Monday Made it #3 For Me!

Project #1:

This Monday Made It, is rather disappointing.  I had hoped to make my own vinyl.  I found a blog on Pinterest that explained how to make homemade vinyl.

http://brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/2010/05/contact-paper-cardstock-wall-decals.html
I thought, “that sounds AMAZING!”  I keep looking at all these different vinyl stores online, but can’t make up my mind.  I’m not a great decision maker when it comes to these sorts of things, and I just flip from shop to shop and never buy a thing.  If I could make my own vinyl, having chosen the paper and colors in person– well that would solve my problems!

So I tried it.  It wasn’t easy.  Contact paper is a difficult medium!  I don’t have enough hands to keep it flat…seriously I was using my chin at one point.  But eventually I was able to sort of work it out, and I anxiously awaited 12 pieces of homemade vinyl.

Well…as the cardstock dried…it became very loosely stuck to the contact paper.  Should I have used more mod podge?  Something heavier?  I put a heavy binder on them as they dried. 

Then, when I tried using my Silhouette on them, it failed.  The letters were cut but the cardstock separated from the contact paper.  Needless to say I’m disappointed and back to square 1 when it comes to vinyl.

Project #2:

I still was able to make my Bienvenidos Banner using my cameo.  I just used a touch of hot glue to attach the letters instead of homemade vinyl. The Silhouette cut the pennants (including circles for ribbon) and the letters.  It was super easy!

I chose my color scheme with Kristen’s flipped signs in mind…I love everything she does, so this seemed like a safe plan.

Thinking:

Created:


Project #3:

This week I also made these fun duct tape flower pens.  (Once I have vinyl I want to add some grass to the tin).  I also need to add a bit of foam to the bottom of my recycled Tazo Tea tins, because they are too deep for everything I make.  I was thinking they could be some sort of incentive for the kids – after so many pieces of bling you get to use the flower pen…I could have sold that with second graders, but I’m thinking fifth graders won’t buy into it…they’re still cute though!

I used this tutorial that I found on Pinterest. 

It was really easy to follow.  I felt like my fingerprints had been ripped off after so much duct tape use, but apparently not since they scanned properly for my background check for my new employer.

Project #4:

I also had ordered these posters from Vistaprint, and had the dry mounted at Hobby Lobby.  They were too flimsy and I was afraid they would get destroyed in my classroom.  The dry mounting cost $9.00 a piece, but if you consider I got them for free at the clearance sale, I think it’s a good deal!

Krista @ The Second Grade Super Kids made something earlier this summer with the quote from Gandhi – and I loved her idea!  Be the change you want to se in the world.  These will look great in my classroom and are perfect for dual language!

Find more great ideas at 4th Grade Frolics:

That’s it for this week! 
Happy creating!
Mrs. Castro Pin It

Monday Made It #2 - Silhouette and Debbie Diller in one post!

I’ve officially demolished a Silhouette cutting mat in my first attempts at using it.  But, that is irrelevant because I have made my first Silhouette project.  It’s not particularly awe-inspiring, but it’s a start.


I use numbers to keep track of my students and last year I wrote the numbers on sticks – and just kept them in a container.  Very blah, and uninspired.  What would always happen was, I would misplace sticks that I had chosen because I had nowhere specific for the sticks that had been used…I would also walk around with the holder and misplace that…but I hope all that can be solved.


I’ve created these bright fancy number sticks and holders.  Now every stick has a home, called on or not!  Bonus: everything is bright, so hopefully I can’t misplace anything even if I set the tins in a random place.
Why am I glad I used my Silhouette? I DIDN’T HAVE TO CUT ANYTHING!  I printed the circles on colored regular paper, NOT cardstock.  Sent them through the laminator. Then the Silhouette cut them out.  I didn’t have to cut a single circle! 


Hopefully I’ll do something much more fun for next week!  Accepting all Silhouette tips and ideas!  BTW the Tazo Tea Tins are incredibly difficult to recycle!  It was a real chore taking off the labels…even using the goo be gone stuff!


Next, I made these math work station mats.  During summer school I’ve noticed how the kids just love to roll the die as far as possible, and spread the counters all around them, and…well you know how it is.  Even after modeling and explaining, I still catch the odd flying die in the corner of my eye. 


Debbie Diller did think of something for this and on page 40 of her book explains the mats.  I bought the shelf-liner from the Dollar Tree.  Duct tape I made two trips – 40% off at Hobby Lobby and Michaels.  So pretty cheap!

So there you have it!  My latest creations.
 
To join the linky fun and see what other teachers are creating head over to Tara's blog by clicking below:

I won’t be posting again until I finish my back to school packets.  So be on the look out for those.  They’ll be perfect for dual language, bilingual classrooms and regular education teachers looking for some new read alouds and activities.


Happy Monday!
Mrs. Castro Pin It

*UPDATED* Bilingual Daily 5 Freebie and my first Monday Made It

Finally I’m going to be a part of the “Monday Made It” brought to you by 4th Grade Frolics! 

I’ve been working on a Daily 5 freebie for all my dual language or bilingual teacher friends.  I find so many great freebies in English, but there isn’t a lot of Daily 5 stuff out there in Spanish.

One of my all time most popular posts is my Anchor Chart post (click here).  There I shared how I manage the Daily 5 in my classroom.  I use a pocket chart and direct students where they are to go.  I know that the Daily 5 is supposed to be about choice, but this worked really well.  My students responded very well to the routine.  So I’ve created some Daily 5 pocket chart cards in Spanish to help you if you manage your Daily 5 this way.

I've also created signs in case you manage the Daily 5 as seen in my previous post (click here).

The freebie has two different Spanish translations of the Daily 5 rotations.  My husband (an Argentine) and I worked on one, and then I saw my friend Krista from The Second Grade Super Kids posted a fun Daily 5 bookmark freebie…so I used her translation as well.  

I've included posters and pocket chart cards that are only visuals – no words, in case you want to keep it simple or want to do your own translation.

Here you go.  Please let me know if you need these translated differently, or a different look – I’ll try my best to help out!  

These can also be downloaded at my TpT store -  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Daily-5-Posters-and-Pocket-Chart-Set-Bilingual



Here are 2 other great Spanish Daily 5 resources from fellow bloggers:
The Second Grade Super Kid's Super 5 Book Marks
Multilingual Multiage I-Pick

Crafts aren’t usually my area of strength – but I’ve also finally finished up my teacher tool box!  I painted it Key Lime – using Rust-Oleum spray paint.  I painted my future math work stations shelf the same color.  Key Lime was calling to me this summer!  

I chose some scrapbook paper that I really liked, but in the end it just didn’t work.  It was hard to read the labels and just kind of uninspired.  See below:

Then I bought some BRIGHT NEON scrapbook paper that I think works much better! 

Here you can also see the future home of math work stations...it started as a beat up shelf that we had as kids and has sat unused for years in my parents' basement...aren't parent basements great!?!

Then it was key-lime-ified!

Now, it's burried under the mess of my future math work stations that are rather discombobulated at the moment...it'll get there, don't worry and I'll have a brilliant photo to share worthy of Pinterest!

Join the Monday Made It madness by clicking below:

Cheers!
Mrs. Castro

P.S. – my mom bought me a Silhouette Cameo – it’s on it’s way now – I think I’ll be walking my parents’ dog for the rest of my life to pay it off – but it’s worth it! Pin It