget to structure your money and keep track of your total expenses. You'll see what extra spending you can cut out and where you tend to do the most splurging. It's going to be tough, but really stick it out for a few months and you'll see results!


If you routinely (or even occasionally) shop at Walmart. You need to download their app and take advantage of the Savings Catcher! Scan your receipt in the app, and Walmart will give you cash back by price matching. If they find a cheaper price somewhere else on an item you purchased, they will give you the difference in cash back that you can use as a gift card later. So easy to use!!


The easiest way to get FREE MONEY! Almost credit card out there offers some form of cash back, along with apps like Ibotta and Walmart (and the next tip, Swagbucks.com). If you have cash back, USE IT! My husband purchased a 60" TV for our home using only cash back! Whether it's used for fun purchases or as an emergency fund, you'll be happy to have it.


This one can take a little longer to see the savings build, but like cash back, you'll be glad to have it! Take online surveys or shop online and earn Swagbucks that can later be redeemed for gift cards. The night before my daughter was born, we used a restaurant gift card that was earned through Swagbucks.com - a great date night! Swagbucks.com also has grocery coupons you can print and use in store - PLUS you get Swagbucks for using the coupon. Double winning! Use this link to get started!

Have questions? What are your go-to ways to save money?
Find me on Instagram @mrs._elementary or email me at mrselementary@gmail.com.