Monday, July 2, 2018

Back to School Prep Ideas

It is time to get this blog up and running again!  In just three weeks, we will go back to school!  Boy summer sure does fly by!  At any rate, it is time to prepare.  What can you do before school starts to help throughout the year?  Well, I have a few things I did that might be helpful for you, as well.  

The first thing I have done is prepare my student birthday gifts in advance.  I went to the Dollar Tree and bought these lollipops.  Then, I created a sticker label to put on the Carnival Pop side.  Finally, I wrapped the lollipops in cellophane with colorful, curling ribbon.   BAM, all 22 of my birthday gifts are ready!  


 Lollipops
Lollipops

Curling Ribbon

Bags for Lollipops


I also needed a gift, just a small something to hand out at Open House.  I went to this blog and printed off these labels for Fun Dip.  




Back to School Labels
 Fun Dip
Fun Dip



I bought the Fun Dip from Amazon, but I could only find a box of 48.  I decided I would use the left overs for my Economics Behavior Store. 

Which leads me to my next summer prep item.... The Economics Positive Behavior Store.  I want to really push this store at the beginning of the year.  This has been and will continue to be my way of encouraging positive behavior throughout the year.  So, I had to print and laminate the dollars I use for the store years ago.  I collect and keep these dollars to use from year to year.  I want to have my store on display the first two weeks, so the students will see what they could buy with their bucks.  So, now is the time to start collecting items for the store.  I called several restaurants and asked for any donations of toy treats for the store.  I also printed homework passes and Lunch Bunch passes.  Lunch Bunch simply means the student can eat with the teacher.   Lunch Bunch is always a big hit.  Candy is too!  I am sure to let the students "shop" after week two of school to get them excited about the store.  Then, I only let them shop before a break.  You can decide what works best for you.  Some days I come in with a pack of candy and tell the students it is a one day sale.  I usually do this when I am running low on bucks and need more to pass out to the students!






Another thing I try to do every summer is invest in more FLEXIBLE SEATING.  I buy something every summer to add to my classroom.  This year I purchased two more wobble stools, which means I have 5 now!  I let five students a day sit on a wobble stool at their desk.  The next day, five more students get them until everyone has had a chance.  Then, we start the rotation over again!!  The students look forward to their day for the stools!  I also purchased the multi-colored stools to sit around the kidney table.  I took my own children's spider chairs to school because they did not use them anymore.  Now my only problem is I have nowhere to store all the classroom chairs!!!  




Pillow seats

Wobble Stools
Flexible Seating



The last thing I do is go ahead and buy my Daily Language Journals for the school year.  I purchase two ten packs and then individual journals for the remaining number of students I have.  I get these from Lakeshore Learning, and have used them for years.  I LOVE them for morning work and establishing morning routines.  The students seem to like them, too! Monday is PhonicsTuesday is GrammarWednesday is VocabularyThursday is either Reading Literature or Informational Text, and Friday is either Conventions or Writing.


Daily Language Journals
I hope some of these ideas will help you get your year started off right!  I am super excited to teach 2nd grade in my community.  I think this is going to be the best year yet! Year 19, and still going strong!  LOVIN-LIFE TEACHING!!!
Visit my Teacherspayteachers store for many fun and engaging ideas!!!




Loving-Life TPT store


2 comments:

  1. Hey Christy! Where do the kiddos keep their money while they are waiting to shop? I want to try this, but I dont want to keep up with their total, storing their money, or worry about the kids stealing from each other.

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  2. Hey! I have them keep their money in a jewelry bag or envelope. They have to keep their money IN their desks. I also threaten that if they take anyone else's money, they will not shop at the next shopping date. I really have not had a problem with that at all, though. Hope it works for you! My students loved it!

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