Organization!

I have four weeks left until the official start of the new school year. My mind is on so many things, and I know I have a whole lot of planning to do (one old prep and one new prep). Instead, I have decided to whip out my colored pencils and decorate.

Who says that secondary teachers can't have pretty binders too?

[Sorry, I'm not sure why the individual images are showing up sideways.]

I have had many coworkers who have put all of there materials from a year/semester into one big binder. The idea always seemed kind of restricted to me before, but I get it now. I have taught biology a total of 6 times, including twice as a long term sub. Naturally I kept EVERYTHING. I am finding now that I don't ever use half of the really awesome materials that I spent so long trying to save. They are only dust collectors on my bookshelf.

Here's how I plan to change that. As I use materials, I will print them out and/or pull them off of the dusty shelf. They go straight into the big binder, in order. Then, when next summer comes around, I can clean out whatever I didn't use. As a bonus, I'll already have a nice, neat binder ready for the next time I teach these classes. In case you were wondering, I already had the big binders sitting on my shelf (another dust collector). But, sometimes you can find them for cheep at yard sales and such. Don't buy those big binders if you can prevent it - they can be very pricey. The covers I made with some colored pencils, some white card stock, and a lot of free time.

 Well, now that that's done, I suppose I have to go plan...

 Cheers!
- S

Back to school sales - take 2

Alert friends!!!

 Walmart is having a teacher appreciation sale July 25-31. All K-12 teachers can get 10% back on purchases made in the stationary and craft departments! Here's how you do it:

 1. Go to walmart and purchase your materials. Remember this only counts for purchases in stationary and crafts!

 2. Register your receipt at walmart.com/teachers before August 15 (link below).

 3. Receive a 10% gift card via email within 2 weeks.

 *** Please note - I do not know how they will make you prove that you are a teacher. I expect they'll tell us when the sale starts on July 25.

Click here for all of the information on the sale!

Prepping for a new school year

Raise your hand if you're already preparing for the new school year.

Don't lie. I know you are doing it too. This is the only time we really have "vacation", and all we can think about is the next school year. Don't worry; it's completely natural. (I am a biologist and I can confirm this.)

Did you know that back to school sales are happening ALREADY? Dang, back to school is becoming like Black Friday. Every year it just gets earlier and earlier! Here are some of the ads that I've come across. I don't know about you, but I will be taking all the sales I can find!

Please note that I don't work for any of these places. I just like to pass on deals to my fellow educators because I know how much we are all struggling. If you are one of those lucky teachers who does not have to worry about school supplies, pass this information on to a friend, please. 

Click the links below to go to the sale websites (I shortened them to make it easier.) Please note that these sales are for the week of July 13-19, 2014.

• Staples
• Walmart

:) Cheers!

-- S