Follow me on Twitter

So I set up a twitter for my teaching blog. (I already have one for personal use and one for crafty/etsy store use). What's one more?

Please follow me:) Right now it's sad in followerville.

MrsHawksNest on Twitter go go go

Google eye reader/spacer all in one

So as I came across this on Pinterest:

Source: mymontessorijourney.typepad.com via Jennie on Pinterest

I had every intention of recreating these bad boys for my students.

I also saw on Pinterest how these are used to help students leave adequate spacing in writing so I decided that mine would function for both reading and writing.

Here's how mine turned out:

I numbered mine to go along with their student numbers (also seen in this post: popsicle-sticks-usage-in-classroom

Can't wait to use these in the classroom.

Also check out the post I did over at 

about recycled crayons. Great back to school surprise to have for your students on the first day.

Teacher Box

I'm sure you've all seen the teacher boxes floating around on pinterest. I ran across this idea before pinning was the latest and greatest new thing and have had the bead box forever just sitting around.  I guess I was lacking motivation.

After finding some cute paper clips and push pins from Target, I knew I needed to get a box ready to house all these great teacher accessories.

All you need is a clear bead box (can get these at local craft stores)
Ribbon
Scrapbook paper
Embellishments
Fillers to go inside the box

Here's how mine turned out;

You know you want to go make one of these....:)

4th Grade Frolics is having a Giveaway

and Tara will not disappoint you with her giveaway goody.  She is giving away a Dr. Seuss bracelet from

Wanna see what it looks like?

You can't deny the awesomeness of that bracelet. 

In fact Sophie's Beads has even more awesome book bracelets to choose from like:

Junie B. Jones

Chronicles of Narnia. 

The hunger Games (which i have yet to read, anyone want to let me borrow their copy?)

There are tons more to see here:

Sophie's Beads

Want the Seuss bracelet? 

Head over here and find out how to enter!

Popsicle Sticks (usage in the classroom)

I have a confession to make. 

Thanks to pinterest, I am slightly addicted to using Popsicle sticks in the classroom.

My use of them this prior year was very simple but I wanted to spice them up a bit.

My students are given a number at the beginning of the year.  It goes on their desk and is a reference for how I display test scores, grades, call them to line up, etc.  I have a can of popsicle sticks on my teacher computer cart that has their numbers at the top.  Whenever we are doing an activity where I want to illicit a response I use the sticks to randomly call on students to answer questions, come up to the board to complete a problem, or provide a closure to the lesson.  I also use the system for randomly picking buddy pairs and cooperative groups.  It works wonders.

So I mixed up a batch of these bad boys for this school year;

back side

fun and funky

front side with student numbers

 the sticks displayed

 aren't they super cute?

my fly pot. It's for sale here: FLY in the ohlovelyoil shop

Next up:...sight word chant sticks. 

Found them on pinterest

Source: growingkinders.blogspot.com via Jennie on Pinterest

how stinking cute are these? If you follow the link to the blog which will take you to GrowingKinders, you to can scoop this freebie.  I knew these sticks would be a great addition to my word study lesson plans and activities and the kid will love these.

All you need is the free print outs from growing kinders, Popsicle sticks, nd some good ole modge podge. 

I decided to paint my sticks because well ...I'm craftastic like that. 

Here's how mine turned out:

 I am not going to use this jar but i thought it was cute to display them in.

 look at that colorful tip goodness

 front side of the stick has the name of the chant/activity

back side describes it:)

I have some more ideas (at least 3 more) that I am going to be making and will post those when finished.

In the meantime you should also check out 4th grade frolics and see her multiple choice sticks she made with Popsicle sticks. 

now off you gooooooooooooooooo to be inspired.  

I heart packages and my repurposed "teacher notebook"

So today after I got home from working at my in law's furniture store (which you should go like their facebook page here: The Bed Bug Furniture on FAcebook) I checked the mailbox and front porch to find this:

The small package contained my bible cover I ordered from Etsy which looks like this:

Package 2 was my winnings from ohboy4thgrade

hello awesome and amazing Vera Bradley package and surprise earrings. 

It came with a notebook, binder, folder and super cute notepad

it's okay for you to be a little jealous:)

At the end of each school year I head out in search for my newest teacher notebook. During the summer I begin brainstorming, making lists (oh so many lists), and lesson planning. All which are housed in my handy dandy notebook.  I have a slight obsession with collecting journals and notebooks and found this one on my bookshelf ready to be written in.  I wasn't a fan of the design 

I altered it and turned it into this:

and added tabs to section it off:

super simple.

low hassle.

Do you have a teacher notebook and if so what do you use it for? ready...set..share!

Blog Mixer Linky Party

All the other fabulous blogs I follow were doing it, so I guess I caved. (eh peer pressure)

Yearn to Learn is hosting this link party and here's the deal-e-oooo

1.  A blogger who is a "New Kid on the Blog"(Let's say someone who has blogged 2 months or less and has less than 200 followers)Mrs. Hahn I was pretty excited when I stumbled upon her blog today because 1. she likes feathers and 2. she does craftastic things like modge podge clip boards
2.  Post a blogger in your same grade levelSince my classroom can house K-3 this one was easy peasy
Mrs. Tabb (first grade) (you might can find her on www.thebomb.com )Mrs. Lemons (2nd grade)
3.  Post a blogger in a different grade level
Tara at 4th Grade Frolics
and http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/ (even though she is going to be teaching 4th now)

4.  It's all about the button. Find a cute blog button and post it

For even more great blogs head over to Yearn to Learn and follow until your little heart is content:)

Birthday Cake remix A GIVEAWAWY FROM MRS. Tabb!

What's better than birthday cake remix from Coldstone?

oh..I don't know maybe a BIRTHDAY unit giveway 

from 

She's giving away 3 free copies over here

it's ya birrrffday shorty

Plus her blog is worth following regardless of if you're trying to scoop up one of these goodies.

i am a WINNER!

Today has been one of those stressful, bang head against the wall kind of days.  Storm clouds followed me for a good portion of the day until I came home, checked my blog feed and found this

remember the Trash to Treasure linky party contest I entered here

trashtotreasure

Well I won one of the prizes. 

I so needed this sunshine today.

it couldn't have come at a more perfect time.

(insert happy dance here)

Someone else's trash became my Treasure:)

Fact number 1: I love altering and making/creating things.
Fact number 2: My husband is a garage sale/thrifting guru. When you are married to someone who has this gift of finding "treasures" among "trash", you have no choice but to participate in the journey.

So at the end of this school year I had to move classrooms (mind you I had already moved mid year). I guess you could say I'm like a traveling gypsy.  My new classroom has a perfect spot under the telephone for a small shelf.  It only took 2 Saturday's to come across the perfect fitting shelf for my room which happened to look like this:

Don't you just love the sponged on tan and blues? mmmm good looking

Scored this one for 2 whole dollars:)

So after casting forth vision, here's what I decided to do with it.

bright blue, black and white plus some hot pink...

now that's more like it

 I am quite obsessed with the top

 Oh hey cool frame from Hobby Lobby

 the black strips are....chalkboard!!! quotes, words, phrases, doodles

I love these blocks. great for list making

or if I feel generous, letting the students draw on my teacher shelf 

Now head on over to 

and check out some more trash to treasure creations.