Blog Template Give Away

Who will be lucky to win a free blog template?
Teacher Ladybug is having a contest now. Check out this link for information.

Clutter Free Classroom

Great news! I just found a new blog and this will help me control the clutter. Having a contest give-away. Take a look yourself.

One new clutter helper that I used this year was to color coordinate my daily folders that I contained each day's activities. Using some sturdy dividers that I bought several years ago from Really Good Stuff (on close-out), I placed graphics on the folders for the subject areas. 

I placed them in a crate and placed six crates on my teacher desk. Now I cannot pile anything on my desk because it is only for filing.

 I really think I am the queen of plastic storage devices. I may have to develop a BA (baskets anonymous!)

Linky Party Word Wall

Looking at everyone's word walls gave me a chance to really look at mine. With the latest linking party I have used this technique for a while. (Our district encourages requires that our wall are shown across the alphabet. The only space I could utilize in this way was to use the space above the white board. I do know that it is visible to the kids but not accessible. I have personal word books that the children keep in their desk and we add the words to their book each week-- (those that we are focusing on).This is how my word wall looked before I took it down for testing:

You will have to use your imagination since this is the best picture I can find! I had used a large font on the computer (200) and printed the words, laminated, and hung. The blue ones are the kids' names.

I had to either cover the word wall or take it down during testing so I just chose to take it down rather than have any more clutter covering up any little letter, word, or number in the classroom. (I never remember this process when I was in elementary school.)

I decided to change it a bit. I found colored index cards at Dollar Tree and bought three packages. I took the Dolch words, no-excuse words that my first graders were responsible for and printed them--in my own handwriting. I used a separate color for letter identification and think it does make the words more visible.  

 I did try to utilize the word wall more during the last month of school. We looked for vowel sounds--long and short, etc. Next year I will take down some of those and start with a few that the kids' had in kindergarten.

How do you use your word wall?

Wonderful Wednesday Find

I was browsing my favorite blogs and came upon a great, wonderful, fantastic,very good find!

 Teaching Blog Addict has organized blogs by....GRADE LEVEL!  Yes I am shouting. It is a time saving and fun way to share and gain ideas. Hope you enjoy. Just follow this link to spend your summer time freely!

Blog giveaway

Here is a chance to get a free lesson plan template:A FREE Give Away For My Followers!

Here is a Free activity pack for all of my followers! All you have to do is post the message below on your blog in a post and add me to your blog list. Just email me and let me know at lessonplandiva@gmail.com and the activity is yours! POST: Check out and follow this new blog! http://lessonplandiva.blogspot.com

You will get my Doggy Dictionary pack for Free! It has some great activities that will help your students learn or review dictionary skills and guide words. There is a pocket chart center, cut and paste activities, and worksheets to help reinforce these skills. This is a 14 page pack.