So, when Michaels emailed me asking if I could go shopping and make something for my classroom, I jumped at the chance!
My projects of choice: Easy Word Work Centers and a Washi Tape Class Sign!
Word Work Centers
I love providing a variety of activities for students to practice their spelling and/or vocabulary words during Word Work time. I want this time to be fun and engaging, but without enough materials, it can oftentimes become a management nightmare.Thankfully, I found some simple and (best of all!) cheap solutions to help your students stay working with words!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxOV9RsVlXebL6INBImiVSsKzWLTzycDSPqF9cdRYLW6nHmDwL4u0gYjkRvaBWrETkwn3IesIgyF3oX6tZy3d2w1HmMNHVxwf87tRSxNIjJonVn-vfz3vY04Uk7U4SzYW9YTky3RTtyei/s1600/c2e1.jpg)
Each of these supplies cost less than $2! The plastic letters were clearanced for $0.99, the stamps were $1 and the magnetic tins were $1.50. Yahoo!
These will easily make great Word Work Centers! There are duplicate plastic letters so students can make a variety of words, and I can easily store them on a cheap pizza pan or cookie sheet when they aren't in use. Plus, with the see-through top, it's easy to find which tin holds what color letter!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3gnh3XR0KZ05QULiTufETq2mdJRAxxWZ7gE6cBWTB7Dxu-ytDk32eO83nT_C2S7KuNFbf-kgfHYtsp2E8h6ASBr6CoyGJfdRWWRof1GNLaBg1UtzJYYy-kzEfPG3oNPZo2yZFtfbjnRn/s1600/c2e3.jpg)
The stamp sets are my favorite! In the past, I separated stamps by letter into drawers (click HERE), and that worked well, but caused traffic jams at the stamp station during Word Work.
This time, I will have kids grab a set of stamps and an individual stamp pad (washable, of course), and head back to their tables to work, freeing up space!
Before I opened the stamps, I took a picture and shrunk it down to 1.5" high. I then printed and taped them to the side of the tin. This way, if a stamp is found, we can easily locate the style without dumping out all of the stamps to look.
I will probably end up storing these on a tin and the stamp pads in a separate bin so I can make sure they are closed tight at the end of each Word Work time.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnTas8_CUSO7mDYf0bbCd40mqaPblbXZmTESSIWCcxxmpUcJrOjVx8TcUWEcqgRzGiVPEWsdorEWg9S1APhPZATZbVnuzSrkCMqNcv18MZifQ_AmiGY6XP4ciDRMQIsAWEFaZOlKa416Q/s1600/c2e2.jpg)
Washi Tape Class Sign
I am so excited to be job-sharing with a super-talented teacher this year! It's going to be a fabulous year ahead and I wanted to design something that would identify our class and match our color scheme (navy, teal & white-- more pictures soon as we get things up!).Of course, I had to use washi tape since I am in love with it! I mixed and matched two sets and also bought some large white letters. They didn't have numbers, but no worries since the E can be flipped upside-down to make a 3 :)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEeg7-N7-RW317h7BnqoOZ_VbZUeoE0MVupWPBitIxodukF3f8-WwOcD-Uh3vRY1Jgml7dbrx3pErFYro9N2jeu7WHn5PRNIMdNMZ5ubcoBVJcmuCiaK_8pdyB8k7rZ5eL_lRJqEppZ50/s1600/c2e4.jpg)
I love washi tape because it's thin, easy to move, and comes in so many great colors and styles! I started by placing down strips of alternating tape from the center out. I then folded over the edge and finished it off by taking my darker color and going around the outside to make the edges look nice and neat.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FhZweLVSP__IYTIADlUp-bHUx6yN5SYw-SbuzrnETXU-_4maBQzaKuBrmQm2a5EcP9s43Bmhpsgg99ltIXYEk1iI9hrjjxWzomivR0g67CvclwV2MaQ9ZTWIRJGr7BDq5uwuTDwnRcP9/s1600/c2e5.jpg)
The end product is beautiful and matches my classroom colors perfectly! The white shows through the washi and really makes the designs pop! I will Mod-Podge the tape down after I'm done debating about final placement, then I will glue-gun the letters together and hang it with a ribbon or set it near our window. I am so excited that both our last name initials are included in this, too!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bGzdcSRVDasK0noDRV-83bKihXjAi1Z3-WYVv7y2tLNwBNyzmeaIfs0R1wLd0qCJvjwWYvf6Zyg1ooPmrfZ53BhMuAuTgHI_JIfLzdg7rDyiHZOalPjctz19Thg40NaCeN4IDlYgUKcq/s1600/c2e6.jpg)
Michaels #Create2Educate Sweepstakes
If you're into creating your own Back to School projects (and who isn't?!), then you'll be excited to learn that Michaels is giving away a $50 Gift Card every day from August 1-15!![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyPt7k0PwyMFteswsRo38Q0eXnOZkcb3lMi0C-rVKy6_YXk151kXtiTSUzTGPh1bFcxu-IWlcyORoeVZJdXWWUN_ZR1vQxLPalbJNYG6pOHg8vElzuHfRqEBpgrBj3okBrRIJAkvDbsPn/s1600/Instagram_SubmissionProcess.jpg)
Here's how to enter:
- Create an original back-to-school project and upload a picture of it to Instagram, using #Create2Educate and #sweepstakes.
- While you’re there, tag @MichaelsStores, too.
- The contest runs Friday, August 1 through Friday, August 15.
- A random winner will be selected daily and will receive a $50 gift card to Michaels.
So, head over to Instagram now and check out all of the great #Create2Educate projects to help get you inspired!
Good luck and happy crafting!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLpBGuyZLJuWl-6tUBjpyB-rJMNmeX7tqMuLt_yrzLKUXb5FL3dIZ7jt0eJZ_KFlsQ_KRxAyCcEBrLQaIkkbMoSZh8L-krLB8EiXlyUGC4BvN7aRqyFX7RmE_51M6-4OsLkkPNhyphenhyphenHnbF3/s1600/Signature+2.png)
I bought some of the same stamps, but I have my students stamp the words in Silly Putty instead. It doesn't dry out like Playdough, and it isn't as messy as ink. Just thought I'd share. :)
ReplyDeleteI love that idea! What a great way to keep it clean and neat! Thanks for sharing :) :)
DeleteThank you! Would you mind sharing the specific stamp sets you got, please? Michaels has a variety, and it was difficult for me to tell which was which. Were the magnetic tins also from Michaels?
ReplyDeleteI had to much fun posting my project too...looks great!
ReplyDelete:o)
Vicky
Teaching and Much Moore