Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Orientation and Donors Choose

Today is the third day of New Teacher Orientation for my new district.  I have been listening, learning, and absorbing all kinds of new knowledge.  While I've been trying to focus on all of the information, my brain has occasionally slipped off to my classroom and lesson plans for next year (which is only 3 & 1/2 weeks away!).  I have a notebook partially full of doodles, notes, and ideas on everything ranging from literacy and math stations to room arrangement and supply needs...and new teacher orientation information, of course!  While coming up with ideas for my kindergartners  I thought of a need we have in our classroom and a fantastic resource that has helped meet my students' needs before.  I LOVE DONORS CHOOSE! 
Have you heard of it?!  If you are a teacher, it will become one of your favorite resources for helping your classroom.  I created a Donors Choose profile a few years ago and have decided to post a new project for my kindergarten kid-o's!  If you are interested in helping out our classroom, know someone who might be, or are just curious about why I'm so excited, click my project link here: Ms. Scrivner's Donors Choose Project .  For the next 6 days (until July 30) the donors choose team will match every donation given to our project $1 for $1--that's a double donation!!!  Just enter the word INSPIRE at checkout to have your donation doubled.  Thank you for your help.  Please spread the word and I'll do the same for you when you try it! 

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Summer Yard Sale Excitement

Does anyone else get excited for summer yard and garage sales?  I have been up before 8:00 am for two Saturdays in a row looking for the best bargains.  My idea of a bargain???----classroom supplies, of course!  I've been looking for summer deals and freebies to stock up my new kindergarten classroom and digging through other people's "junk" to find creative and decorative treasures is just the thrill I need on an early Saturday. ;)  Here is a picture my collection from the past two Saturdays:


Here's the list of goods:

4' x 6' City Roads Carpet 
2   Boggle Jr Games
1   Candy Land Board Game
71 Piece Leg Set
6   Unit Themed Hats
1   Storytelling Felt Board, Glove, and Characters with Book
1   Glittery Hand Pointer
1   Humane Insect Observations Bug Vac
1   Table top dry erase, chalk, and magnetic board easel
12 Piece Grilling Toys
10 Number Magnets
20 Animal Magnets
2   Chapter Books
10 Picture Books
4  Book Box Set of The Ramona Collection  

ALL items were less than $5 a piece except for the Lego's splurge of $12 (the same set is on Amazon for $45!!!)...Coming to a grand total of....bargain hunter drum roll please....$35.00! Amazing, right?!  Well, I was excited at least.  In order to celebrate my success, I'm having my own yard sale next weekend.  It's actually a moving sale and not teaching related at all, but I thought I would mention it anyway.  In case this gives you the itch to get out there and dig for bargains, here is a link with some tips on finding the best deals around: Thrifting, Yard, and Garage Sale-ing Tips by ThriftyFun.  Happy hunting!