Stationery Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Another project I have been working on recently (in my scramble to get as much as possible done for August 27th!!!) is setting up a system for keeping MYSELF organized. Classroom procedures are a big part of that, but I am a firm believer that the way to stay organized and clutter-free is to create a space for everything. Each paper or piece of clutter needs to have a place where it belongs. Teaching involves a LOT of paperwork. Where should it all go? Somewhere that you'll be able to find it, certainly!! You don't want to be scrambling to find your pumpkin addition activity during October and just get so frustrated that you end up wasting time just make or finding a new activity. You loved that one you had! Why re-invent the wheel? If you have to stay organized, I say you may as well make it cute! I have set up a monthly binder system for all of my activities, handouts, and parent letters to sleep when I'm not using them! The binder covers are for sale in my store if you like them :)



I also picked up some cheap (and ugly, I might add) magazine boxes which I plan to use for Monday-Friday boxes for storing my materials for lessons. Bought them at staples...and unfortunately, they only came in this 80's acid wash jeans type pattern. Believe it or not, this was the better of the two patterns! The other was cardboard meant to look like 70's wood veneer. However, not a problem! I spray painted them, stuck some pretty card stock on the front of each, and modge podged over the paper. I also added printed chalkboard labels that say Mon-Fri. They were only $6.00 for a pack of 2, so I was able to get 3 extra for a Grade, File, and Copy system as well!

Before....



 Ugly, right??!

 And after!
 

Much better :)

Hi blogging friends! I apologize, I haven't posted anything in a while. I have been crazy getting ready to go back to school! What I have been working on lately has been laying out a solid classroom routine. Since this will be my first year in the classroom (and my first year coming up with my OWN classroom procedures and routines), I was excited about this. Prior to this year, I have been a substitute for 3 YEARS! The only good thing about that is that I have had the opportunity to observe(and try) hundreds of set-ups. I've seen what works, what doesn't work, what I hate, what I LOVE, and what I'd like to try in my own class! Based on all this (and per the advice of Jody of the ClutterFreeClassroom Blog...Thanks!) I have laid out a manual for my classroom (I know what you're thinking...a little OCD...don't lie I know you're OCD too). But seriously, I could not agree more with Jody's advice that a classroom with a consistent, planned, and practiced routine makes your life so much easier. Even more importantly than that...it creates a learning environment with minimum distractions for your little honey bees. In a class where children have a consistent and clear set of routines, the class basically runs itself! I know first hand by seeing many classrooms WITH a great routine (and many with little consistency). Of course, the best time to establish a consistent routine is the first day of school! So get over to Clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com and get some inspiration! :)


Clutter-Free Classroom: PLAN OUT EVERY PROCEDURE & ROUTINE {Teacher Tip #6...

Name tags are finished!

Well...up late again working on classroom stuff. I just finished making the name tags for the desks in my room. They came out really cute. I looked and couldn't find any I liked that had  a number line and alphabet to reference. I think this is really helpful during the year (especially for kinders who are still learning to write their letters). The number line is great for counting up or back too! I see little ones using it all the time. If you like, head on over to tpt or teachers notebook and take a look!
Goodnight!! Zzzzz

Do they have rehab for Target addicts?

It's official...I am addicted to the dollar spot at Target!!! Well, maybe just Target in general. Let's be honest. Each time, I find AT LEAST one thing I am able to justify buying. It's terrible (but also amazing)! It usually is a great way to just get some inspiration for a fun center activity if nothing else. Today I found these adorable buckets with mini chalk boards on the front! They could be used for many things, but I though they would make a great sorting activity for different letter sounds or long and short vowels using picture cards or real objects!

Cute, right??

A few weeks ago I also found these great dry erase sleeves, which I love! I have already used them for tutoring sessions this summer. So great to use for centers! You can put a recording sheet (or almost anything!) into this sleeve and have kids write answers with dry erase markers. Then just erase and start over! This could be used for so many things. If you have some good ideas, share them!

Do you have this same addiction to the Target dollar spot? I know some of you do just from reading your blogs! 

Calendar Kit Done!

Hey all! I have finally finished putting together my classroom calendar kit! Do you like it? Below is just a sample image, you can see more by clicking it and heading over to TeachersNotebook. I also have a supplement to this which has "today is, yesterday was, and tomorrow will be" posters, an adorable count up to the 10th day using bumble bee counters, and a weather poster. You can see both parts below! I hope they are helpful to you!

Meri

Almost there...

While I really do enjoy creating all these cute classroom signs, I am quickly becoming tired of it! I have made my own nametags, table signs, birthday signs, number visuals, and number line. I am still working on a teacher binder which I will be happy to share with you when it is finished (and when I figure out how to make my pdf's editable)! Honestly, I am really just excited to start working on actual lessons and activities for my kinders to enjoy! I plan do begin doing some of this tomorrow. For now, take a look at my cupcake birthday signs below! If you like, you can click the image to go to TeachersNotebook. Time to rest. My fingers hurt from blogger and digi-scrapbooking! Meri

Cupcake Birthday Signs

Kindergarten Crayons: I Can, You Can, We All Can...

Up late and reading Kindergarten blogs! I have recently started reading Fran Kramer's Kindergarten Crayons and she is SO excellent! I can't stop reading! As a brand new kindergarten teacher I am thankful for experienced teachers like Fran who are so happy to share their vast knowledge and ideas with us. All of the posts on this blog are fantastic and so helpful, but this was one I wanted to remember and share. During a book discussion of Debbie Diller's Math Work Stations, Fran shared this post about creating anchor charts at each work station in order to make the expectations simple for students to understand. I think so often we forget how important this is in all aspects of the day! Make expectations clear with "I can's" and surely children will learn more and take away more from the activity!

Kindergarten Crayons: I Can, You Can, We All Can...

Hi all! I have been working away at various materials I need for next year. I am posting what I have created so far. I wanted to make some printable cards for word families which I can use during literacy centers to do sorts and also use on bulletin boards throughout the year. They came out nice! I used the TeacherResource book for Treasures (which we use). It had word cards for copying, but I of course would rather make my own! I hope you will find them useful.If you'd like to view them in the store, click the link below or the image of them below. Happy Teaching! http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/meriberries/colorful-word-family-cards

Word Family Cards with Word Endings and Words!

Check out this alphabet sign FREEBIE at my Teacher's Notebook store! Thanks for reading!!

Check out these cute table signs!

1-12 Number Visuals for classroom wall!

1-100 Number Line for your classroom wall!!

Hey there! I am in the process of creating all sorts of cute signs to decorate my classroom walls. Here is a sample! A 1-100 number line on cute and colorful bunting (c/o ErinBradleyDesigns!). The pages are cut in half and pieced together in order to create a long cumber line for the wall! I love the idea of having a long number line. It is so useful during calendar and so many other math lessons. It can be used to count up, count back, talk about greater/less than, subtract, add, and more! It's available in my store! Enjoy!

Cheers,
Meri

Click the link to view it in store!
http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/meriberries/1-100-number-line-with-bunting

Blank Canvas

Happy summer, everyone! 

I am spending this summer preparing for my first year in my own classroom. I will be teaching kindergarten! Previous to this year, I have been substitute teaching for three years!! I know. Wow. As much as I did love being a subsitute teacher and enjoy being able to experience so many different classrooms and grade levels, I am more than ready to have a class of my own. Teaching jobs have been few and far between. I am very lucky to have gotten a job--and I can't wait to start setting up my classroom and teaching! I am filled with ideas. 

I decided that rather than buy the signs and materials for hanging up on my classroom walls, I would create them! I love bees, and I have decided on a bee theme for my classroom this year. I will share ideas and pictures with you here on MeriBerries as I create! Most of what I create will be available at my TeachersNotebook store! So if you love what you see, feel free to check it out! 

Hello, all! Welcome to MeriBerries, a blog where I will be documenting my journey as a new teacher as well as sharing some decorating and crafting ideas! 

I must say it feels quite strange writing out into the blogosphere not knowing who reads or cares what I have to say. Maybe no one will ever read this. Maybe a couple of people will. Or perhaps more than a couple! I suppose the whole point is to just write, regardless of who cares! I will enjoy reflecting on my teaching and sharing ideas and projects with anyone who cares to read. 

Welcome & I hope you enjoy.