Wine Rack Marker/Pen Holder

A few years back I saw an idea on Pinterest to use a wine rack to hold cups that can hold pens and markers. I loved the idea, and I had a small wine rack hanging out in the basement, so I gave it a go. 

This six cup wine holder has been in my classroom for the last few years and I love it!

I decided that I wanted to go BIGGER!

I kept searching Amazon.com until I finally found one that I lurrrrved. 

Oenophilia Bordeaux Chateau Wine Rack- 23 Bottle

It took awhile to find cups at the right size (and price since I needed 23) but finally I found them at Walmart (I couldn't find them online, only in the store).  They come in packs of 2 for $1.98 each and are 29 oz. They fit PERFECTLY in the wine rack and the lips on the rims of the cups stop them from falling backwards in the rack!

Here is my completed project (sans markers and pencils because those are still packed away for the summer!)

I Love it! 

This year's Vista Print Fun!

It's time for this year's Vista Print order!

I am not going too crazy this year because I need to feel out my new school environment! 

Whenever I order at Vista Print I always include 250 of their free business cards. I get my name printed somewhere on them. I used them ALL. THE. DARN. TIME last year! I could send notes to parents or to other teachers. The other teachers never had to wonder if my signature was forged when I used theses either!

These worked out really well last year so I just re-ordered them as is.

This is something new I am trying out this year….a classroom participation card! Whenever students answer a bell ringer or a question in class they will get a punch. Each punch is worth 20% of their participation grade. We shall see how this one goes!

I needed to update my hall pass card this time around. It was hard telling what grading period the cards were in last year. I tried marking them differently/punching them in strategic places. I decided to add a place that is unforgeable this time around. I also decided to add a date/time sign out on the back!

 My reward system worked out remarkably well. I just updated them because I felt like they should be green this year…don't ask me why. 

Last but not least I decided to try out their banners. I am thinking about hanging it above my classroom door outside of the room. 

Genius Teacher Hack

I saw this on Pinterest tonight and I thought that it was 100% genius!

I know that when I try to have students read just ONE sentence out loud to hear their mistakes they always fix the blatant mistakes rather than read what is on the screen. 

If you have headphones readily available, have students do this after they type up their essays. 

****Update: I have made a handout to go along with this. Click HERE to get the *Freebie* on TPT