Operation Classroom Preparation

Yesterday I finally had the chance to get into my classroom and get my teaching mojo going! It was exciting to see some of my co-workers and see how anxious everyone was to get into thier rooms and start getting things done. I was only there for a few hours but I did manage to get a lot of furniture moved to the approximate place that I wanted it to be. Since I moved into a new classroom, I'm not quite sure if everything will turn out the way that I envision it to, but that's okay if it doesn't because I can always make changes. Yesterday and today I plan to work on the room arrangement and get everything unpacked from my old room. Then I can dive head first into the decorating part, the FUN part of it all! :)

When I came home last night I was very motivated to get cracking on some of the things I will need for my room this year. Every year I create bathroom passes to go with the theme in my room/school. This year our school is going with a Patriotic theme, but we are always able to put our own spin on things, which I always do :)! My plan is to incorporate red, white, and blue but through stars and fireworks! I'm excited because I know my students will LOVE it too! Lots of sparkle & shine!

When I started working on the passes I wasn't quite sure what I wanted them to look like. Once I started rolling with them, they just sort of came together and I LOVE the end result!

These still aren't quite finished. I need to drill a hole in the top to add some ribbon so that they can hang on the hooks that I will have by my door. Ireally hope that these last through the year! I put LOTS of sealant on them!!! :)

Be sure to check back throughout the week as I post updates on my progress with my classroom and other FUN stuff!

Until Next Time...

Remember to ALWAYS have FUN learning!!

Recycling Glue Sticks

Does your school recycle glue sticks to raise money? Our school does and it's awesome to get the kids excited about saving our planet and raising money for our school one glue stick & bottle at a time! :)


I thought it would be fun to create a container that would ensure that the kids knew exactly where thier empty glue sticks should go, so I got my brain working and thought that I could re-use an empty Lysol wipes container as the perfect container for our glue sticks.

Doesn't this remind you of an Elmer's glue stick. I didn't have a chance to use this with my kids last year so I'm super excited for my new group of students to see and use this. Hopefully it will help them to remember to recycle thier glue sticks in a fun way!

Thanks for taking a peek! Would love to know what you think!

Remember to Always HAVE FUN LEARNING!

Until Next Time...

Tired of Stepping on Crayons?!?

How many times have you been walking around your classroom and you step on a crayon? I can't begin to tell you how many times I have found crayons on the floor. The worse part is when someone steps on it and then it gets smeared on to the floor and then we have to figure out how in the heck we are going to get it up so that the floor is not destroyed. Not only that how many times have your students said to you "I don't have that color". Millions, right! Last year I had a big light bulb turn on in my head and I decided that it was time that I find a way for there not to be so many crayons on the floor and a way for students to be able to have the colors that they need for activities. What was my solution you ask? Well I decided to create a Crayon Lost & Found (see picture below)

I created this extremely helpful two from the lids of two of the boxes that reams of copy paper come in. I covered it in cardstock and then used my Cricut (LOVE using this machine for classroom projects) to cut the letters and images.

So how does it work?!? Simple, when the students find a crayon on the floor rather than trying to figure out who it belongs to, they place in the Lost & Found. Then when someone says that they do not have a certain color, they simply head over to the lost & found, borrow the color they need, and then return it. No more arguments over someone taking someone elses crayons, or stepping on crayons that have been left on the floor.

I must say that this was sooo helpful last year, and I'm excited to introduce this to my group of students this coming year. I hope to be able to make a few more of these for a few of the teachers at my school.

Well that's all I have for today.
Remember to Have Fun Learning!

Until Next Time!

Welcome

Welcome to Ms. Hamm's First Grade Funland!

As I begin to prepare for the start of another school year, I thought that I would start to blog about my teaching experience. I am going into my fourth year of teaching and I am as excited as I was 4 years ago. I've been teaching 1st grade since I started and I LOVE every minute of it! I will be sharing pictures of my classroom once I can get in to set it up, which won't be until next week...boo!!! Nonetheless I hope to share my experience and resources as a first grade teacher with the rest of the blogosphere! :)

I hope that everyone has a wonderful day!

Most importantly...

Remember to Have FUN Learning!!