My Back to School 2018

Getting Ready to Start My 26th Year of Teaching

I don't know if you still like to do Back to School shopping before school starts, but I still do!  I think that is part of the fun in starting a new year- getting to try new things and starting with fresh supplies!

I found some new things this year that  that I wanted to share with you.  Let me say upfront- these are not affiliate links (I am not being paid for any of my opinions on these), these are just fun or new things I thought I'd highlight for you. 

Do you use mini erasers?  I love using them for so many things.  I use them for math manipulatives (they are great for using with ten frames with all kinds of activities), game markers, counting activities, and other fun things.  I definitely don't use them to erase anything.  LOL   You have to be quick to grab them at the Target Dollar Spot because all these go quickly!

I have always stored them in ziploc baggies, but what a mess!  This summer I was on a hunt for a way to store them.  I thought I'd found something good at Michael's and they were out!  I was telling my husband about what I needed & he said he thought we already had something I could use.  He went to our guest room closet and came out with this!

It seems I had purchased this 6 years ago & never used it.  OOPS!  It sure came in handy this summer!

Here's the link if you're interested  CRAFT CABINET

I'm so excited because I still have extra drawers!

I have always used Boogie Boards in my small groups, but mine bit the dust last year.  I bought some new ones this summer, but was disappointed with the design.  I returned them and decided to use my magnetic white boards until I can find just what I like.  I found these cute little magnetic board erasers at Amazon and am anxious to try them.  I'll let you know later if they were any good.

Find them HERE

I searched several Targets looking for the new multicultural Crayola Crayons that I've seen on Facebook and Instagram.  Of course, I should have just started with Amazon!  I got 3 boxes in the set I purchased.

You can see those HERE

I have been buying premade planners for the past few years & decided I'd finally personalize and try one I bought on TpT (I bought it over 3 years ago) because I get tired of writing out the same things that stay the same week after week on my lesson plans.  It maybe took me one hour to get it personalized to what I wanted.  It has everything in it that I usually write over & over.  I am super happy with it.  The best thing is, our print shop at school printed it for me!  I bought a separate calendar planner at Target because I like to have my calendar open at the same time as my lesson plans.  Because I already had the planner, I only had to pay for the calendar planner I bought at Target- I saved big bucks on this!

The planner I bought  is by A Modern Teacher.  It was very easy to use!  You can see it here:  PLANNER

Of course I had to get a new set of the Frixion pens.  I LOVE these because, well, I make lots of mistakes and these are ERASABLE!  I have always bought sets that had maybe 5-6 colors so I was stoked to find these!  See them HERE

Well, I bought quite few other things too,  BUT probably the most important thing I bought is my chocolate bars.  Probably 20-23 years ago I started something on the spur of the moment where I told the kids that I'd give them a chocolate bar if they learned to spell chocolate (since I LOVE chocolate).  I now have to be prepared because so many kids know about it. They come in spelling chocolate on the first day of school!  I take their picture holding their chocolate bar and put it in their memory book with the date they spelled it.  They also get a special brag tag.  You can read a little more about it in this OLD blog post.

I am part of TWO big give aways right now.  Who knows, maybe you can win one and buy some of these fun items I highlighted today!

Here's a great one for Amazon:

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:  

Prize: $200 Amazon Gift Card (2 Prizes!)

Giveaway Organized by: Kelly Malloy (An Apple for the Teacher)

Co-hosts:   An Apple for the Teacher, Carla Hoff, The Craft of Teaching, Carrie Lutz, Think Grow Giggle, Planet Happy Smiles, Star Kids by Naomi, Sliding into 1st, It Happened in 3rd, MM Bilingual, Josie's Place, Glitter is Everywhere, Peas in a Pod Lessons, 180 Days of Reading, Mrs Hansens Helpfuls, Guide Teach Inspire, Digging Deep to Soar Beyond the Text, Right Down the Middle with Andrea, Roots and Wings, It's Kinder Time, Mrs Wenning's Classroom, It's a Teacher Thing, Ms. K, The Joy We Teach,The Chocolate Teacher, Alphabet Publishing Books, Katie Roltgen, TheBeezyTeacher, Teach Without Tears, The Best Days by Julie Santello, Momma with a Teaching Mission, Leah Popinski, Walk with Me a Second, Samson's Shoppe, Learning Inspired, A Plus Kids, Mickey's Place, Globe Trottin Kids, Bailey's Corner, and That Library Girl.

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter to enter.  Giveaway ends 8/11/18 and is open worldwide.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And here's one for Teacher Pay Teachers 

(you could buy a new planner template ):

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:  

Prize: $100 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card

Giveaway Organized by: Kelly Malloy (An Apple for the Teacher)

Co-hosts:   An Apple for the Teacher, Mrs Wenning's Classroom, 180 Days of Reading, Peas in a Pod, Carrie Lutz, Planet Happy Smiles, Kamp Kindergarten, Star Kids, TheBeezyTeacher, Glitter is Everywhere, Dreams Teach, Mrs Hansens Helpfuls, MM Bilingual, It's Kinder Time, Roots and Wings, LIVIN' IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER, It's a Teacher Thing, Ms. K, A Plus Kids, Kelly McCown, The Chocolate Teacher, Katie Roltgen, Momma with a Teaching Mission, Reading and Writing Redhead, Paula's Primary Classroom, Leah Popinski, and Chocolate 4 Teachers.

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter to enter.  Giveaway ends 8/13/18 and is open worldwide.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let me know in the comments if you have bought anything fun or new this summer!

Happy 2018-19 school year!