One of the hardest things about being a teacher is trying to find a cheap positive rewards for students.  We all know the usual easy reward is to buy candy. What a kid will do for a jolly rancher is sometimes amazing. Students like everyone else can be influences to change their actions based on short term anticipated  rewards or consequences. At the beginning of the year when I decided on a reward system I try to give a lot of rewards. When all the students get excited right away it is great to help keep attention knowing that that reward is attainable. 
Non food rewards ** Ron Clark writes in his book of using buttons. On said buttons he has written, "Ask me how I did on Mrs/Mr _____'s test." the idea is that as more people ask them they get more excited about their accomplishment and achievement. They get praise from not just their one teacher but many teachers.          The one con I can see with this would be keeping track of buttons. As a middle school teacher I would need to make a lot of buttons. Also, holes in shirts can be a complaint by parents, I always try to do something that parents will enjoy and not complain about.
**Photo Recognition board- you can take each students photo on the first day or ask students to bring in a photo they enjoy that can be posted. After tests and quizzes think how fun it would be to come see your face placed on the board for the day. Middle students are very into themselves. (pause for shock) They get a kick out of seeing themselves everywhere. 
**Test and quizzes champions - if students receive a sticker on a test or quiz they get to sign a specific canvas that will stay on the wall for 2 years. I have seen kids scan old canvases just to see others autographs. They get to choose a pen color, but there is a size limit for each signature. They all want to try a cool handwriting and come back to visit the canvas the next year just to see it hanging there. Parents especially loved coming into my classroom to see their child's name associated with being a champion.
** Token, ticket or dollar rewards - This can be a everyday system where students can receive points, tokens, tickets, "dollars" or some other printed reward. You can give them the rewards for paying attention, quietly working, great quiz or test scores, maybe a struggling student can get a reward for turning in so many homework assignments in a row. anytime that they do something you can give a positive reward. I used to make my students immediately write their names on the item so that they could not share or trade them. They had to keep track of tickets and could turn them in for extra credit, in exchange for homework assignments, or some other positive free reward, some schools have rewards at lunch or recess, those are always an option!
**Best of the Day award - for every class that students are participating, engaging or working efficiently in I would write down names of students who were doing exceptionally well. At the end of class I would pull a name out of a jar for who was out Best of the Day award winner. They got an entry in a school wide raffle but you could have easy little prizes for everyone or extra points towards homework. Whatever works.
Feel free to comment with other great ideas. I love rewarding on a budget!

We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.  

Fun new tricks
-Being used to cheap things I am getting tired of how terrible they work.
-After spending about $7 on one freakin bottle of Febreeze I had to find a better way.

Your own Windex and Febreeze



Windex.
I used the following 4 easy products.
-1/8 or about 1 oz. of White Ammonia
-1/4 or about 4 oz of Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
-a drop of Laundry Detergent
-Fill the rest with water

I used an empty Windex spray bottle and filled it right up. It worked great and even smelled so clean! It was so nice to be able to buy cheap products from a dollar store and create a decent product. Being a teacher I use Windex daily to clean my always messy white board. Life of a math teacher I guess!




Febreeze
I used a 32oz spray bottle to create this Febreeze. You will not believe how easy this was and how it seemed to be basically the same!

1/8 cup or about 1 oz of Fabric softner-I used my favorite fun scent!
2 tablespoons baking soda
hot water to fill up the rest the bottle

So easy and simple!!

The best part of spring and fall is what we call the Garage sale game. As in what neighborhood to hit first, comparing prices, and how many houses will there be. It can be quite a gamble.

On the look out of baby items which are not exactly hard to come by. That is why we have such an exciting garage sale game with all our options.



I feel very overwhelmed with so much to do this fall. Being a teacher sure can be exhausting but well worth it :)

So I was trying to create something for my family. We have a very busy family which often means a lot of communication at home is leaving notes or just placing things on the counter. So I wanted an easier way and maybe a way to go green to save our notepads! So here it is! A whiteboard that is magnetic!




Did you know they have these great sheets that you can use. They are thin enough that I could cut it with my scissors! It worked so well!








 I had a frame around the house that I just painted black and then layered a cute piece of scrapbook paper on top of the metal. Using the glass it created a great whiteboard surface!

I like the idea that if I wanted to move the frame somewhere else I could change the paper out to match any room :)




 I used a glue gun to put a magnet on the whiteboard marker as well as creating a cute magnet.

A child educated only at school is an uneducated child. ~George Santayana

As I read this quote I caught myself wondering how many parents truly believe that children are only educated at school. Learning through experience is one of the most important lessons a child can get. The more they are totally immersed in learning and education the better. Everyday you should learn something new, no matter what it is and no matter how you learn.

Now that I am student teaching I realize how much time teachers really spend. Or should I say especially math teachers really spend working. I am putting in around 9 hours a day. And that is with two of us working together to get everything done! Whew am I tired by the end of the day.

Good things are that I have got a lot of great experience, and the kids have been so wonderful to work with. Even when they are crazy they are still entertaining at least!

This weekend for the holiday weekend I would like to tie dye as well as possibly creating fun clips for the hair. Now that I have to dress up everyday it is way more entertaining to have fun hair things!

I am looking into creating new hairbands and clips with things like bows and such so if you have any suggestions let me know. Look for photos to come!

I have such a busy upcoming semester and I am so excited! Start student teaching and finish up some crafts.
Upcoming crafts
-Tiedying
-Magnetic and dry erase board
-Fun Mailing ideas (as my friends leave)

Get ready!

UNDERWATER camera.


I have a new Kodak camera that is also waterproof. It is the perfect thing for me since it is super durable and such a fun toy at the pool. Kids love it since they can pose underwater and find it super fun!


http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/pd/productID.169976100 Here is the link to the store it also has amazing video features that is so much fun to make daily videos!

I have these passions for travel and for teaching. My new plan to help me achieve both is to volunteer abroad and teach English and math to underprivileged kids. Giving these kids the gift of English is one of the most life changing things they can experience. My only issue is financing these dreams. It is not easy to pay for this right out of college. Sadly, I am trying my hardest to fundraise but with little luck. Here is where you can help me. Any amount is appreciated :)

https://www.wepay.com/donate/seekelliabroad