Made 4 Math #7- Back to School Edition

Today was our first teacher institute day. I'm not very excited for this year and I don't really know why but at least I have a lot of cute stuff.

I found these silverware bins at the Dollar Tree and thought they would be perfect for supplies. I replaced my clear hanging gift bag idea with these because I think the bags would just be more trouble than they are worth. And the bins look so nice and neat. I used sticky foam letters from the Dollar Tree to label each bin because it just seemed like they should be labeled.

The bins say they are 12 inches long but they definitely are not. I put a measuring tape in the bins and decided to make my own Pringles can ruler holder. You guys didn't tell me the rulers only fit without the lid. :( I was disappointed but regardless, the can is pretty dang cute.

I found this pink glittery storage cart on wheels at a yard sale. Glittery pink is not really me but it was $2 and on wheels. You can never have too much storage. I organized a lot of my newest purchases to fit in here and that's about it.

Also, I bought a super cool clock. I like that it's big and it just seems mathy to me but the even better part is that you can customize it and put your own pictures in it! I take a lot of pictures and usually hang them up on the door to my room so I plan to customize the clock throughout the year as well. Yay for customizing.

Last but not least, I made an awesome poster for the outside of my door. I was inspired by a science poster on Pinterest but I wrote it and designed it all by myself.

It almost brings a tear to my eye.

Aww.

#myfavfriday Grade Book with Progress Reports

My current trend seems to be sharing websites. Today is a little different but I'm still sharing a link. I found a really nice grade book template in Excel. We had a problem with our online grade book last year - some error in calculating the different weighted grades. It was mentioned that we would go to all points instead of having weighted categories. I just can't keep a paper grade book but I think I could use this one as a 'paper' back up.

Here's what the input area looks like:

What I really love is that you can click the Student Summary tab at the bottom and print out individual progress reports. It lists the student rank, letter grade, percentage, student points, total points, and the GPA (which can be modified). My favorite is the visual- a bar graph with a trend line.

It also has a box for teacher comments as well as a parent signature line. I changed the fonts and colors to what I like so here is the link to the original file and my customized file.

There should be little text bubbles that tell you how to change or fix things. I've only used it a little bit so I may not be much help but feel free to ask.

In other news, I spent hours upon hours of my life creating this powerpoint of daily bell ringers for all 36 weeks of school. I plan to use them three days a week so yes, a total of 108 slides. They are pre-Algebra skills with probability mixed in as well as standardized test questions. I plan to use these to start class in Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II since all students should be able to at least start if not complete the problems without assistance. I am trying to share it everywhere because it took so long to make that I wish someone else could have done it instead of me. So take it, be fruitful, and multiply.

Pun intended.

Phrase Translator

Last week @cheesemonkeysf wrote a great post about turning words into math. She invented the Phrase Translator sleeve with a sliding insert. Here's her picture.

I love this idea! I tried it using card stock and it was more difficult than I had anticipated. I'm left-handed and therefore a terrible cutter. I used card stock and it was too stiff- difficult to fold. I also felt like it was to skinny for me.

I tried making my own (because I just can't leave anything alone) and it took a while but I'm pretty happy with it.

Here's a picture of the two side-by-side.

Basically, mine requires less cutting because that's just something I need in my life.

Here is the sleeve (doc/pdf) and the insert (doc/pdf).

Made 4 Math #6 - Bonus Edition

Watch out people, I'm about to blow your minds.

Let's start with the easiest. This is not a craft, just an idea I like. I bought this small whiteboard with it's own magnetic eraser and marker to hang on the outside of my door.

That way when we go to the library/computer lab/outside I can leave a note in case a principal comes wandering by. Isn't the eraser adorable? I like the idea of a marker board because I wish people would leave me a note instead of interrupting my class. But I know the eraser and marker both will probably get stolen. That's ok, the board is my main concern.

Last year I checked homework for completion by walking around with my clipboard which I thought was awesome because it had a magnet on the back.

Also, I kept a master copy of whatever I was handing out to the class for each period to use as my guide. These often got mixed up with other random piles of papers which caused me distress.

Newly awesome clipboard to the rescue!

It opens up into a little storage bin.

Now I can keep my papers, keys, and pen inside and still use the outside as a clipboard! I attached a letter M (from Dollar Tree) to the back that can stand for Math or Miller and it's my favorite color. Winning.

Next up, using my Dollar Tree letters and my $1 Target pocket chart, I created my own version of Boggle or as my phone likes to call it, Scramble Free. I actually used the game on my phone to pick which letters to put in there so that there would actually be words in it.

I think it's so cute!

Now on to my shining achievement. I made @mathtastrophe's ZAP review game all by myself and for only $3. $1 letters, $1 black foam board, and $1 index cards all from Dollar Tree. I used the index cards to make library card pockets because I have never seen those in real life. I took one index card turned sideways and folded it around a vertical index card, taped it shut, and a pocket was formed.

I made 16 of these and taped them to the board. I used my letters (which have appeared in everything I've made) to spell out ZAP! on the top and then I printed out the numbers 1-16 in a table (so they would all be the same size) and cut them out. Isn't she lovely?

I used some of @mathtastrophe's ideas for cards and added some in of my own. I redid them into strips of paper that I could fold in half and stick in the pockets. I don't know why but this just seemed easier and like a good idea.

It's amazing what you can do when you're made and determined not to leave your room!

Here are the numbers 1-16 and the points cards/slips. In case you were wondering, I used the font Katy Berry...which I love.

Next up, I went to school the other day but a) my whiteboards (for the walls) have still not been installed b) my floors have still not been waxed therefore c) all my furniture is scattered down the hallway. I've already had a nightmare about this so it has to be fixed. I ended up volunteering to present at our in-service on technology in exchange for getting my room fixed up pronto!

I digress. Anyway, I did a few things around the room. I organized my tubs and expandable files from last week's post into one filing cabinet drawer: go me!

Then I created my fantastic bulletin board! I bought 16 pieces of 12x12 scrapbook paper which were 50% off at Hobby Lobby. I bought a dry erase calendar from Hobby Lobby with my 40% coupon so it ended up being $4.79. I ordered this green fabric file folder organizer from The Container Store which I am still kicking myself for not buying it when I was actually at The Container Store. I had just enough room to hang up my Boggle game pocket chart and ta-da:

Love!

#myfavfriday Quick Recipe + Favorite Websites

I don't cook so this is actually my mom's recipe but it is quick and yummy and the leftovers are great to take in your lunch. We usually have cornbread and green beans with this, since I know you were wondering.

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Step One: Brown one lb. hamburger in skillet. Sprinkle in dried onion flakes to taste. When hamburger is done, drain grease and return hamburger to skillet.

Step Two: Pour into skillet 1 small can tomato sauce. Rinse out can with half cup water and add to mixture. Add 1 Tbsp. brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. chili powder, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Simmer on low heat.

Step Three: Meanwhile, put on water to boil in 3 quart saucepan. When water is boiling, add approximately 8 oz. pasta. I usually use rotini, but last time I did bow-tie pasta and it was great. When pasta is done, drain and add to mixture in skillet. Mix well and bring to boil. Cover the top of the mixture with shredded cheese. (I usually use colby-monterey jack mixture.) Put a lid on the skillet and turn off the heat. Steam for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Now what I really wanted to share is some of my favorite websites.

Resources: When I first started teaching, I used ilovemath.org constantly. It has a lot of great hands-on activities, lessons, and games. But three years into this and I've pretty much used everything I could from there. Now I've started using betterlesson.com It's a fairly new website but when I searched for lessons on composite areas at the end of last year I literally found thousands of results and some pretty high quality resources. You may stumble across some things of mine on there and I apologize for that. They are mostly from the end of my first year and beginning of my second so not awesome. If you want something of mine to actually use, you would be better off searching the Lessons tag on this blog. And one more site, http://www.lpsmath.org/algebra1_calendar.htm, is great for algebra ideas. I especially like their lessons on functions because there is a real function machine that chugs outputs from your inputs. Sometimes I use the lessons or sometimes I just use it to guide my pacing.

Storage: I use and love box.com more than other websites I've tried. I first used dropbox.com and then attempted to use sugarsync.com Both of these supposedly automatically sync your files from one computer to another. So theoretically, you could create something at home, save it, and it would automatically appear on your school computer. It never quite worked out for me but I'm pretty sure that was because our school computer server is wonky. I used googledocs for a while but I hate how it changes my files to fit their formatting. I've never had any problems with Box. I can share my folders or keep them private. I can add collaborators to my folders. I can make folders! Anyone can view my box files, even without a box account. And it prompts people to download my file so they can see it in all it's original glory. I don't have to worry about any syncing because it's internet based. I can log in anywhere and all my files are right there. It has definitely been the most consistent and convenient for me.

Hmm...I thought I had more to share but that's about all I can think of for now.