Monday, January 30, 2012

Pinspiration and Tweaking

I love Pinterest and get so much "Pinspiration" from the pins I see and from the many awesome bloggers I follow. However, like most of you, I usually take the great ideas and "tweak" them to make them work for me and my class. Here are a few pics to show ideas I've tweaked.


How many times have you seen this on Pinterest? I didn't really change it much except to add a writing activity (What to do if your snowman came alive)


Making crate seats was all the rage this summer. I had planned to make some but saw these at Big Lots ($14 each) and bought them - saved me time, energy, and frustration in making them. I like that no one can see what is stored inside. 


Chair sacks: My students have desks so I didn't really need chair sacks for desk supplies, but I wanted something to hold individual white boards, markers, and erasers. Chair sacks are so expensive, especially for the purpose I needed them for (and I didn't want to make them!) Instead, I use stretchy jumbo book covers. They work great - no horde of 27 kids all trying to get white boards at the same time. Now everyone has their whiteboards and are ready to go in just seconds.

I don't have wall space for a Word Wall so I hang the words from the ceiling. There was an idea on Pinterest to put the words on the ceiling, but putting words up there each week didn't sound like fun. The word ceiling, though, got me thinking and this is what I came up with. 

I've seen teachers posting guided reading group assignments on the whiteboard. I've tweaked that idea by putting colored paper (my groups are organized by color) into page protectors - the smooth ones. Then I just use a dry erase marker. Now the kids have a short reminder of what independent reading/writing they need to do for their reading group that day and whether or not they are meeting with me (the black numbers).

How have you tweaked a great idea you've seen on Pinterest and/or blogland?



14 comments:

  1. I like the storage crates that you found at Big Lots. I just hope mine has them too. I'm just much too lazy to make my own milk crate seats and I like how you can't see inside these ones.

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  2. The word ceiling is such a good idea - thanks for sharing :)

    Lisa
    stories114.blogspot.com

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  3. I agree, Pinterest is VERY helpful in sparking ideas and thoughts. By the way the ceiling word wall was creative!

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  4. Cute blog! Check out my new 2nd grade blog if you get a chance.
    http://secondgradeperks.blogspot.com/

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  5. Pam - those are such cute snowmen! I just found your blog and am your newest follower. :o)
    Vicky
    Traditions Laughter and Happily Ever After

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  6. I love the hanging word wall idea. Too bad my ceiling is a gazillion feet high. I just gave you an award. Hope you'll come get it.

    2B Honey Bunch
    The Best Endings

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  7. Those crate seats are too cute!

    I love the name of your blog and it is so true!!!!

    I am happy to be your newest follower! I would love for you to visit me when you get the chance. I have lots of *freebies* I'll be posting this week! =)


    Heather
    Heather's Heart

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  8. Love those chair sacks! I bought some from Really Good Stuff and they lasted one year! If you are interested in integrating technology- maybe drop by my blog! I am your new follower!

    Mindy

    iintegratetechnology@blogspot.com

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  9. Love your word wall!! Would it be ok for me to pin it?

    Thanks!!

    Miss J

    Smiles, Crayons, and Endless Stories

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  10. Your ceiling word wall is so creative! I love it!

    Marvelous Multiagers!

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  11. I really like the hanging word wall. How do you get the words to stay? Tape? Staples?

    ✰Becca
    Fun is Found in Fourth

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    1. The word wall is really easy to hang. I just bend open a large paper clip, slip one hook end through a hole punched into the letter, and then I stick/hook the other end of the paper clip into the acoustic ceiling tile.
      Pam

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  12. I really like your hanging word wall! I am also short on wall space, I may give this a try at some point this year! :) It looks great! I love how colorful your room is. :) My classroom has cubbies built in on one wall (I teach kindergarten). I don't have the need for chair pockets either but just having them for a few things (like whiteboards or maybe journals in my class) is a great idea- saving $$$ using the stretchy book covers is even better! I may have to try these out-let me know how they hold up! :)

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  13. What are those seats called you got at big lots?

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