Bargain Hunting:
Book Boxes
I have been on the lookout for book boxes since the beginning of summer. Like most new teachers I went back and forth on cost verses sturdiness and really struggled on what to buy. Our school uses Daily 5 throughout all of the grades so I wanted to take into account that my fifth graders would be accessing their boxes everyday, multiple times a day! This means a lot of wear and tear very quickly! I have been in a constant struggle between spending the hundred plus dollars for good plastic ones or going with the cardboard style that usually run about a dollar per box.
Here was what I narrowed it down to:
The card board style book boxes that ran around a dollar each: (Below: Ikea's)
Or the durable plastic book boxes that ran around $3.50 each (Below: Really Good Stuff)
Well obviously I wanted the durable plastic book boxes but as a brand new teacher this was a little steep for me. I was at a loss at what to do. I knew that the cardboard ones would be broken within months, maybe even weeks, with how often we would be accessing them. I decided to start looking around to see what I could find.
After walking around Big Lots, I stumbled upon these:
I know what your thinking: that looks pretty similar to the plastic book box from above. Except I found this in the kitchen area of Big Lots for $1.50 each! This is technically called an ICE BUCKET, but I am proud to call them my fifth grader's book boxes!!
They are the perfect size for books, plus very durable and the best part is I was able to get 32 matching ones for half the price of the real book boxes.
There you have it! My big save of the day was in the kitchen area! If you are on the lookout for sturdy, durable and most importantly cheap book boxes I suggest you check out the kitchen section of a nearby store and look for ice boxes!
*Numbers are from:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Classroom-Decor-1367909
Have a great week, I know many teachers are back with their kiddos! I am starting my first week of in-service and am looking forward to finishing a few things up for my classroom reveal!
CLASSROOM DIY PROJECT
Washi Tape
So
I just discovered washi tape. I know, how did I go so long?? My last
trip to Michaels ended in me purchasing a bundle of different prints of
washi tape, mostly some version of chevron. I decided I would use these prints as the start of some type of theme in my room.
The first thing I had been wanting to make was a "Reminder" board for the many students I will have this year. My school does a mini middle school model and I will be teaching Language Arts to all of the 5th grade students during the rotations. Due to having so many students, I wanted a quick way to communicate reminders to them with out having to use instruction time. Students will check the board when they are heading out the door, and I'm working on some type of color coordination for each class, so there reminder will be in the same color every day.
This project was super easy and took hardly any time! The washi tape and stickers were found at Michaels for under $3 dollars each (don't forget your Michaels coupon!) and the dry erase board was found at Target for $6. I just lined the white boarder of the board with the washi tape and put on the stickers for the "Reminders". I really love how it turned out, and hope it works well for students!
The next project I have been wanting to do with the washi tape was cover clothespins. I wanted the students to fill out an "all about me" bunting (Found on teacherspayteachers) and hang them on twine with these clothespins. The clothespins come in a pack of 36 for $1! I made 15 of each color, for a class set of 30. I think these will be fun and add a little more color to our room! I look forward to posting the finished project!
So far I am in love with washi tape and look forward to finding some more patterns. The project possibilities seem endless, Have fun!!
