Scratch off one project from the list...

So if you remember from my second blog post, I went on about how I wanted to create a tree in my classroom...
Well, several paper grocery bags, a roll of painters tape, a little over a month later, its finally done!
Here are the pictures!

The kids seem to really love it.  They were amazed as the trunk went up, then the branches.  

They have been really great about not touching it, too!  One of these days I need to add some sticky tack to make sure it stays up there.  One of these days...

On to the next project!

Election Day?

Why the question mark, you ask?  Well, because I have fallen a little behind on my blogging!  Election day was a month ago!

Here is what I did with the kiddos.  We learned what an election was, what the requirements for president are, and a little about the two main candidates.  I refrained from holding an election about the actual candidates, so we held a secret vote to decide what we were going to have for snack that day instead.

After we talked about voting, I had the kids do a writing activity.  Usually, this would be like pulling teeth.  They DO NOT like writing after school... but they seemed okay with this activity.

If I became president... I would go fishing.

If I became president... I would give a speech to everyone.

If I became president... I would travel the whole world except Cuba. (His big sister apparently taught him about Cuba?)

Most of the kids did a decent job.  I tried to make all nine kids complete the activity.  It took a couple days because of homework, but everyone got it done to some extent!  I am trying REALLY hard to keep the program educational.  I value the benefits of learning through play, but I also like making sure the kids are keeping up on their academic skills :)

Roll A Santa - Freebie!

I found this gem on Pinterest this weekend and my kiddos love it! I thought I would share :)
The Roll a Santa - Freebie is an easy number recognition game.  Children simply take turns rolling a die.  They match the number with the chart to see which part of Santa they get to collect.  The first player to complete Santa wins.  My four year old was able to play alongside my 1st and 2nd graders so I consider this game pretty successful!

To construct the game, I printed two copies  in color on card stock (I only have nine kids at any one time, so I figured two players was fine). I then cut the pieces out, laminated, and cut them out again.  I store all the small pieces in a plastic baggie, and then everything goes in a file folder labeled with the name of the game and the directions.  All of my games are placed in a basket along with any pieces they may need to play the game.  

If you like this freebie, make sure to click the link and visit the author's blog.  I'm sure she has many more awesome creations!

iBookshelf & the start of my collection

I have officially started my book collection!  I have so a couple art teaching books in storage back in Wisconsin.  Books like Lines that Wiggle, and Uncle Andy's.  But I knew from the start of my new teaching job that I wanted to expand the book collection in my classroom.  

My teacher friend (and bestie!) recommended I visit a secondhand store called Savers.  If you have one near you, I would suggest checking it out.  I am SO glad I did!  They have children's picture books for $0.69 each, and the best part? If you buy four books, you get the 5th book free!  That meas I got five books for just  $2.79.  I ended up getting 35 books.  I spent less than $20 which is great, because I recently bought four books from Amazon and paid almost $30.  As you will see, the majority of the books I bought are classics, and most of them look new.  I was shocked to see that all these classics ended up at a thrift store.  I NEVER find great books like these at my local Goodwill.  Here is a sampling of what I bought.  I think they will be very useful for lessons in the future!

 Since I now have all of these books, I thought organizing and cataloging them would be a good idea.  I am bringing these books into my classroom without being reimbursed by my school for them.  I want them if I ever leave, or for when I have children of my own!  I did some research and came across iBookshelf.  They have both a paid and free app.  I tried the free app just to see if I would like it.  There is a 20 book storage limit on the free app, so I ended up upgrading for $1.99.  With the upgrade I have unlimited storage AND I can change the theme of my library (notice the peacock feathers!).

There is an option to backup and store your book database online, which I think is a great idea.  On the right, you can see the different ways to view your book collection.  I think I will find this especially helpful when I am buying new books.  No doubles!

I love that there is an option to scan books into the database with a barcode scanner.  It makes importing books really easy.  You can import the rest of the information based on ISBN number, or with the title and author.  There are also fields for status and price.  This makes it easy to track books checked out to students or borrowed to other teachers.  The price feature tracks the total value of your book collection.  

Overall, I am very happy with my purchases.  I am excited to start a great book collection :)  Want to help add to my collection?  Click here for my book wish list! 

A Clean Slate

Well... Here's my classroom!
It isn't much, but its mine and I am SO excited to start making it over. I already removed some not so amazing birthday cupcakes and some slightly tacky posters. All that's left to toss is that awesome awful wolf calendar and I have a clean slate!

Here is what I am starting with:

My materials shelf.  

I plan on replacing some of the materials and stocking those drawers with games and/or art supplies. 

From here you can see the dining room.  

The kids eat snack here!

Yep, that is the awful calendar I was talking about...

Work tables!

I have a TON of plans for this room.  Hopefully they won't be too far over my head.  My first plan is to get a book shelf in the room somewhere.  I am looking to start my book collection and I need somewhere to store my books that can still be accessible to the kids.  My second project in progress is a tree that will fit right behind that interesting looking sofa thing on the wall near the front door.  I want to create a comfortable place my kids can read and relax after their busy days at school.

Here is my tree inspiration 

from A Teacher Out of the Box:

Keep an eye out for updates on the progress of my classroom makeover!  Changes will slowly but surely be happening! 

All about Miss Melissa!

Hello, and welcome to my blog!
How about a little bit about me?

This is me showing off some of my stained glass work at a sorority fundraiser

I have lived in Wisconsin all my life... until about three months ago.  After I graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater and received my bachelor's degree in art education, I moved to Illinois.  I am five minutes away from my bestie from college and I have my amazing boyfriend right by my side.   I love it here, although I will admit I find myself missing Wisconsin every once and awhile.  I can't say that it is what I imagined my life after college would look like, but I am grateful it ended up this way.  In my free time I enjoy scrapbooking, creating stained glass and participating in game nights with my friends.  Since graduating I haven't had much luck finding an art teacher job, so I have broadened my horizons... which led me to what I am doing now!

I am currently the after school teacher at a small Montessori school.  The purpose of this blog is to create a portfolio of my teaching.  I LOVE my job, but by goal is to some day teach art in a public school.  I love gathering resources to use in my classroom from places like TeachersPayTeachers
 and Pinterest, and I hope to be able to share activities that my kids love with other educators.