Welcome Sign Bunting

I'm beyond excited to go back to teaching in third grade!! This past week, I spent a lot of time in my classroom that I share with my co-teacher decorating for the start of school!

One of the things I wanted to do was create bunting to invite the students (and others too) into our classroom!  We have huge three windows and I have seen other colleagues hang signs across them in the past! I am obsessed with chevron, so I wanted to create my own bunting; chevron style! My co-teacher loves to scrapbook; so I had an idea! 

First, I created my own chevron style welcome sign. Check it out my TpT store:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Welcome-Sign-Letters-for-Bunting-Chevron-Style-2063650

The best part is it is FREE!! I then asked my co-teacher to bring in some of her scrapbook papers! When she did, I picked out papers with both patterns and textures. From there, I used printed out my welcome sign letters and arranged them on the scrapbook paper. I created a template for bunting and cut all of the scrapbook papers to match. I also cut off the excess trim from my letters and aligned them in the thick scrapbook paper. I used rubber cement (if you haven't used this for your projects; you MUST try it!) to glue onto the scrapbook paper. Once dried, I laminated each and cut off the excess lamination! 

Afterwards, I attached Command hooks on both sides of the window and then strung yarn with small knots at the end to hang on the hooks. 

Finally, I used small binder clips to attach the bunting to the yarn and then I spaced them out and readjusted the length of yarn to have the right amount of swag!

Here is the final product! 

Classroom tip: Seating chart

Check out this quick video clip on how I create a seating chart.... A HUGE time saver!!

http://motivationalmsmac.blogspot.com/2015/08/classroom-tip-seating-chart.html

Cheat clean???

Is there such a thing as cheating clean?? What does that even mean? From my perspective, I feel like I'm eating a "cheat meal" but really eating something pretty healthy/clean. Personally, I have found two types of  bars that I think allow you to do just that; Lara Bars and Quest Bars! (FYI; neither of these companies are paying me to promote their products; although, that would be nice, wouldn't it?!)

Suprisingly, when I asked a few of my friends; most said they had never heard of either of these bars! So I figured why not blog about a couple of my favorites! Side note: I'm very picky with my food and if it doesn't taste good, I would not eat it... So these definitely feel like a "cheat" for me! 

*Lara Bar -

(My personal favorite is Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip.... This isn't surprising to those of you that know me, is it?!)

The stats:

~non-GMO

~gluten free, dairy free

~vegan

~kosher 

~ 6 grams of protein

~220 calories

~19 grams of sugar (may seem high, but they are mostly natural sugars.

~ingredients : dates, peanuts, semi-sweet chocolate chips and sea salt (that's it!!!)

~when I eat them: usually as a snack or before a workout! 

~ can be found at Target or supermarket in the health aisle. 

*Quest nutrition protein bar (My personal favorite is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough..it really does taste just like it; honest!!)

The stats: 

~21 grams of protein

~I gram of sugar

~17 grams of fiber

~190 calories

~gluten free

~ingredients: a bunch 

~when I eat them: after a workout, especially after weight training, or as a meal replacement. 

~where can you find: health food aisle of some supermarkets, Amazon, and I believe GNC, vitaman world, and so on. 

A lot of my weight lifting friends eat these often and love them! 

Some may not agree that these are "clean" products; but are the best that I have found to meet my needs. A big plus for me is that they taste good too! You can be the judge for yourself! Check some out and let me know what you think! If you already eat them, tell me your personal favorites! Or simply tell me ones that you like... I always like something new too! 

Oxox,

Mac

Back to School Activities

   

Can't believe it is about that time again; Back to School!  I love what I have created and am so excited to share it with you! These back to school activities are sure to be fun for teachers and students to get to know one another. The bundle also includes a couple of treat labels to welcome students back to school for one or two+ teacher classrooms. I have tried these ("on trend") activities in my classes and my students have absolutely loved them.  We definitely had quite a few laughs and I can't wait to use them again this year!

You will love it too!  Check it out!

This 19 page document contains numerous activities for students and teacher(s) to get to know one another better.  There is even an activity for students to get to know more about you; their teacher.  All activities are neither grade nor year specific.

This bundle includes:

Getting to know you activities -

~A Classmate Interview - Students can pair up and ask one another questions and introduce them to the class.

~Stump the Teacher Activity where the teacher needs to decide which is a fact or a fib given by the student.

~Find Someone Who... – Students travel around the classroom finding someone that matches the description.

~ #MySelfie – This is a two page activity where you can either place the students’ own selfie in or draws a picture of themselves.  The second page is full of #hashtags that students complete (ex: #MyFavoriteSubject, #MyFamily).  I have provided different colored frames for you or students to choose from. 

~My Goals – Students will list three of their goals for this school year. 

~My Teacher: True or False?? – This is a list of generic statements that are either true or false so that your students get to know more about YOU.

Treat Labels –

~ Bursting with excitement Back to School Treat Labels – Includes labels for one or two+ teacher classrooms.  Great labels to place with a little Starburst treat to welcome students back to school.

~You were “MINT” to be in my/our class Treat Labels -   Includes labels for one or two+ teacher classrooms.  Great labels to place with mints to welcome students back to school.

Please view this and other resources on my TpT store.  Here is my direct link to my Teachers Pay Teachers store:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Motivational-Ms-Mac

 

(My own sample.....of course my printer decides to run out of ink on me)

Rainy Day Summer Activities

For the past few summers, I've had the opportunity to work in an Autistic and preschool special education setting.  I simply loved it and we were able to make  summer time activities that included fine motor skills, counting, identifying colors, and so on!  You can do these activities with your own children, preschoolers or kindergarten kiddos. Here are a few of my favorite (and the only ones I took pictures of) activities I have done with my students! 

1. Colorful lantern

I did this activity during a Camping themed week. We only needed a few items to create these cute lanterns. We needed mason jars, wet glue, a paintbrush, tissue paper, and a flame less tea light. I got a six pack of these frameless tea lights at Christmas tree shops for $2.50. 

I had my students rip up tissue paper while identifying colors, counting, and creating piles of ten! We used at least twenty to thirty pieces of tissue paper, but that all depends on the size of your pieces. We then took a paintbrush and had students glue pieces of the tissue paper directly onto the mason jar. As we were going over the mason jar, we would reapply glue of edges were turning up! We let them dry overnight and placed a flame less tea light inside. We loved the final product. I even have one that I keep on my patio for summer nights!

2. S'mores on a stick

To strengthen fine motor skills, I gave each of my students a snack sized bag with one graham cracker inside. Each student would try to break their cracker into crumbs by pinching it. Surprisingly, the kids loved to do this! I melted some pieces of chocolate in a microwave, stopping every 20 seconds to stir it in a bowl. I placed big marshmallows on a kabob stick made of bamboo and had students roll their marshmallows in the melted chocolate and roll it in the cracker crumbs in their snack bag. No melted marshmallows but the kids asked for second and third helpings, so you know they loved them!

3. Starfish

I simply used construction paper; cut out a starfish like shape (not the best looking one; I'm clearly no artist). I used Cheerios and had students count them and glue them onto their constudtion paper. Some were able to do more than others, but  either way, we worked in math skills.

4. Lighthouse

Again, step in the flame less tea lights! This was so simple! I just used clear cups and Red Solo cups, had kids cut small pieces of black construction paper and glue them on the sides and put masking tape around the cups! Super easy and super cute! 

5. Snake

I simply used a toilet paper roll, had the kids paint it, and allow time to dry. Then I had the kids cut the roll while I turned it. We then unrolled it to stretch it out, snipped an end to create a head and glued some eyeballs on it! The kids used these for pretend play. 

Pleasure; with None of the Guilt

So if you know me; you know I am a chocoholic! I love the sweet treat; and often have a stash in my desk at school (and maybe a little at home too ;)  Unfortunately, it tends not to be 70% cacao version! During a stressful day, I could eat a ton on the miniature sizes of milk chocolate. Many of my students see me with it, and always ask for some! My response is that I share a lot of things, but one thing I don't share is my chocolate!  Aren't I horrible?!  I can't help it, I am truly a chocolate addict.

Summer always reminds me of the beach and of course, ice cream.  Growing up I loved Mr. Softie (didn't we all??), and would always run out outside when I heard the truck coming up the street with its distinctive jingle! My family also vacationed in Cape Cod every summer and we always had homemade ice cream every night at a different place.  In high school, my friends and I often went out to get Italian ices before meeting up with a group of friends.  We even had a couple of reunions this summer, along with our favorite cream Italian Ices.  As an adult, I feel in love with blizzards at DQ ( chocolate and peanut butter cups).  DQ did not exist on Long Island while I was growing up.  Up until recently, I thought I was eating better when I got frozen yogurt; that is until, I added the peanut butter sauce and PB cups.  But as I try to move towards a healthier lifestyle; I had to give that up that summer ice cream fix!  I was determined to find something that was healthier, but still tasted good. The struggle was real, friends. That is until I found these....Arctic Zero Fit Frozen Desserts!

(Notice all have some form of chocolate in them). These are still a much healthier version than what most of us would normally have on a hot summer day, including frozen yogurt without any extras! Now this may not be new to you, but being that I have no Whole Foods or Trader Joe's near my house; it was a total treat to find these awesome treats in my local supermarket.  The entire pint has 150 calories; 35 calories per serving! They are gluten free, lactose free and GMO free and most are even nut free and fat free. These three flavors have 3 grams of protein (whey protein), and only 5 grams of sugar.  Normally, I could eat a whole pint in one sitting, but one serving size was perfect for me.  This has been my replacement from all fatty summer treats... Ok, not all, but most! 

Oh, before I forget, Arctic Zero does offer fruit versions of this frozen treat too! I'm just a chocoholic fit girl! Try some and let me know your favorite flavors!

Your "fit" chocoholic,

Mac