Five for Friday: Spring Break edition!

It's Friday! Which is typically a good thing but this week it means that Spring Break is coming to a close... Keeping up with my new found blogging stamina, I thought I'd link up and share some of my weekly adventures with Doodle Bugs Teaching in her Five for Friday!

I started off break with a new haircut and a really, really, really long wait for Chickfila. I took some car selfies to pass the time....

My goal over break was to do some shopping and couponing! Kroger was having a great buy 5 Save $5 sale and I was testing out some new couponing apps. I'd say my shopping trips were a success! I even organized all my nonperishables in my teeny-tiny bathroom closet with $1 Target magazine holders that I had a Cartwheel for 10% off!

I also bought myself a few things. That's what a staycation is all about right?... My Treat Yo Self purchases included a new water bottle (Target) and some new clothes (Old Navy).

I plan on ending my break with a trip to Divergent! Over break I found some gift cards from students for Regal and a coupon on Ibotta! If you haven't tried out the free Ibotta app - it's totally worth it! Extra coupons equal more money in your pocket! 

I did do a little planning and prep work over break as well. I made sure all our word wall words for Canada were ready to go! I also put all the students images into a SMART notebook file for easy copying and studying!

Here are few of my favorites:

 
Don't forget to check out Five for Friday and follow me on instagram! I've been way better about keeping up with instagram than the blog as of late!

Happy Friday,

Tried it Wednesday: Totally Target!

I really had the best intentions to submit my blog entry yesterday but I was just so exhausted... I was really to pack an alliteration punch with the "Tried it Tuesday: Totally Target." Has a nice ring to it doesn't? But I guess I'll just have to make "Tried it Wednesday" work!

Okay, this week I'm once again sharing my "tried it" with Holly over at Fourth Grade Flipper for her Tried it Tuesday linky party! I'm excited to share my new couponing website called, "Totally Target." I as a teacher on a budget, I usually blow said budget at Target. I always have the best intentions but Target lures in me every time!

Oh so true...

My teaching partner recently shared with an amazing website called Totally Target. Thanks Mrs. K, you're best deal diva around! Totally Target takes each week's ad and breaks down the best ways to "get you  more red for less green." They show you the in store "specials," cartwheel deals, and any manufacturer coupons available for printing! The website shows you a cost breakdown so you can see what your "savings" will be with all the offers available.  Genius and economical! 

#PicStitch of Totally Target's Website 

For example, this week there was a deal at Target for Zone Perfect protein bars. My boyfriend loves protein bars for breakfast and usually they are over $1 a piece! Target had a buy 4 and get a $5 gift card plus the bars were on sale. Not a bad deal. However, after checking Totally Target's Special Deals, I realized there were coupons available through Facebook and Coupons.com. So I "liked" Zone Perfect on Facebook and they sent me a $3 off 2 coupon and I was able to print two $1 off 1 coupons from Coupon.com. Plus, I checked my cartwheel and found 25% off Zone Perfect Cartwheel offer! 

Here's my cart full of protein bars plus some Capri Suns for our class party! 

 

So here was my breakdown:
4 boxes of Zone Perfect bars for $4.79 each              = $19.16 (Yikes!)
Then I had $5 dollars in manufacturer coupons         = $14.16 (Not much better)
Then a $5 gift card for next time at Target                 = $9.16
Then 25% off my entire purchase                              = $4.41! (That's like getting a box for FREE!)

I walked away with 20 protein bars for $4.41... that's only .22 cents a bar! Originally those bars were nearly $1 a bar!!! I feel like I've lived up to my blog namesake tonight!

Grab the deal before it's gone!
Here's the link to the $1 off 1 Zone Perfect (can print two per computer).
Here's the link to $3 off 2 Zone Perfect VIP.

Let's hope for another steal next week! 

Don't forget to visit Holly and check out the Tried it Tuesday posts!

Thank you Totally Target!

Nothing makes me giddy quite like school supplies!

If you're like me, you're a little giddy and a little sickened by the fact that school supplies are out in force! As you start to shop around, I thought I'd put a few ads out there with some great deals! Who doesn't want to save some money?

Target: Not a lot is on sale right now at Target. But they do have a sale on Target glue & glue sticks for .25 cents a pack! Plus, an assortment of basics for just .99 cents!

Menard's: If you have a Menard's close by, they are also having some amazing deals! They TONS of items for under $1. Check out the ad below.

Walmart: Walmart brand markers for only .50 cents and Crayola markers for .99cents regular price! They also have good prices on glue sticks, sticky notes, scissors, and pencil boxes. All regular price.

Still no ads for 1 cent folders or glue... but the office stores usually run those sales in August.

What deals have you found?

Lastly,  I broke down at bought a Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener after my teaching partner raved about it and took photos of herself sharpening pencils... if it's that good, I have to have one too! I bought a Cool Blue one to match  my room! Plus, you can pay with Pay Pal Pay so thanks to all my TPT customers, I have a new sharpener! Look how pretty!

If you're interested in purchasing on, you can get 5% off by going to my referral link! And remember, there is NO SHIPPING! Woo hooo!

Who else has one of these amazing sharpeners? Are they true to all the hype?

Something Fun Friday!

So today, for Something Fun Friday, I had a girls day at the pool. It was blast getting caught up and it always feels great to lay out in the sun. Although, my right shoulder may not feel so great in the morning. It's looking a little reddish... good thing I already preemptively purchased a large tube of aloe.

The only thing to share to wrap up the week is Target's Spring Book Fair. Whether you're a teacher or a mom, they have a good selection of books for only $1! I bought books to use during my ESL summer school as well as place in my class library next year. Most are a 2nd - 3rd grade level but they have good information and pictures. The spiral bound nonfiction books are more a 4th - 5th grade level. The third grade readers in my summer school really needed lots of help with these but LOVED the pictures and gross facts! It just reminds me that sometimes when we read we need to have fun. Everyone needs a junk food day, or book, once in a while. I have done a little school work today and I have some fun things I'll be posting for Made It Monday that can be used with the Pixar Short Films but otherwise, I'm taking the weekend off to indulge in some summer fun.

Here are the books I bought in Target's One Spot.... I think I have a problem!

These are science related nonfiction books. They are lower elementary for sure but I think kids at any age would still enjoy reading them... and they are ONE DOLLAR! So I, of course, buy six of them! Partner reading?

 

These were my best find! These are nonfiction books - with all the text features (including an index!) that I think my boys (and girls) will love. They feature gross creature and are set up sort of Guinness Book style with colorful pictures or a creepy question. These are upper level readers. 4th - 5th grade.

These were mostly for the summer school kids. They had leveled fictional stories for grades PreK-3rd. I choose a 3rd grade story about a horse running in a race. I figured after summer school, I could put it in a lower level book bucket or use it to practice/model fictional reading strategies with struggling students. The story is really short so it's easier to work with than a novel or longer mentor text.

What did you do for fun this week? Any good Target finds?

Made It Monday plus other link-ups!

 Okay, since it's Monday I'm going to link up with 4th Grade Frolics and Eberopolis to share some creations and must haves!


Okay, so this is my first Made It Monday and Teacher Tool Box Trio, so let's not be too critical here. One of my summer goals is to revamp and amp up my TPT store. I know there is so much cuteness out there... so I need to pump mine up. So one of my first attempts this week was to create one of those "In Our Classroom" signs to hang in my room next year. I found some cute polka dot backgrounds and... SHAZAM!






Here it is my "Made It" for the week....

I added "We are a family!" at the bottom because we try to make our team feel like a small family in our HUGE school!  You can find these signs for FREE on my TPT account by clicking here.

I still need to get some cardstock and ribbon to tie them together and of course laminate when when school returns...by hey, they're done!



Next up.... "Something I've Purchased." 

The Target $ One Spot has some great magazine holders that are plastic. I've bought several of these for school and home use. I use them at school to store featured picture books, my atlases, and RTI folders. They're easily to line up alone the counter and label. At home, I've been using them under the sink to help organize all my plastic ware (Pinterest idea, not mine!) and you know what -- they work! The holders come in various colors and are only $3 each. Worth it to keep my life organized! I can never find the right lid for the right container? Anyone else?

Here is a photo of my home use:

Lastly.... "Something on my Wish List."

Right now, I'm wishing, hoping, and dreaming about a data section to my school binder. I fell like over with a teacher/student data section and "I Can" statements over at TPT. It was created by Miss Nannini. I feel like it would better help me and my students! My vision was that students could actually fill in or check off the "I Can's" as we go through our units together to make them more accountable. The entire kit and caboodle is $36 dollars which in the grand scheme of things is not a lot but I am on a budget. So, it's still a wish for right now. It's pretty amazing, check it our here! Shout out to Miss Nannini for creating and compiling all those standards, "I Can's", and assessments! Wooowza!

Anyone else have a data section in student binders? Love it? Hate it? Reflections?
Thanks to everyone for giving and sharing such great ideas! I can't wait to find more gems out there!

Coffee Lovers

Attention Coffee Lovers! Right now at Coupons.com you can get a $2 off any Keurig "Brew over ice" coffee pack. Additionally, Target is selling select K-cup packs with free travel mugs! Win, Win, Win.

Here's mine....

Summer shoes & summer to do's

So yesterday on my way to meet up with some teachers to celebrate the end of of another school year, I stopped off at Target. It really is my shopping addiction. While there I fell in love with these summer wedges! I've been eying them for a while but they are finally on sale! Currently they are on sale for $24.99, normally $29.99. I felt like the five dollar savings was a sign I just had to buy them... Just wish I still had my five dollar off a pair of Merona shoes coupon! $20 dollars would have been even better! Cute?

Now for the summer to do's.... I found this post on another blog and although the linky party was already closed. I felt like some good reflection is always a positive thing. So looking back at this year and looking forward to next year here are some personal goals...

 

 

http://joyin6th.blogspot.com/

I'm going to try my best this summer to set myself up for success. I really want to create a data section for my students. I found some great handouts and ideas on Pinterest and from fellow bloggers. So, I feel like I'm headed in the right direction. I don't want to focus too much on data but I feel like it would be a great way for kids to see their own learning. I've also been mining for "fun" activities. I'm a fun teacher (at least I think so) don't get me wrong. But I felt guilty at the end of the year that my students didn't get Lemonade Day this year or get a chance to create Regional Theme Parks like in years past... I really wanted to have at least one big "fun" project we can work on in class. They read a lot, wrote a lot, and probably did a better job than past years... but I sometimes forget they are only 10 years old and need a little "fluff" too!

Does anyone else have some resolutions for next year? 

One Spot

The Target "One Spot" may be the death of me... half the time the One Spot is nothing you really "need" or came in for, but they have some neat stuff for $1. I love when they have the school supplies and cute post-it note packs for only a $1 buck. However, sometimes they do through in a $3 dollar item that I fall in love with and then have to debate buying with myself. But overall, they always get me when I walk in the door!

Lately, I've been on a mission to get my house clean and organized. We live in a small space and seem to have a lot of "stuff" without a proper home. I've been really trying to get myself a workspace for paying bills, grading papers, and crafting all set up. I have so much stuff it seems like the table top is NEVER seen... so today, while popping into Target for baby locks (my dog, Iggy, loves to knock the lid off the trash can) I stumble upon... THE ONE SPOT HOLY GRAIL! I was able to get some magazine holders, a little tray, two pencil cups, and a clipboard all for $5 dollars! Now this probably isn't very exciting to most people but I love when things have a place and I know where the place is located!

I was pretty happy with my new set up. I wish I would have done a before and after. This transformation was HUGE... one step closer to getting my world back on track and organized. It always makes me feel better. Some people prefer a relaxing a spa and massage - I prefer a clean and clutter free house.

Flip Flop Frenzy!

Summer is nearly upon us! We've got about three full weeks of teaching left until it's time hit the snooze button in the morning and hit the pool in the afternoon. The perfect summer outfit is never complete with out some great summer shoes! Right now both Target and DSW are offering some cool savings on summer footwear.

Currently at Target, starting on Sunday, you can get $5 dollars off any pair of Merona shoes. Making their sale sandals only $7 dollars a pair! You can print off the coupon at Target's website. But Target didn't stop there... they also have a $2 off flip flop's coupon making the $2.50 flip flops only .50 cents after coupon! You could score two summer essentials this weekend for under 10 bucks! Guess, I know where I'll be headed on Sunday morning....

DSW is also doing some summer promotions on shoes. Right now on their website, DSW.com, they are offering $5 off one pair, $10 off two pairs, and $20 dollars of three pairs of shoes. No coupon necessary! Also, if you are a rewards member, starting May 9th, you can get the Sunfest pool bag (seen above) for free with a $29 dollar purchase at any DSW store!

Shoe string lesson: Keeping up with the trends can be costly, but if you read some of the blogs and check your favorite stores coupons both in the mail and online -- you can keep up with the trends in frugal fashion!

Anyone else know of some killer shoe  deals for summer?

- Amanda