Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Easy, Inexpensive Last Minute Thanksgiving Resources for K-2

'Twas the week before Thanksgiving and...I know a lot of teachers and librarians are trying to come up with a few filler items before Thanksgiving Break! Haha! I can help! You can find all of the following resources below in my TpT store and they are all $3 and under. Most are $1.50 or less, so they are super affordable! Click here if you'd like to follow my store to find out when I have posted new resources!










Call Number Turkey Tail Feather Sort





 




Monday, October 7, 2019

Farmhouse Library Theme for 2019-2020 {Before and After Makeover Pictures}


My library theme for 2019-2020 is Reading is Cozy with farmhouse accents of shiplap, doilies, burlap, buffalo check/plaid, succulents, sunflowers, etc.  After several years of super bright colors and different themes each year, I decided to go with something a little more cozy. The kids have told me repeatedly that it feels like home, which makes me happy! Many of the items I purchased were from Amazon, Hobby Lobby Wal-Mart, IPA and Dollar Tree

Here's a post that includes before pictures of our library when I started seven years ago. You'll definitely have to take a peek to appreciate how far we've come. ;) 

My first day back... (Before pictures)





After



I LOVE using tablecloths around the rafters near the ceiling! I purchased the buffalo check tablecloths from Amazon. 


I loved the buffalo check/plaid and burlap banners at Hobby Lobby this year, so I bought two and added some aqua tulle to them to match around the room. One of my best friends made me the  Library chalk sign. The organizer next to my computer was purchased with Scholastic Dollars, but I didn't love the way it didn't match anything, so I added some wrapping paper to it so it would blend in a little better. I am absolutely in love with the Teacher Resources Better Than Paper Bulletin Board Roll for covering my desk. It's the one thing that doesn't get ripped when my K-2 students lay with their bellies on my counter while they are waiting for check-out and let their feet dangle and hit the desk. Does this happen to anyone else?   


My sweet friend heard me say that I really wished I had this galvanized tray from Hobby Lobby and she purchased it for me as a back to school gift. I couldn't resist adding some vinyl lettering to it. The Read for fun picture is a Dollar Tree picture that I just added scrapbook paper, a doily and printed words to. 


My library expectations are short and simple this year: Be safe, Be respectful, Be responsible, Be kind, Be a reader and Be loved by Mrs. Howerton. 



This is the most comfortable Dutalier glider, ever! Everyone should have one for story time! 



We are a Leader in Me school, so each room in our building has the The 7 Habits Tree and a version of The 7 Habits printables posted. I keep our classroom supplies off the desks and students just take the tubs to their tables as needed. 


I added a few bows and ribbon strips to Dollar Tree frames and have the mirrors on each door in the library. I purchased the saying on Etsy, I believe. 


You can't really tell in this picture, but the grapevine was given to me by a parent and goes across the entire width of the library and has the most relaxing twinkle lights. 


I keep all of our new books on display for at least 3/4 of the year so circulation increases. Otherwise, the books just drown in a sea of other books on the regular shelves. I just mark them with a transparent yellow circle label over the spine label and change the sublocation to *NEW* Books in Destiny. 


I couldn't resist having a personal touch on my file cabinet this year. ;) A co-worker bought the cute reading Willow Tree figurine for me. 



I purchased these cute pillow covers from Amazon and bought pillow inserts at Wal-Mart.


The Blessed and Thankful picture is actually a placemat from Dollar Tree that I cut down to fit a frame I wasn't using. The cotton stems, aqua wrapping paper, pillow and doilies are all from Dollar Tree, as well. 



My sweet husband spray painted the insides of these jars with white paint so I could display the 10 cent greenery I purchased at Wal-Mart. ;) 


This bulletin board is used to keep track of our On-Time Returned Library Books. This is a reward system I use if two or fewer students in a class have lost/damaged/overdue books. 

Yes, my Kindergarten through 6th grade students use shelf markers and they are great at using them (most of the time)! See those timers? They are an absolute life saver! They are my go-to for "Think Win-Win" situations that involve sharing. We also use them when students use the Kindle Fires. They get two turns (for a total of two minutes) before they have to let someone else use them. You can get these at Dollar Tree for $1 each. They are one-minute timers. 


Thanks for taking a little peek at our library! I try to do a different theme every year. Sometimes I stick with the school-wide theme and sometimes I just do outside bulletin boards for the school theme and do my own thing inside the library. I like to switch things up so the kids don't get bored with our small space. 

#dutalier #dollartree #walmart #hobbylobby #IPAeducational # librarymakeover #librarypictures #elementarylibrary 

Thursday, October 3, 2019

FREE 14 Editable Spooky Vintage Halloween Decor Poster Templates

I fell in love with this vintage Halloween digital paper and had to create a new freebie with it. Be sure to click on the picture below to check out my TpT Store and download a set of editable blank decor/poster templates for yourselves! I will be working on task cards to match very soon! Be sure to follow my store for more freebies and new products! 




Monday, April 15, 2019

*FREE* Popsicle Colors - Word Search Bookmarks

I created a popsicles unit for a teacher friend for summer school and thought others might be able to use these bookmarks from the set. They are perfect for Summer School or Popsicles on the Playground with families. If you have never tried doing Popsicles on the Playground with your students and families in the spring, you have to try it! It's so much fun to see families interact with their children and it's incredibly cheap! You can download these bookmarks for free at my TpT store by clicking here or on the picture below. I would love to hear how you use them!


#freebookmarks #teacherlibrarian #librarymediaspecialist #elementarylibrarian #librarian #popsicles #summerbookmarks

Felt Cute, May Buy Them All Later!

This morning, some of my 6th graders and I had a little fun posing Dog Man for the #feltcutechallenge for our Scholastic Dino-Mite Buy One Get One Free Book Fair. Watching our vertically challenged student trying to get up and down with this ginormous costume was hilarious! We can't even fit it through the door.  ;)




#scholasticbookfair #scholastic #davpilkey #dogman #librarian #elementarylibrarian #librarymedia specialist

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Reading is in Bloom Bulletin Board

My Reading is in Bloom! bulletin board picture from a few years ago popped up as I was cleaning up my Google Drive files/folders tonight. It makes me want to make it all over again! Don't mind the 'R' cut off at the beginning of the word Reading. ;) Ha!

I vow to have my school Google Drive and email all cleaned up before school's out, as long as old pictures don't distract me too much. Do you have a favorite bulletin board that you've created over the years that makes you happy to look at over and over again? This was definitely one of my favorites!



Saturday, April 13, 2019

{FREEBIE} Five Little Bunnies Subtraction Shared Reading and Finger Puppets

I created this fun Easter/Bunnies shared reading and finger puppets set back when I taught Kindergarten, but it's still great to use in the library, as well! Click on the pictures below to download this freebie. Also, at the end of this post, you can purchase the emergent reader from my TpT store that matches this set.


 
I also created an emergent reader to go with the rhyme. You can purchase it through my TpT store for $1.50.


#librarian #librarymediaspecialist #teacherlibrarian #teacherlibrarian #easterlessonplans #kindergartensubtraction #emergentreader #easterkindergarten

Monday, April 1, 2019

I Received 'Cow Mail' Today from Doreen Cronin!

I received 'cow mail' today from Author Doreen CroninIt was such a treat to open on a Monday! Thanks for a fun giveaway! #doreencronin #clickclackmoo 

What's your favorite Doreen Cronin book? 


FREE Mark Twain and Truman Reader Award Nominee Checklist Bookmarks 2019-2020

I mentioned last week that I created a Google Site for the 2019-2020 Mark Twain Reader Award Nominees. I just finished the checklist bookmarks for both the Mark Twain and Truman Reader Award Nominees. Feel free to share them with your teachers or librarian. Click on the bookmark pictures below to download a copy of the bookmarks or click the bottom picture to take you to the site.



Sunday, March 31, 2019

*FREE* Easter Word Search Bookmarks

I am so excited that tomorrow is the first day of April! I decorated the library for Easter and Spring right before I left for our two day Spring Break. The colors and fun decor make me happy! Last night, I created some *FREE* Easter word search bookmarks for my kiddos and thought you might be able to use them in the coming weeks, too. Click here or on the picture below to download this Easter freebie from my TpT store!


I also have some oviparous animals word search bookmarks in my TpT store for free, as well. You can get them here. These are great for classes who are learning about life cycles!

 #elementarylibrarian #librarymediaspecalist #teacherlibrarian #freebookmarks #easterbookmarks #lilcountrylibrarian

Saturday, March 30, 2019

*FREE* 4 Printable Easter Treats Bookmarks

Spring Break weekend has been a little rainy, which is not so great for getting to do anything outside, but perfect for getting to work on things for school! I created some bookmarks for my little readers this afternoon and thought you might enjoy this freebie, too! Click here or on the picture below to download these bookmarks for free from my TpT Store!




#elementarylibrarian #librarymediaspecalist #teacherlibrarian #freebookmarks #easterbookmarks #lilcountrylibrarian

Mark Twain Readers Award Nominees 2019-2020

I am excited to have created a site with author info and links to book trailers for the Mark Twain Readers Award Nominees for 2019-2020 to prepare for next fall. If you are a Missouri elementary librarian, you might find this beneficial, too. Even if you aren't, there are always amazing books on all of our state Readers Awards nominee lists and I am positive this year won't disappoint! Click here or on the picture below to take you to the site.

We read Wishtree by Katherine Applegate this year and my 4th and 5th graders are currently working on story responses. We have a good combination of kiddos making videos, creating Google Slides, making posters, 3D projects and more. I can't wait to post some of their work.


#wishtree #katherineapplegate #marktwainreadersawardnominees #maslreaderawards #elementarylibrarian #librarymediaspecalist #teacherlibrarian