Hall Passes

So I have been seeing on Pinterest the idea of using customer loyalty cards from Vistaprint as a punch reward system. 

Source: thenesteffect.com via Kacey on Pinterest

Source: pinterest.com via Kacey on Pinterest

Generally, I don't believe in giving students rewards for things they should be doing in the first place. 

However, I still loved the idea and decided to repurpose the idea as bathroom passes!

I don't know about you, but my kids love using any excuse they can to get out of class as much as possible. Because of this I need to have limits and strict regulations tied to my passes.

I have a hard time keeping track of bathroom passes and struggled with finding a way to keep up with them. 

Some years I would keep a list of my kids and check them off as they went (too complicated)

Last year I copied passes that the students had to cut out. These were too flimsy.

I decided that using customer loyalty punch cards would be a great solution!

This is a mock up of the passes I plan to use this coming school year:

Luuuuuurvs it!

How do you handle bathroom passes?

Good News/Bad News and Sale info!

 I have been quiet as of late. I am finally on summer break, but it doesn't feel like I have gotten a break yet and I am behind!

So many things have been happening!

My yard cat Gulliver (that I thought was a boy) turned out to NOT be a boy and brought two kittens to my front porch: 

That meant that I needed to get the decidedly NOT a boy yard cat fixed. She needed another surgery to fix her broken tail as well. Thus began a plethora of issues including, but not limited to, infection, pulled out stitches, ear mites, and more!

She has to wear a collar now (which makes her dump water and food all over the floor) until her surgery wounds heal and she can go back outside!

I had a flat tire....they suck!

Then my car battery died which lead to another annoying adventure!

I have been at work for textbook adoption meetings and curriculum development. 

I normally have my lesson plans done for the next school year before the old school year is out I feel a little panicked, but I'll get there. 

I have been dog sitting for big ole' fur bundles. Which means there are 3 cats and 3 dogs at my house right now!

 I have been doing various home improvements (sump pump, quarter round, deck, screen doors installed, throwing out junk that got ruined in the basement, removing 3 couches and 1 bed, painting the front porch, buy and putting together patio furniture and propane grill). Since most of them are noisy (not to mention the random people traipsing in my house) and it makes it hard to concentrate, I've been trying to work my way through my cleaning list.

My cleaning had been going great until..... the deck got finished  

I luuuuuurv my new deck!

Rory loves the deck too!

Then....I was walking down the new deck stairs on Saturday when I took a tumble. Landed on my ankle and heard a lovely cracking sound. When I was finally cognizant of my surroundings there was a huge gross lump on my foot. That is not my ankle bone that is the lump of pain and sadness on my foot. 

I finally made it to the doctor the next day. Nothing is broken, but I did tear some ligaments. 

I am supposed to be on bed rest (which I have been largely ignoring) and the majority of my foot is so bruised it looks like I have gangrene or frostbite. 

Eventually i hope that life will return to business as usual and I will be able to finish my lesson plans, make some new prezis I have planned, and create some more lessons!

My 30th (sad about this) birthday is on Tuesday so I have decided that since I have not listed anything (or written on the blog in awhile) I am going to hold a 20% off sale in my TPT store!

Sale will be the 24th through the 26th

Take the time to stock up on a few goodies while you are basking in the warm glow of summer!

Happy summer and once I'm back on my feet I'll be back to blogging! 

Summer Cleaning

I don't really understand spring cleaning. Teachers don't have time to do spring cleaning. Instead we do summer cleaning! Which if you ask me is still a waste of a perfectly lovely break!

I spent my night making a list of things I would like to clean in my house. 

Here is my list so far.....I wonder how long it will take?!

Summer Cleaning

The Earth-Shatteringly Amazing Speech That’ll Change The Way You Think About Adulthood

If you know anything about me at this point you know that I LOATHE schmaltzy inspirational videos and words. 

They are just not realistic or honest and you know what else? The truth hurts, but you need to at least be prepared for it. 

So on that note:

It's time again for another show and tell video moment brought to you by Mskcpotter!

I stumbled across this video and wish that I had found it a few months ago. 

The Earth-Shatteringly Amazing Speech That’ll Change The Way You Think About Adulthood

http://www.upworthy.com/the-earth-shatteringly-amazing-speech-that-ll-change-the-way-you-think-about-adulthood-4?g=3

Playing Card on Desks

At the start of each school year I always assign random desks by using numbers that have been taped to the desks (or are inside of my supply bags).

However I just read about a new and neat way to do it!

 I use packing tape to tape down a playing card on each students’ desk. On the first day of school I hand each student a card (from a second deck) and students have to find their matching card to find a seat. Throughout the first semester I use the cards to create groups and call students. For example: All the even numbers can line up! All the hearts will start at the computer station. Find 4 of a kind for your reading response group. etc…

(http://nerdyteacherconfessions.edublogs.org/units-and-lesson-plans/first-week-of-school/) 

This would be great on so many different levels and the possibilities of types of playing cards are endless and cheaper than the number sets I used to purchase!

I looked up a few on Amazon I thought the kids would love (you can click on any of the below to go straight to Amazon)

DOGS!

Harry Potter (would work for me quite well!)

Zombies...kids are obsessed! 

Tim Burton themed cards

3D shark cards....I actually like these a LOT