Penny Pinching Teacher

It's a "Blouse Kind Of" Winter

2012-01-17T15:08:00.000-08:00

This winter I've fallen in love with colored blouses. Yes... I know that blouses are meant for spring weather but the minute that the temperature drops below 60 degrees, the heat in my classroom is cranked up to a point of smouldering steam. The major downfall to this is that I have no control over the heat/air. Not only is this a problem, but my classroom also seems to receive all of the heat from our entire hallway. Needless to say, I have the back door to my classroom open every morning and sweaters are no where to be found in my daily work wardrobe. Here are some great blouses that I've purchased in the past few weeks at even better prices. Are you wearing blouses this winter?

Forever21- $19.80

Old Navy- ON SALE $24.99 in store and $26.00 online

(30% OFF CODE: NEWYOU) makes it $18.20!!

$10 Spent... $26 Saved!

2012-01-16T15:01:00.000-08:00

Why is it that a day off of work for a teacher is just not as grand as it sounds?! There are two potential ways to spend a day off of work. One is to do absolutely nothing and get rest, but then I end up feeling guilty for wasting precious hours of free time on a week day. The second option is to try to cross off every to-do on my list including appointments, grocery shopping, errands, meetings, etc. Once again there is a down side with the fact that I end up exhausted the next day back at work.
Well today was one of those days off that I decided to try and accomplish everything that I've been pushing off for months. Starting with a dentist appointment.
Sidebar: I've come to understand why all adults hate going to the dentist... THE BILL! I loved going to the dentist and getting my teeth cleaned until I had to pay for it myself. Why is it that good health comes with a huge price?
Back to this glorious day off of work. I kept trudging through my mid afternoon need for a nap and decided to try and conquer one of my new years resolution: to begin couponing again. I was shopping with a friend this weekend and saw that Harris Teeter (my favorite place... next toTarget that is!) was having a fabulous Meal Deal this week. I searched through my coupons and made a successful journey back into the couponing world.

On this quick trip, I managed to pick up the following: Alexia Ciabatta Rolls, Perdue Popcorn Chicken, Bird's Eye Steamfresh Red Potatoes, 2lt Sprite, Tide HE, Yoplait Light Yogurt with Granola, Colgate Toothpaste, Colgate Toothbrush and Aleve.

Cost: $36.63

-Savings: $26.37

Paid: $10.26

**And I only used 7 coupons!!

FREE BREAKFAST... It's back!

2012-01-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

Oh the irony! The last blog post I wrote before my hiatus was about a breakfast give away... and this amazing freebie is back!

What better way to start the new year than with free breakfast?! If you live in Columbia,SC, Myrtle Beach, or the Triad (Greensboro, High Point, Winston Salem, Burlington, Asheboro) then you can cash in on this amazing deal. Chick-fil-a is offering a free breakfast item of your choice on a date of your choosing from January 9-14. All you need to do is visit the following link and schedule what date and time you would like your free breakfast item: Free Chick-fil-a Breakfast.

With delicious Chicken-minis for $0.00,
The Penny Pinching Teacher

New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-08T17:43:00.000-08:00

After a 4 month hiatus, I AM BACK! This school year turned out to be more of a time consumer than the past. I'm not sure if there is something in particular that could be to blame for my lack of blogging. Whether it was moving into the new house, Revenge coming to ABC, or just the lack of eventfulness in my life. But when I received a comment from a follower in the UK a few weeks ago (4 months after my last entry) I knew that I had to get back to this wonderful world.

The new year is always a time of stress and busyness, but I'm hoping that in the midst of all of this chaos, I can set some goals that are absolutely attainable. Instead of resoluting to workout or eat healthier, I am going to make of list of things to complete each month in 2012 and I am determined to complete those task before the next month arrives. Why set goal that I am only going to push off until the last minute? I'm setting goals for tomorrow.

January Resolutions:
1. Drink more coffee. (yes, you read that right. I'm a much happier person with coffee and tend to check everything off of my many to do list when I have a cup of Starbucks in the morning . So let this resolution begin tomorrow! Happy Monday!)
2. Leave work by 3:30 every day. (Last week I seemed to push this resolution to the way side trying to get back into the swing of things but this week I am determined!)
3. Start couponing again. (If you're living on a teacher's salary and not taking advantage of coupons then you're being robbed blind. Jump on board and start clipping... and not just for groceries. Check out Target's printable coupons for anything from clothes to bedding.)
4. Read 1 book a ~~week~~ month. (Let's be realistic now. I have a stack of books built up from this summer that I never got around to reading. At the top of that list of The Hunger Games and I'm cracking it open tonight!)
5. Get Organized. (For someone who boarders on OCD, I cannot find a way to keep organized at work. I have a great system for my weekly materials but I am nothing short of a mess when it comes organizing the file cabinet after file cabinet of materials from the past.)

I think I'm going to cap this list off at 4 task for now. There are still 22 more days to come up with more resolutions for this first month and I'm sure tomorrow I'll think of 10 things to add to the list.

- Happy Resoluting... tomorrow.
Penny Pinching Teacher

FREE Breakfast... This Week Only!

2011-09-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

One of the many perks of being a teacher is the outrageous amount of free ChickfilA that comes my way. It seems like every time there is a special occasion such as Teacher Appreciation or joining PTA, a ChickfilA coupon card shows up in my box. Now ChickfilA is one of my favorite restaurants so when these cards show up its like opening the first present on Christmas morning. Nothing better than free ChickfilA!

Now you can have your own free ChickfilA and you don't even have to wait for a coupon card to show up in your box at work. All you have to do is visit this website: http://www.chick-fil-aforbreakfast.com/Start

Then select your local ChickfilA and reserve your free entree for the morning of your choice this week. Don't miss out on this great deal! I'm beyond excited to grab my free breakfast on my way to work today. It will surely be a must-have on a "Monday-Tuesday"!

With a morning starting off right,

The Penny Pinching Teacher

The Giving Tree... that Keeps On Giving

2011-09-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

Over the past two weeks, I've been consumed in "back to school" mode and blogging took a back seat. Between meetings, planning, meetings about planning and trying to get back into the routine of early to bed, early to rise; I could not find the time to sit down and write. But today I was determined to catch you up on my first week of school goodies.

Two weeks ago we had Open House and I got to meet my fabulous new 5th graders for the first time. Along with meeting my new students, I also met their parents and was able to give them a glimps of what to expect in the coming year. Not only was I put at ease when I met their amazing parents, but I was shocked when they signed up to volunteer for different activities throughout the year without hesitation. Each year, I never know what to expect when it comes to parent support.

At Open House, each teacher on our 5th grade team puts up a wish list of items that we know we will need throughout the year but might not have been on our school supply list. Items such as candy for the treasure box and recess equipment are just a few of the items that make it to the wish list.

This year I decided to be a little creative and have a Giving Tree for the parents to pick an apple from instead of my usual plain old white board with sticky notes. And the Giving Tree was a total success. The first day of school, students bound through my classroom door with bags of tissues, lysol wipes, candy, dry erase markers, and colored copy paper!

How do you go about getting supplies for your classroom?

With happy cabinets full of school supplies,

The Penny Pinching Teacher

Classroom Library Chaos

2011-08-18T19:08:00.000-07:00

Last year I stumbled upon these fabulous classroom library genre labels on Beth Newingham's website. I was getting so frustrated when I knew the exact book to recommend to a student but I had to take 10 minutes hunting for it in the clutter of my book shelves. Not only was it a struggle to try to find a specific book; but the students were unintentionally ruining my beloved books by trying to shove them onto the shelves.

Solution! Book baskets. I used these adorable labels to separate my classroom library into genre baskets. After laminating the labels, I punched a hole in the corner and used binder rings to hand them on the front of the baskets.

For those of you who are worried about breaking the bank on this classroom update... don't you worry. The baskets were from the dollar store so very easy on the wallet.

My OCD is kicking in because first thing tomorrow I'm rearranging this color order!
I need help...

How do you have your classroom library organized?

Class "Pets"... Yes or No?

2011-08-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I spent most of the day hanging up everything in my classroom from bulletin boards to word walls. I decided to stick with my theme from last year to not only save time but to also save some money. Plus my students LOVED my frog theme last year. And my favorite color is green so the color scheme of a frog friendly room works well with my teacher feng shui.

When I started researching ideas for Frog Theme Classrooms last year I came across the cutest of ideas. But before I share the most adorable of these idea, I must give you a little background story. Now two years ago, I inherited two gerbles from the teacher whose position I took over and needless to say it wasn't a total success.

I learned quickly that goldfish and cheerios are not the best things to feed the little runts. They were turning circles on their wheel so fast that it was squeaking through my lessons for hours. Annoying and distracting.

And on top of that... they were let loose into the school building after a mishap in my classroom. They wandered their way through the hallways for a good week eating on everyone's science project, only to show up days later in the boys bathroom on the other side of campus.

So, I resorted to getting a pet "frog" as a class pet for the students to take care of. Not a real frog of course...even though that would be extremely entertaining especially considering one of my coworkers is petrified of frogs.

Instead, I went and bought a Webkinz frog and loaded it onto our classroom computer. The Student of the Week each week gets to take care of the frog online each morning.

At Open House, I put a jug on the back table with voting ballots. The new students get to put their vote in for the class pet's name. Last year his name was "Frogger." We'll have to wait and see what they come up with this year!

Do you have a class pet?

With No Pet Food Needed,
The Penny Pinching Teacher

Don't Miss Out

2011-08-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

This week there are some great deals on every day classroom necessity that you must not miss out on. The first of these deals can be found at Office Depot. I knew I jumped the gun a few weeks ago when they had their paper folders on sale for 5 cent but my impatient nature wouldn't let me wait until they had their penny sale on folders.

Oh well, I can always use some more folders. Needless to say, the penny sale I've been waiting all summer for is here. Office Depot has their paper folders on sale for a penny. Now they are limited the number of folders to 10 per purchase. But at this deal, grab every friend you know and make a trip out of it. Especially because there is no minimum purchase needed. I've already recruited my mom and her coworkers to make a pit stop by Office Depot on their lunch break tomorrow!

Another deal that I took advantage of today was on notebook paper at Staples. Staples has packs of college ruled and wide ruled paper on sale for a penny a pack. They will allow teachers to get 25 packs per purchase (now that A LOT of paper.) The only downfall to this sale is that there is a $5 minimum purchase needed; but I'm sure there are some other supplies that are lurking on your wish list. With my school cutting back on the number of copies allotted to each teacher this year, we are in desperate need of notebook paper to save copies.

Good luck with your shopping and I hope you're getting geared up for the new school year. Here's a sneak peak at my classroom rejuvenation that I'll share tomorrow...

With Savings and School year beginning,

The Penny Pinching Teacher

Friday Frenzy

2011-08-12T14:23:00.000-07:00

Sadly, yesterday I made the plunge into the school year and stepped foot into my classroom. When I first walked in, I was giddy as a school girl to see that the floors were so clean (they were polished last week) but that moment of joy quickly faded when I realized that the air wasn't working in my room. Not a happy camper at that point.

I had such big plans to get everything hung back up and the desks put in order but I couldn't stand much of the heat. Needless to say I got the desk arranged and that's about it (beside chatting for a few hours with a teacher on my grade level... love catching up on the summer.) Looks like I'll be heading back to the school at least once over the weekend to get some work done.

But I did get a few pictures of the "before" of my classroom so that I can share the final "after" project with you next week.

Look at those clean floors!! If you would've seen them at the end of last year then you would totally understand where my excitement comes from.

One thing that I'm hoping to get completed today while I'm at home is my Independent Math crate. I picked up a few of these fabulous crates at Target when they were on sale for $3... but don't you worry if you're still wanting one because the regular price is less than $4.

Fabulous crates from Target... great for hanging files!

I picked up a box of multicolored hanging files from Staples when I had to reach my $5 minimum on penny sales and plan to filled these crates with them. Each hanging file will be full of leveled math activities.

Last year I had a huge problem with students finishing their work early during math and the rule in my class is "early finisher are the first to read." Well it dawned on me that early finishers in math need to be improving their math skills instead of losing themselves in a good book. Therefore this year they will have the opportunity to grab a math activity that will challenge them beyond our everyday classwork.

I will post finished products on Monday. I cannot wait to have this piece of my classroom complete.

What are some final touches you are making to your classroom??

Thrift Thursday: Crayon Monogram

2011-08-11T09:30:00.000-07:00

After finding this classroom decoration on Pinterest, I had to give it a try. I'm nothing short of obsessed when it comes to monogramming; and a chance to add my monogram to my classroom was a must have. This is the simplest of craft projects and can be completed for a very wallet friendly price.

Materials I used:
picture frame without the glass (or shadow box), white scrap book paper, 2-3 boxes of crayons, hot glue gun, letter template, thin point Sharpie marker

How I did it:
Trace the backing of your picture frame onto the white scrap book paper. Cut out this outline from the scrap book paper so that it can fit into the frame. Glue white paper to cardboard backing.

Trace letter template onto the white paper.

Lay crayons on the template and mark where they need to be broken. Break or cut crayons to fit the letter template. Place crayons so that they cover the entire letter outline and rotate your colors to look cohesive.

Hot glue each crayon pieces.

Add your name with the Sharpie marker to complete the project.

Finally hang your masterpiece up to be admired by all!

Wardrobe Essential Wednesday: Comfortable Wedges

2011-08-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I'm vertically challenged. Standing a smidge shy of 5'3", most of my students are eye level with me or towering above me. One of the blessings in disguise of being a 5th grade teacher is that I have an excuse to buy adorable wedges to wear to work. If I were teaching any lower grade level I would be more than tempted to wear flats EVERY day to work.

Two years ago I had my eye on a pair of wedges that I'd been wanting for years. So I finally caved in and bought them with the justification that they were going to be my new "teacher shoes." Now I loved these shoes and wore them every day for about 4 months. But one thing I will say is that they were not comfortable enough to wear for 8 straight hours of walking around a school building. Cute but not so comfy.

I have the brown Coach emblem wedges... not a fan of plaid.

Now last year, I had learned my lesson so when I went to buy a new pair of "teacher shoes," I was looking more for comfort than cute but I managed to find both. I had been seeing all of my friends and coworkers sporting TOMS every day to work but once again I need a little height on my shoes so I wasn't smitten with these colorful frocks. But when I found TOMS wedges, I was SOLD! They are so fabulous. Look great with any outfit and are actually quite comfortable.

When I bought my wedges, there weren't as many choices in color so I went with these neutral wedges and they literally match everything! Now TOMS has come out with more colored wedges than I can count so you can pick the ones perfect for you.

Do you teach in wedges, flats or heels??

To Do Tuesday: First Day of School

2011-08-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

I've finally let reality kick in that the first day of school will be here before I know it. I am slowly crawling out of my summer slump of sleeping in late and laying around all day. Now I'm getting back to the work grind and preparing activities and data sheets to be ready for the first week of school.

I'm not sure who is more nervous on the first day of school; the students or myself. You only have that first few hours to make a first impression which can base your classroom atmosphere for the rest of the year.

During those first few hours, I try to make my classroom feel as much like home and a family as possible. I want my students to get to know me as I get to know them. Also, I want my students to get to know one another and realize that every person in our class has something special to add to our little family.

Today I am putting together several activities for those first few important hours:

1. Get to Know the Teacher Power Point- I created a power point last year with my hometown, college, family, favorite sports team, favorite food, favorite movie/book, etc. This year I'm just going to change up a few things... such as I prefer Diet Coke to Cheerwine nowadays. The students loved the PowerPoint last year and after we finish with it, I allow the students to ask any other questions that they are curious about... except "are you single/married?" and "how old are you?"

2. Classroom Tour- I've got my destination planned out, now all I have to do is write up a tour guide for the students to follow along. I love acting like we are going on an adventure and I am the tour guide. Students follow along on their sheet to see where each location is and what they are to do at each location.

3. Textbook Scavenger Hunt- It can be rather intimidating to receive a stack of huge text books on the first day of school. To ease this panic, each student receives a scavenger hunt that leads them to find different elements of each textbook. Examples: Science Vocabulary Index, Reading Contents page, Social Studies Chapter Titles and text boxes, etc.

4. Autograph Mingle- Students receive a checkerboard of details that could describe a person. They are to silently (key) walk around the room and find someone who matches each description and have they autograph their checkerboard. Each student can only sign another student's paper once. First student to have all squares signed wins! Examples of descriptions: Right handed, From another country, Sings in a choir, etc

5. "School Name" I Have, Who Has- Students are each given a card with a sentence on it. (make sure you have only enough cards for each student to have one) The student holding the card with the star on it stands up and reads their card first. Then the student with the answer to that person's question on their own card will then stand and read their card. Example: Student 1- "Who has the name of our school?" Student 2- "I have ________. Who has the name of our principal?"

Teacher Appreciation Before School Even Starts!

2011-08-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

Two Teacher Appreciation Days in one year... and one before school even starts!?! Who wouldn't want to know more about this!

Staples holds a Teacher Appreciation event each year at the beginning of August. Every area's appreciation date is different so visit your local store to find yours or check for your area on their website. This year, they are offering free breakfast to teachers (or at least mine is) and exclusive in store deals. Plus the first 100 teachers get free gift bags! *You had me at "free"

I'm actually getting together with some of my coworkers to make an outing of it before school starts back. I'll definitely be sure to share my fabulous finds from the day on August 13th.

Let me know how your Staples Teacher Appreciation Day goes... and best of luck to those of you who are starting the new school year next week!

Hello, Tax Free Weekend...

2011-08-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

Hello Tax Free Weekend!

Right now I'm having to fight the urge to shop because I know that there will be some amazing sales in the next two weeks. But just the idea of not having to pay pesky little sales tax tugs at the shopaholic in me.

Hopefully you've been able to find a shopping cart full of good deals on school supplies this week. I apologize for my lack of posting over the past few days, but several things have kept me from the blogging world. First, I moved into my new house and have been in unpacking overdrive for the past 5 days. And on top of that, I've been living without cable and Internet until they come hook it up this afternoon. The need to blog has been worse than my need for a daily Diet Coke.

One of the shopping deals that I took advantage of this week during my unpacking breaks was actually at Office Depot. They have their two pocket folders on sale for 5 cents and if you're a teacher, you can get 20-30 folders per visit (depending upon the store.) So of course I made multiple trips.

I actually needed at least 125 folders for this school year because we use a different folder for each science unit that we study in 5th grade. Plus I can always use extra folders for Guided Reading groups.

It only took me 2 trips and my amazing mom 4 trips... but we successfully got bags full of folders. Now if I was smart(er) then I would've waited until today and saved another 3 cent per 10 folders on sales tax. Oh well!

Happy shopping to you on this tax free weekend!
The Penny Pinching Teacher

Weekend Where Abouts... Major Deals!

2011-07-31T06:47:00.000-07:00

This weekend I am actually in the midst of moving into my new house in this dreadful heat. To take a break from the smouldering sun, we took a trip to my favorite store and found this wall of goodies!

Can you guess where we were?

Weekly Deals

2011-07-31T06:44:00.000-07:00

Staples:
Composition Notebooks- 10 cent (25 max for teachers and $5 spending minimum)
$5.99 SanDisk 4GB flash drive (GREAT deal!)
5-6 drawer rolling cabinet- $14

Office Depot:
2 pocket folders- 5 cent
Vinyl Pencil Pouch- 5 cent
Metal Storage Bins- $1 (love love these)

Target:

6 pack Elmer's glue sticks- $1
3 drawer rolling storage cart- $10 (these are great for storing station games!!)

Fashion Friday: No Limit to Your Wardrobe

2011-07-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

I am the first person to jump to the occasion of any sale... but a discount on top of a sale... nothing will get in my way. Luckily there is such a clothing company that will actually provide teachers with an extra discount on any purchase; even sale items. The Limited offers a 15% off discount on all purchases (full price or sale items) for teachers. This is very beneficial because The Limited has constant sales, including semi annual 50% off sales. With an extra discount, you can add some flare to your wardrobe and bring it up to date without making a dent in your wallet. What are you waiting for? Get in the car and go get some deals... and don't feel guilty for treating yourself.

With Style and Savings,

The Penny Pinching Teacher

Thrifty Thursday: Pinterest Inspiration

2011-07-28T06:16:00.000-07:00

I just might deem myself the title of Pinterest Princess... and I'm sure you're not far behind me if you've already joined in on the Pinterest Party Craze that has taken over the world.

Okay, I might be exaggerating just a bit but it seems that everyone and their sister (maybe even brother) has jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon lately and I'm loving it!

Recently I posted on my personal blog, Mimosas on Mondays, the projects that I've completed for my new house with some help from my Pinterest inspirations. Now I have a few Teacher Pinterest inspirations to add to that list. Ever since I started following Pinterest, I walk around constantly saying, (insert sarcastic tone) "Oh I could make that..." And usual I actually can.

Has anyone else fallen craze to this amazing world of ideas? I hope so! Here a few Pinterest inspirations that I plan to complete before the school year begins.

Wardrobe Essential Wednesday: Not So Little Black Dress

2011-07-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you have heard from every fashion magazine and What Not to Wear too that every female should have a little black dress in her closet. Well ladies, the new little black dress is not so little anymore. As Oprah's fashion team said so well on one of their specials, a black dress does not necessarily need to be little, instead it needs to fit YOU (not the girl sitting beside you).

You know your body type; and you know what dress silhouette fits you perfectly. So why would you buy a "little" black dress that doesn't flatter you?

When searching for that perfect "little" black dress, you need to first look for fit. I am rather petite so I know that I need to look for a dress that is covering at the top and a little shorter in length. That way I can extend my leg line to add "height."

After you find the perfect fit, match that fit with a style that will match your life. If you are a socialite, you might want to buy a dress that can be worn to a cocktail and then transformed into work wear with a touch of color from a cardigan. If you are not one to go out on the town, then buy a simple dress that is timeless. The less the embellishment, the more years wear you will get from it.

Target Dollar Spot Spree

2011-07-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

Target's Dollar Spot is a teacher's dream come true right now... especially if you teach lower elementary. Being a 5th Grade teacher, I have to be a little picky with the classroom decorations that I buy so that my room doesn't look "uncool" or "babyish" for my ~~older~~ big kids.

I find myself grabbing things that I know are too young for my classroom and I always have to send pictures to my teacher buddies so that they can snag these amazing deals. So far this week, these are the fabulous finds that I've come across.

Days of the week= $1

Calendar Set... each component is $1 so $3 for the whole thing... NOT BAD!

Weather Chart= $1

Class Dry Erase Schedule (currently in my classroom) =$1

"Welcome To Our Classroom" Banner =$1

If you're a lower elementary teacher then get to Target ASAP and grab these fabulous finds! What have you found in Target Dollar Spot lately?

To Do Tuesday: Hand Signs

2011-07-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

To each their own and to every classroom its own... but sharing your classroom management ideas and learning from others is the best way to get a near perfect classroom management system...for you.

Classroom management doesn't just consist of rules and rewards; it is a combination of all of the components that make your classroom run smoothly. Along with my classroom rules... or rule rather (RESPECT)... I have classroom hand signals that help make my day easier. You might be thinking to yourself that this sounds sketchy but I am here to say that it is one of the best things I have ever implemented in my classroom. Plus my students LOVE it and my principal seems to like it as well.

Have you ever been frustrated to the point of wanting to pull out your hair because students are constantly interrupting your lessons? Do you see numerous hands fly up with a plea to go to the restroom right in the middle of your teacher input? Are you tired of having to stop your directions so that students can sharpen their pencils? Does it frustrate you when students ask to get water in the middle of your explanation of key concepts?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions then I have your solution... HAND SIGNALS! In my class, we have 3 hand signals. One to sharpen pencils, one to use the restroom and another to get water. I teach these hand signals at the beginning of the year and they catch on quickly. Instead of stopping my lesson to listen to a student's request, I just nod my head as an okay when I see a student hold up a hand signal and they know that they can go ahead with what they need to do. My to-do for today is to make a hand signal poster to hang in my classroom.

Hand Signals:

W = Water

O = Bathroom

Pencil = Sharpen

Plan It Out... Writing Style

2011-07-25T13:28:00.000-07:00

My 5th Grade students had to complete a science research writing prompt last year. The hardest part of this process was not the actual writing, it was more of the research and planning. Two tools that I believe helped my students the most were Alpha Boxes and Prompt Plans.

I use Alpha Boxes in both my teaching of reading and writing. During Guided Reading, I have my small groups keep an alpha box for each book that they read. The students record the book title or topic in the middle of the alpha box. As we progress through the book, the students add 5 vocabulary words each day that I have pulled from their text. These are are key vocabulary that we discuss and use context clues to decipher the meaning of. Students then can add more important words to their alpha boxes as they read independently. Not only is this a great tool to keep the students refreshed on their vocabulary, but it also is a running record of the key words from each book.

In the writing process, alpha boxes can come in hand when the students are researching. Instead of jotting down pages of notes in their writing notebooks, I often have students write down key words that they find in their research on alpha boxes. This tool is great when students are beginning their rough drafts so that they have a "thesaurus" so to say of the key words that they need to use in their own writing.

This planning graphic organizer is another helpful tool for students in the pre-writing process. It is especially helpful when there is a specific prompt given to students for a writing test.

Monday Deal: 114 Items for $2.75

2011-07-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

Please say I'm not the only one who is jumping at every opportunity to find a good deal on supplies this summer! Are you having any luck finding extreme deals?

Today I hit the jackpot thanks to some fabulous bloggers. I stopped by Staples on my errand run this morning to get the 2 pocket folders that are on sale for a penny this week. The only downfall to Staples penny sales is that you have to spend $5 in order to get the items for a penny. But on the plus side, they will allow teachers to get 25 of each of the penny items instead of just 10.

The only penny sale items that my Staples store had in their sales ad this week were folders but thanks to Rebecca at Create.Teach.Share I found out that other Staples had pencils, notecards and highlights also for a penny. Well this happened to be my lucky day because they price matched the other store's deals. I ended up getting much than I had planned to but spent very little.
sidebar: I wish you could've seen my face when the sales clerk rang up the sales promo wrong and the register said that my bill was $26,457.00!!!

Here's what ended up in my shopping cart:

25 packs of 100 index cards = $0.25

4 Sharpies= $1


25 packs of 2 Sharpie Highlighters= $0.25


4 White Outs= $1

25 Pocket Folders- $0.25

25 packs of 8 pencils= $0.25

Big Purchase of the day: Hanging Files for my Target Crates= $10

Without the hanging files, my total for 114 items was $2.75!

WINNING,
The Penny Pinching Teacher

Monday Meltdown: Field Trip Idea Emergency

2011-07-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

Who would've thought that the hardest part of the school year for a teacher isn't actually preparing for the EOGs but is quite possibly a whole nother (like that southern coming out) preparation instead... field trips!

I'm in charge of my grade level's one big field trip this coming year and I thought I had gotten lucky and not drawn the short straw (IST rep or Science Chair) but who am I kidding. What in the world have I gotten myself into?! The school year is still a month away from starting and I'm already stressing out about this epic field trip. This task would be much easier if I could narrow down my decision on the destination.

The reason why I am jumping into this planning head first is because the Target Field Trip Grant applications start on August 1st and I want to make sure that I have my grant proposal completed before school starts back and life gets hectic once again. Target offers up to $700 to help fund educational field trips to those lucky applicants who are chosen.

I teach 5th Grade in NC so I am looking for a field trip that will not only fit our standard course of study but also keep us within the state lines. Science seems to be the subject to go to when coordinating field trips with curriculum so I've come up with a few ideas but I would love to get your input!

Where have you taken your students on a field trip? What destination do you think would be perfect for the 5th Grade? I'd love to hear your ideas!

Thank you in advance,
The Penny Pinching Teacher

Weekly Deals: Supplies and More

2011-07-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

Staples:
2 Pocket Folders- 1 cent each (limit 10 per customer and a $5 minimum purchase required)
12 Pack Pencil Tip Erasers- 50 cent
2 Pack White Out- 50 cent
5 Pack Dry Erase markers- $2

Office Depot:
2 Hole Pencil Sharpener- 1 cent2 Pocket Poly Folders- 25 cent (limit 10 per customer)
4 Pack Glue Sticks- 50 cent

Target:
12 Count Crayola Colored Pencils- 99cent
Stackable Storage Bins- $3 (I just went and bought 2 yesterday and wish I would've waited!)
TI30X Texas Calculators- $9

Post It Party

2011-07-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

I successful got my free Scotch Tape at Target and a Post-It Note Cube for $3 (they also have great colors of Post-Its for only $1) along with a few other get deals! My favorite purchase of the day of course came from the Dollar Spot in Target. I've been searching for a new Recess Equipment bag to replace my one from last year which has sadly seen its better days.

Today I found a laundry bag that I thought might work but I was skeptical until I took it out of the bag. Don't let the packaging fool you.

This bag is perfect for the few pieces of recess equipment that we take out each day and it even has a strap to hang from a hook in my classroom. Plus at a price of only $2.50, I don't have to worry about it getting ruined on trips to the playground each day.

Create Teach Share is hosting a Post It Party... you must head on over and check out the creative ways that amazing teachers are putting my favorite classroom supply to good use... Post It Party!

I'm planning to use my Post-Its to make Reading Strategy Cards for my 5th Graders to travel from book to book. Along with Teacher Memos to send back and forth between classrooms during the day... we all know that note passing doesn't only happen with the students!!

Friday Target Finds

2011-07-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

What better way to start off my Friday than another trip to Target! Today I'm planning to raid the dollar section for the third time this week and see if there is anything new to fit my fancy. And I just saw on Target Treasures that there are a few school supply freebies for the week... who doesn't want to jump on the opportunity to get something free!

First on my list is my freebie "purchase" of the day:

Scotch Tape

On sale for 50 cent + Target online coupon for 50 cent off = FREE

I also might pick up some Post Its to try printing Reading Strategies on. I learned yesterday over at Lady Bug's Teacher Files that I could actually print text on my beloved sticky notes (my favorite thing every... just ask my students!) And to top it off... Target has there multicolored Post-It Notes cubes on sale for $3.

If you know me well... then you know that these will not be the only things in my cart today. Who knows what I'll find on today's shopping spree!

Also make sure you check back on Sunday to see what school supply deals of the week I've found... hopefully they will includes several Penny Sales...

With Target Teasures,

The Penny Pinching Teacher

Fashion Friday: Big Apple for the Teacher

2011-07-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

Are you an avid New York & Co. shopper. I'm definitely a fan of their classy structured tops that look great with any sleek pair of black pants. One thing you might not know about New York & Co. is that they offer a 15% off discount to teachers. All you need to do is present the cashier with your teacher ID and the discount is yours. Beware though, this offer is only valid at participating locations so be sure to call your store before making a spree out of your day. Why not enjoy a New York sense of style on a smart budget?

On top of this great discount everyday, you can sign up to recieve other great deals including a 20% coupon just for signing up here.

Thrifty Thursday: Folder Overload

2011-07-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

Of course I had to take advantage of my ~~weekly~~ biweekly trip to Target's dollar section. Yesterday I found the same magazine holders that I got so excited about last year. To top it all off... they were GREEN which coordinates with my classroom! These folders were a life saver this past year and all of my colleagues ran to Target as soon as I spread the news about this bargain.

These folders are great for storing my class's science folders for each of our four units. What better way to get 100 folders out of the way.
*Sidebar: Now if Office Depot would hurry up and put their folders on sale for a penny then I can get the 150 folders that I need for the upcoming year...patience is a virtue!

Since this was such a steal, I even managed to snag a few for my new bookshelf/desk unit that I got at IKEA this weekend for my home office.

I'm in love with this new purchase and cannot wait to fill the shelves.

Wardrobe Essential Wednesday: Flats Under 50

2011-07-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

Every teacher's closet should hold at least one pair of colored, closed toes flats. The color is up to you. Blue, Green, Pink, Yellow... the bolder the better. Now some of you are cringing at the thought of wearing a colored pair of shoes with just any outfit, but I'm hear to ease your fears and let you know that it can be done. One pop of color can brighten up and tie together any outfit. Don't be scared to pair a set of bright green flats with khakis and a sweater. If you're not so daring as I, you can substitute the bright colors with a classic tan or camel colored pair of flats.

The key to finding the right flats is comfort, color and cost. Make sure you try on several pairs of flats and actually walk around the store in them before purchasing. If you're a teacher then you know that there is nothing worse than a painful pair of shoes when you spend over 90% of your work day standing. Also make sure that you're in love with the color of the flats or else they will probably gather dust in your closet. Finally the cost is the most important element. Why spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of shoes that you are going to wear to the bone. I can testify to the fact that my teaching shoes rarely last more than a year because I wear them every day! My rule of thumb is $50 or under for flats. Here are just a few that I fell in love with.
Every teacher's closet should hold at least one pair of colored, closed toes flats. The color is up to you. Blue, Green, Pink, Yellow... the bolder the better. Now some of you are cringing at the thought of wearing a colored pair of shoes with just any outfit, but I'm hear to ease your fears and let you know that it can be done. One pop of color can brighten up and tie together any outfit. Don't be scared to pair a set of bright green flats with khakis and a sweater. If you're not so daring as I, you can substitute the bright colors with a classic tan or camel colored pair of flats.

(1) zara.com (2) enless.com (3) zara.com (4) macy.com (5) oldnavy.gap.com (6) nordstroms.com (7) aldoshoes.com

Flats Under 50 by mimosasonmondays featuring ballet flats

Weekly Deal: Just For a Quarter

2011-07-19T16:33:00.000-07:00

This week's deals are perfect for a classroom that needs a supply revamp. Office Depot has several items on sale for just 25 cent each. Note that there is a limit of 5 of each product per "household" but most Office Depots will allow you to make multiple transactions.

24 Count Boxes of Crayons
Rulers
Ballpoint pens
College ruled/wide ruled 150 Count paper

To Do Tuesday: What To Do While Away?

2011-07-19T15:46:00.000-07:00

Why wait until the first teacher work day to get a jump start on the new school year? Go ahead and make a Summer To Do List of the things you can complete without having to be in the classroom. Here is the start to my to do list:

While at the school helping with interviews today, I stopped by my classroom. It is amazing how different the classroom looks after being away for a month. I couldn't quite decide if the classroom seemed extremely clean or just empty because everything is hidden in cabinets!?! But I am determined not to step foot into the room again until I absolutely have to...so this is a to-do list of things that I can complete from home. A list of things to do in the classroom will have to come later.

I hope you're enjoying every minute of your summer and not getting flustered over the school year to come!

With Task Checked Off My List,

The Penny Pinching Teacher

Fashion Friday: Classy Wardrobe on a Dime

2011-07-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

Another shopping discount for you... just because you're a teacher. My favorite store of all time, J.Crew, offers a 15% discount to any teacher when you present the cashier with your teacher ID. You might be saying, "yeah, yeah, 15% off sounds good but J.Crew clothes are outrageously priced!" Well, I'm not going to disagree with you there. And do know that this discount is only good on full priced items.

But here is the catch! You can get the same 15% off discount at J. Crew Outlet stores. The J. Crew Outlet store already has their items discounted anywhere from 10-75% off. You can show your teacher ID and receive an extra 15% off at the Outlet. This is where I have found my great deals. Especially when there is a skirt or pair of shoes that I am dying to add to my closet.

With Discount Cashmere,
The Penny Pinching Teacher

Thrifty Thursday: Caffeine Addiction Freebie

2011-07-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

No matter what your career is, teacher or not, there is one essential that will help you make it through the toughest of days... caffeine! I rarely touch caffeine because its side affects seem to hit me a little more than the average person and I've been told by my students that I talk to fast when I have a Starbucks cup in my hand.

But at the end of this last school year I found the solution to two of my problems. One being the lack of caffeine in my morning routines and two being the amount of money that was leaving my wallet every week due to my daily stop at Starbucks. The solution to both of these problems was Starbucks Via Iced Coffee. Now for those of you who automatically jump to the conclusion that this is your grandmother's charcoal instead coffee that you've learned to avoid, you are mistaken. These little packs are nothing short of an official Starbucks drink without the hassle of an absurdly long line or outrageous price.

The Via Iced Coffee comes with a pack of 5 drink packets. Each drink packet makes a 16oz drink which would be that average Grande coffee. I'm a "tall girl" so I use half of a packet each morning. Therefore the pack of 5 packets last me for 10 drinks! And the price is only $5.95 compared to the $6 I usually pay for ONE drink.

Now this might seem all grand and dandy but my excitement continues because now Starbucks has flavored Via Iced Coffee... and it comes in Caramel. For those of you Caramel Macchiato fans, this one's for you.

Some of you are getting frustrated because you're thinking that this isn't very Thrifty. Well here's the thriftiness... Starbucks is running a special July 14th-17th. Starbucks is giving out a free tall drink of your choice with purchase of any Via Coffee. So what are you waiting for? I'm headed to Starbucks right now to get my Iced Coffee for FREE!

Wardrobe Essential Wednesday: Classic Trench

2011-07-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

Each Wednesday will be dedicated to the essential items that should be in any working woman's closet. Every closet should have these go-to items to built the perfect outfit for any occasion. If this situation sounds familiar to you then you've been in my shoes: Barely awake, I'm standing in my closet perusing the array of items that have seemed to multiply over the years. Shirts from college cluttering every corner and piles of jeans that I'm sure I can no longer fit into are heaped on the shelves. Over twenty pairs of pants to choose from and I'm not sure which ones even fit... much less which of the forty pairs of shoes will match them. After trying on what seems like a million outfits, I settle on the same old outfit that I wear every week.

Wouldn't you love to skip this dreaded ordeal every morning. Well hopefully once you are able to narrow down your wardrobe to only the essentials, putting together an outfit will be as easy as 1-2-3. Each Wednesday, I will present you with a new essential to find in your wardrobe or add to it at a sensible price.

The first of these closet essentials is a classic trench coat. Not only is a trench a great touch to any outfit on a rainy day, but it is also a must-have throughout the Spring season. Putting on a trench coat can be like the icing on a cake; giving an outfit a polished look. Fit is the most important thing. Make sure that your trench coat is at the proper length. You do not want this coat to overtake you... we're not spies after all. A trench coat should hit you mid-thigh. Along with length, it is important for a trench coat to have a tie around the waste to emphasis your waste line.

Also pick wisely when choosing the color of your trench coat. A classic khaki or navy trench coat will go with everything. Also it will be easy to translate these colors into any seasonal wardrobe. If you choose a color for your trench coat, make sure that you have another jacket in a neutral color.

This past spring, I purchased my classic trench coat from Ann Taylor Loft. The coat was ideal because it surprisingly came in petite sizes... which is crucial for me. Also it has a tie around the waste and a small lapel. Not only was this trench a perfect match for me, but it was a perfect match for my wallet. Most trench coats from the LOFT range in price from $75-$99. I waited until they had a store wide 30% off sale and then I received an additional 15 % off for being a teacher. With tax, I paid less than $50 for a timeless addition to my closet.

Tuesday To Do: Classroom Wish List

2011-07-12T06:38:00.000-07:00

This summer there is not much that you can do for your classroom until you get your class list... which will be weeks for me. The only thing you can really be productive with is buying supplies. And I am waiting until the as of now mystery penny sales come around.

Until these sales decide to make an appearance, I am going ahead and working on a Classroom Wish List. Each year, at open house, the teachers on my grade level present a Wish List for our classrooms in a creative way. This year I am going to put each item on a frog (theme for my classroom) sticky note and post them on a white board chart. This will be my "Wishing Well" from which parents can choose an item to purchase for the class.

via Carson Dellosa Sale

My goal this week, is to choose the items that I want to add to my "Wish List." So far these are the items that I have come up with:
Dry Erase Markers, Printer Paper, Highlighters, Bags of Assorted Candy (for the treasure box), and Lysol Wipes (locked in my filing cabinet of course...ridiculous!)

What else should I add to this list? What is on your classroom wish list this year?

With Wishes of Supplies,
The Penny Pinching Teacher

Monday Meltdown: Stress

2011-07-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

Hopefully you can agree that Mondays are nothing short of a major meltdown. These Monday Meltdown posts will become quite entertaining when the school year starts back and I am borderline in crisis mode with lack of sleep, excessive meetings, hours of planning, 20 parent phone calls to deal with and 4 work days still ahead of me. As Madonna stated it so well, "Just another Manic Monday!"

This Monday though, my life is definitely not lacking that element of stress that shouldn't be creeping its way into my summer vacation. No matter how much I strive to get done on the weekend, come Monday, I'm about to pull my hair out at the lack of things that I've actually completed over the my "weekend."

Yesterday, I was contemplating the fact that my summer has been utterly routine free. Now that might sounds amazing to most of you, but my slightly OCD side is freaking out at the lack of structure. As a teacher, I am used to doing exactly the same thing at the same time every day. Think back to your elementary school days when everything from bathroom breaks to free time were planned out to the T. Well I'm surprisingly missing my excess of time management. Even though it will probably be one of the many things that I complain about on Mondays when school gets back into full swing.

The main ingredient that is missing from my summer days is a to-do list. I looked at my planner this weekend and I've neglected the poor thing for over a month. How in the world do I stay sane without every minute of every hour scheduled out? Well that's the point... I'm not staying sane. So I am resorting back to the world schedules and to-do lists.

The first step to my stress rehab is going to be getting a new planner. I'm thinking I should go with a bright color to maybe help with my tendency to become easily distraction and luckily Target has these Moleskin notebooks in every color and their under $10. Then I've got to start a to-do lists of the thousands of things that I was supposed to complete last week. Hopefully come Friday... this summer vaca with be nothing short of a Fun Friday instead of a Meltdown Monday!

With Hourly Plans,
The Penny Pinching Teacher

Weekly Deals: First Penny Sale

2011-07-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

Staples finally has a few items in their Penny Sale. There is also a great list of supplies for a quarter or dollar each. I'm going to check out the sale today and see if they left any items out of their weekly ad and will be sure to let you know.

Penny Deals:

*limit 2 per customer

Pencil Eraser Tops- 12 pack
Bic Ball Point Pens- 8pack
Staples Brand Glue

Quarter Deals:

Sticky Flags (love these)
Bic Mechanical Pencils- 5 pack
Vinyl Pencil Cases
Multipurpose Paper- 500 sheets (GREAT DEAL! and Office Depot is carrying the same deal)

Dollar Deals:

Sharpie Fine Point Markers- 5 pack (definitely getting these)
Paper clips, push pins and binder clips
Student Scissors 5" and 7"
Glue Sticks- 4 pack (40cent at Target if they keep their sale going)
Photo Paper- 50 pack
Mini Staplers

Have you found any great deals on school supplies?

Weekly Deals

2011-07-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

Hopefully each week I will be able to post the deals that I find for my classroom. As teachers, we know how hard it is to keep a classroom stocked with supplies without forking out a huge amount from our own wallets. I'm hoping that these deals will help you snag a few items on a dime. Also make sure that you check out any blog post that is titled "Weekly Deals" because I will also be posting when office supply stores are hosting their penny sales this summer. (I'm crossing my fingers that Staples will be having their Penny Sale next week...but don't worry I will let you know as soon as I do!)

This week, most Target dollar sections are stocking their shelves with teacher supplies. Remember that every Target is different so the stock is never the same. One Target I visited this week had wooden bathroom/office passes, folders, behavior chart stickers, file boxes, 10ct pencil packs, flash cards and more. The Target that I visited today had several items marked 50% off including 10ct pencil packs, decorative boxes for your desk, white boards, sidewalk chalk, thank you card sets, and notepads.
_________________________________________________________________________________

My big find of the day was these file folders with are great for storing math station games. I have been looking for these folders at a decent price for months now and was beyond excited when I found them for a dollar. Comparing office supply stores have them priced up to $10.99 each. Today I bought 10 folders for less than $10.99!

Fashion Friday: Loft Loves Teachers

2011-07-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

Are you in need of a wardrobe revamp? There is no better place to find a go-to-teaching outfit than Ann Taylor Loft. Their clothes are not only classy but they are first and foremost comfortable. Many of you may have been reluctant to step foot in the store for fear of the prices on most of their clothing items but have no fear... being a teacher has its perks.

Ann Taylor offers teachers 15% off all full priced purchases as well as exclusive teacher appreciation shopping events. All you need to do is bring your teacher ID with you on your shopping spree and voila... 15% off. If you also have a LOFT credit card, they will send you a "Loft Loves Teachers" sticker to put on your card and then there's no need to lug around your ID.

Go ahead and treat yourself to a new outfit essential to brighten your teaching day.

With Fashion and Discounts,
The Penny Pinching Teacher

Thrify Thursday: Bathroom Passes

2011-07-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

One challenge for all teachers to tackle no matter what age they teach, is bathroom breaks. You would think that a student leaving the classroom to use the restroom would be a simple task... but boy are you mistaken. The first problem you are faced with is how many students can leave the room at a time. My classroom rule is that two students may be out of the classroom at one time (one boy and one girl). Once the students get in the routine of things they will know not to ask to go to the restroom until they see that their bathroom pass (boy or girl) has been returned.

In the past, I have used a few different styles of bathroom passes and my colleagues have use even more. Target is a great place to get a bargain on teaching supplies, including pesky bathroom passes (something you definitely don't want to blow the bank on). I wait in anticipation all summer to see what great thing will show up in the dollar section of Target. This week they had their emphasis bathroom passes. Each pass is only $1 so you can buy one of each or even stock up for a set to switch out come Christmas break (to avoid the germs) and you will spend a max of $4. These passes cost an average of $5 each at teacher supply stores.

These are the passes from Target that I used a year ago.

I realize after my first year of teaching that my classroom bathroom passes were nothing short of destroyed. I didn't want to pick them up with my bare hands much less a tissue. The problem with passes such as the ones above is that no matter how hard the students try, they end up touching the passes with unwashed hands (or in my case the pass ends up in the toilet!) So this past year I found the fix.

I came across a bag of close pins in a cabinet in my classroom and a light bulb went off. I wrote on each close pin what the pass was to be used for: boys bathroom, girls bathroom, office, councilor, errand, principal, library, computer lab, etc.

My passes are in my classroom currently so I couldn't post a picture

I placed the passes a pocket hung by the door and taught my students that they were to clip the close pin to their shirt sleeve where it could be seen but not touched. This way the pass was kept clean and there was no question about where the student was to be. Plus, I spent less than a dollar on a supply for the year!
What do you use for bathroom passes?

With Germ Free Hands,
The Penny Pinching Teacher

Let the Penny Pinching Begin

2011-07-06T17:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog, Penny Pinching Teacher. I am a 20-something teacher who is slowly learning how to live a classy and fabulous life on a teacher's salary (which we all know isn't much). Don't fret; there are ways to wear the clothing you love, shop where you want, and live the life you want without breaking the bank. This blog will hopefully give you a secret view into ways to saves... and all you have to do is be a teacher!

I will post on a regular basis so don't miss out on any of these saving secrets. Why waste another minute... click FOLLOW to the right and there will be no excuse for missing out on these deals. I will share a multitude of things on this blog from discounts offered by clothing companies to where to find the cheapest classroom supplies. I will also share creative, budget friendly ways to decorated and maintain your classroom.

Welcome to the Penny Pinching Teacher and a life of fashion and style on a budget.

With Welcomes and Followers,
The Penny Pinching Teacher