Tales of a 1st grade teacher: Donors Choose Project

Tales of a 1st grade teacher: Donors Choose Project: I am in need of some help! I am desperately trying to promote my project at http://www.donorschoose.org/dphilliber Any help would be gre...

Donors Choose Project

I am in need of some help!  I am desperately trying to promote my project at http://www.donorschoose.org/dphilliber   Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I've gotten a project funded there before, so I know it is possible.  I am trying to get a Slate Board (similiar to an IPAD) for my classroom.  I teach 1st grade and know it would make learning so exciting for these students.  If you can help, please go to my site and donate.  Every dollar gets me one step closer!  No amount is too small:)

Really Good Stuff

I am so excited!  I won the facebook contest over at Really Good Stuff!  It is the "Show your Summer" picture contest!  What won it?  Well,  a picture of my feet in the sand!  Now, if I can figure out how to collect my $25.00 gift card.  Does anyone know?

This has been a very busy week.  I've gotten several more Dr. Seuss things created for my classroom.  I think I need to head on over to Really Good Stuff and read their blog about the classroom library.http://blog.reallygoodstuff.com/   This is a great blog, I would suggest you follow.  They have some really great tips and ideas I will use this coming year.  So..... a classroom library?  Well,  I've got several hundred or more picture, young reader books (David Shannon, Eric Carle, etc).  I've always just had them standing up, on my shelves in no particular order.  I think I need to re-do that idea.  I'm thinking by author, and on the random books, just have them lumped together.  Or..... should I go with genres?  Or..... seasonal or holidays?    HELP! 

Organization!

I am in the process of deciding how to organize my room this year.  I usually get so busy that organization takes a back seat!  I want to come up with some really cool ways to display books, have seating arrangements and make my just my room look pleasant.  I do not like clutter, and want my room to not be too busy with "things."  I made an effort to purge my classroom this past year of needless things that I knew I would not use.  I think that as soon as I can get in my room and begin figuring things out, I will feel better.

I would really like any suggestions you may have about organization.  I've been reading quite a bit of http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/  and really like alot of the great ideas.  If you have any great ideas, you would be willing to share, please do!  I look forward to hearing from you!!!

I made my own letters today!  They turned out really cute!  I took poster board (2 colors) and cut one of them into long strips.  I glued the strips on the other board and laminated them.  Then I cut them out using die cuts!  I'm excited!  They look really cute and were totally free!!

 These are the cute little work hangers I'm going to use in my hallway outside of my door.  I'm going to hot glue clothespins to the bag and stick them on the wall.  I think it goes along with my Dr. Seuss theme, "Oh the places you'll go....."    I got these little wooden cut outs at Hobby Lobby for .67 each!

Please follow me...

If you visit my site, and like it, please follow me by clicking on the button on the left side of my page~! Also, feel free to link your teacher site!

Donors Choose

Recently I was introduced to a fantastic website called http://www.donorschoose.org/.  I must admit I was quite skeptical at the idea of having a list of "needs" met by a complete stranger.  I went ahead and created a project, in hopes of catching someone's eye, and getting some much needed supplies.  My project can be viewed here http://www.donorschoose.org/dphilliber?historical=true .  Last month, after having my project up, I received an email saying it was fully funded!  I am still in shock!  I did quite a bit of research on the family that funded my project and found out it was in memory of their daughter, who had died last year in a tragic accident.  This was quite touching and amazing to me!  

I can't wait to receive my supplies when I return to school.  I wanted to tell you about this to encourage you to look at this site, and complete a project list.  It is really possible to get something funded for your students.  I am estatic!  I will keep you posted as I work on another project to get IPADs in my 1st grade classroom!