Weekend Warriors: "Pin It" Blog Button


Today, I am going to share with you how to create the "Official Pin It Hover Button" for Blogger! You know what I am talking about...those cute little red circles with the Pinterest "P" in the center. They appear on some blogs and websites when you hover over a picture. I am going to show you how easy it is for your blog to have it also!!


I always wondered how some websites had these awesome Pin It buttons for Pinterest on the pictures of their blog posts. Mine didn't. I wanted it. SO...I did a little research (aka Google) and I found this INCREDIBLE site Code It Pretty!

This site makes HTML code look like a breeze. Thank goodness because ain't nobody got time to learn HTML code. This site explains the pros and cons of all the different Pin It buttons. You can choose what works best for your needs and blog site. I really wanted the hover button to appear on my blog pictures. I decided to use BloggerSentral's Hovering Pin It Button tutorial. It literally took me all of 10 minutes to read and install on my blog! I accomplished all this while my seven year old was saying, "Mom, Mom, Mom, let's go play outside!!" You know those moments. You want to finish a task. Your kid doesn't care. Well, this worked out to be a win-win for everyone. 
I followed the step by step directions on the tutorial. 

1. I copied the HTML code in the tutorial I wanted to use.
2. I went into Blogger >Template>Edit HTML 
3.  I located the <body>
4. I pasted the code directly above <body>
5.SAVE
6.Ta-dah! Happy Pinning!

Now, see how it works!
 I just had to share this! It is going to be one of my Monday Made Its this summer. Just hover over the picture and watch the Pinterest button appear. How cool is that? 
I love this wreath! 35 Back-to-School Ideas | Positively Splendid {Crafts, Sewing, Recipes and Home Decor}
How darn cute is this??? I found this on Pinterest and just knew I was going to have make one for my classroom door! The step by step directions can be found HERE at the Polka Dot Chair. I am going to decorate mine with turquoise and black items to match my classroom color scheme. I love that I can leave it up all year if I want OR change our the items I decorate it with to go along with the holiday of each month. I feel like there are so many choices!!!

I hope you are now inspired to install the Pin It button on your blog and see how it works for you! Don't forget to hop on over to read some more fabulous ideas from some of my sweet blogging friends. Enjoy!


Weekend Warriors: Pinspirational June- Classroom Style

I am so excited to be teaming up with some of my fabulous blogging friends to bring you a blog hop with incredible tips, tricks, and ideas the last weekend of each month! This month we are sharing inspirations from Pinterest to use in your classrooms and homes! Before I share some ideas, I have a confession....many of my ideas have been coming from Instagram. My posts this weekend will be a combination of Pinterest and Instagram inspiration.


I am always searching for new ways to organize myself and my classroom. Today, I am going to share some classroom organization ideas I found on Pinterest that I will be using this coming school year.
This is the first project I want to tackle once I can get back into my classroom. This brilliant idea of using ice bins from Walmart seems like a no-brainer to me! It looks so clean, organized and easy to use. I have NO idea how many I will need, but I am going to start stalking up! I wonder if they come in bright colors??? This picture is from Sara Ventrella of Miss V's Busy Bees.

this blog post has SO many tips for classroom library organization 
I also found this amazing blog post from the Kinder Craze Blog with a TON of great ideas of classroom library organization! I love the labels she used too! My main issue with my classroom library is it's size! It simply is not large enough to hold all my books. So, even though I LOVE the idea of using bins, I may only be able to use it for some of my collection. 

This idea is another life saver in my classroom. I took the idea from our own school library. The kids use "browsing sticks" when they are in the library. They hold the place of the book each student is reading. I would spend hours organizing my library. The next thing I knew, books would be shoved back into the shelves. They would get ruined and bent and my blood would boil. I had to come up with a way to help the kids keep the books organized. 
With the help of my mom, these little gems were created!

Materials needed:
-Wooden paint sticks (free at most home improvement stores)
-Spray paint of your color choice
-Decorative duck tape 
-Empty oatmeal container
-ribbon
-numbered circles

My dad drilled holes at one end of each paint stick for me. They we spray painted the sticks on both sides and sealed them with acrylic paint to give them some shine. While they were drying, we used the duck tape to decorate the empty oatmeal container. I also created and laminated the numbered circles (which can be found in my TPT store).  Then I hole punched each one at the top and tied it with ribbon to each stick. Ta-dah.....classroom library sticks to help my students stay organized!

My last tip was found on Instagram from Clutter Free Classroom.
I found these in the Target Dollar Bins this week. Now my sweet little kiddos will have adorable white board erasers. Brilliant, right? I will give each student one sock to use. No more shredded Kleenex, wasted wipes or paper towels. I can wash these babies throughout the year if needed and use them over and over again. I can't wait!

Now that you have a few new classroom organizational ideas, make sure to hop along and gather as many new tips and tricks as possible from my other blogging friends.

Diggin' Into Next Year: Behavior Management

Welcome to another week of fresh ideas and tips to make our coming school year as smooth as possible! This week we are tackling BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT!

...handle behavior management in my classroom! Within the last couple years, I have completely revamped my behavior management style. Each group of kids is different, so my "style" remains the same BUT I always tweak it to work for my current group of students. I love using a colored clip chart where students can move up AND down the chart depending on their behavior throughout the day. Here is what my clip chart looks like in my classroom:
I don't have a lot of extra space in my classroom, so I use the side of one of my file cabinets to hang my chart. I use two metal hooks at the top with binder clips and it works like a charm. Every student has a clip with their classroom number on it. This makes it slightly more anonymous than using names. Everyone starts the day in green. Then, they move up and down throughout the day. At the end of each day the students fill out one half of this behavior chart:

On Friday, my students take their behavior charts home to be signed by a parent. They return them signed on Monday. Each students gets a ticket (reward system) to put into our class drawing, if they return it signed. To get the most participation, I have found there needs to be an incentive attached to returning the notes. This not only holds the students accountable for their behavior, but it also holds the parents accountable. They have to sign the note, so they don't have to come in and ask me how their child is behaving in class. If they are signing the notes regularly, they will already know! Win-Win!!!


For many years I had been using the ever so popular color card system. (I can hear all of your groans as you read this) It actually had worked really well for me and most of the teachers at my school. Most of us used it school wide. However, I wanted to make a change and switched to the color coded clip chart. The main reason I made the switch is because I really liked the idea of rewarding positive behavior as well as having consequences for negative behavior. When I used the color card system, I felt more of the negative behaviors were being highlighted instead of the positive ones. 

Next year, I also want to make sure kids are moving up and down the chart more frequently throughout the day. Many times, the day gets so busy, and  I forget to have the kids move their clips up. Then dismissal time rolls around and it's time to fill out their behavior charts and I realize they all had great days and should be in pink, but their clip is still in green. 

So, as you can see, the process is always evolving, but the foundation remains the same!


If you are interested in the colored clip chart behavior management system, click on the picture below:

If you would like to use individual MONTHLY behavior charts, I have an editable packet in my TpT store, too. These are great to use for students that have specific individual behavior goals you want them to focus on improving (ie: sitting in seat, raising hand quietly, working independently for a longer period of time etc.)

A big thanks to Laura from Where the Magic Happens for hosting this awesome linky.

Updates and a Giveaway!

Summer has started and I am thrilled that my alarm clock is turned off! Mommy Camp has started, but I am also working on updating some products and creating new ones. I am happy to say, my first two updates are complete! Presenting the new and improved Math Facts Fluency Units: 
AND



 I have noticed that if my students have mastered their addition and subtraction facts, they are able to understand more complex math concepts I present during the school year. It eliminates the constant counting on fingers that consumes too much of a math lesson.

My students start their math facts test at the very beginning of the school year. Each student is given their plus 2 and plus 3 flash cards to study. I have them cut them out and place them on a metal ring. These are kept at their desk so they can review whenever they finish their class work. We add more flash cards to it throughout the year.

Twice a week, as part of their homework, I send home practice math facts pages. I use the 25 problem tests (included in each packet) to make sure they are reviewing their skills. Their parents time them and write down how long it took to finish the set of 25 problems. The goal is for them to finish it between 1 minute and 30 seconds and 2 minutes.

Each Thursday, we take our timed tests. Everyone starts with the plus 2 test. They must complete 50 problems in 3 minutes. For the first month, I give them 4 minutes to complete the test so they get used to the process. In my class, in order to pass to the next level, each student must get 100% on their test. You might want your students to miss only 1 or 2 problems and they can advance. Do what works best for you and your class. But make sure to set the rules up from the very beginning. Everyone moves at their own pace. After the first week, students will be at different levels.


After I grade the tests, I send home a note letting the parents and students know if their child passed their test. This lets them know what they need to study and practice for the coming week. Weekly and end of unit awards are included in the packet, as well. 

I also like to hold my students accountable for their progress. I keep a binder with student data graphs, so they can track their progress. After the tests are graded, I pass out the graphs to each student to fill out. Here is a sample:
This also helps my students to visually see where they are struggling or succeeding! It is also a great motivator to get them to study during the week, so they can pass to the next level. 

Now, for the best part...if you would love to try using one of these units in your classroom, I am giving away a copy to a lucky follower!!! Just enter the rafflecopter below. If you win, you can choose which unit you would like!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway