Classroom Theme Linky Party

Surfin' Through Second is hosting a Classroom Theme Linky Party.  Be sure to drop by and check it out.  Seeing all the great ideas is so inspiring!

Right now I'm working on a Superhero theme for next year and when I get it all pulled together I'll post about it.  The last 2 years I've had a detective theme that I have loved.  I didn't take nearly enough pictures but I'll share some of what I have.



A detective theme is wonderful because it connects to the curriculum so well.  You can have your students search for clues in reading, investigate science, and be on the lookout for clues in word problems. In addition to decorating the room with cute detective clip art, I decided to get my class involved with the theme.

On the first day of school, I took pictures of my little detectives.

To get their little brains jump-started after the long summer break, I presented a mystery for them to solve.  Our class mascot, Scooby Doo, had been stolen!!  I walked in one morning and found these footprints leading to the place where Scooby hung out.

I found this message on the board.

The message is hard to read in the picture, but it says:
"I have Scooby!  If you want him back, follow the clues."

The kids took turns investigating the crime scene.

As I received new clues throughout the day, I would hang them up on the board.

 I think #6 is kind of creepy but the culprit had lunch duty while the 3rd graders were in the cafeteria.

My kiddos recorded the clues in their handy-dandy notebooks, I mean case files. The case files were mini file folders with paper inside.  One page was a scrambled message with the thief's name.  We worked on this mystery off and on throughout the day but no one could solve the mystery.  Some of the kids were so intent on finding the culprit they took their case files home for homework.  With some parental help, one of my kids came back with the mystery solved the next day.

The "thief" was our math interventionist (you might recognize her from the rounding cheer I posted here). She came in and talked with the kids for awhile about piecing together clues.

Putting the mystery together was a lot of work but it was fun.  We got the school year off to a great start and the kids were excited about school.  I can't wait to do some blog stalking and get some awesome ideas for next year.


After you check out the theme linky party, visit Delighted in Second's cute blog and enter a chance to win a $20 TPT gift certificate.  If your wish list is as long as mine, you could really use that gift certificate!

6 comments classroom theme, motivation

Water Bottles

My blog has had a makeover!  Yippee!!  I mostly liked the way I had it before but I just didn't have time to tweak it.  Ya know, I have important things to do...play games, wash the car, play some more games, start thinking about how I'm going to be a better teacher next school year, waste time playing more games...you get my point, right? So, I contacted Diana at Custom Blog Designs and she set me right up.  If you're interested in a makeover, check her out.  She's easy to work with and she works fast.

Moving right along...
One thing I do every school year is give my new kiddos a bottle of water at Meet the Teacher night.  I allow my kids to have a bottle of water at their desk as long as they keep a lid on it and the bottle doesn't become a distraction of any kind.  I create special labels for the water bottles that I give out.  At the beginning of the year I try to make everything as cute as I can.  I'm sorry to say that trend doesn't always last, but I at least start with good intentions.  I recently created some new labels instead of working on my to do list.  It's called avoidance, but I can't help it.  If you would like to have these labels, you can snag them buy clicking on the pic below.  These labels are designed to fit Ozarka and Nestle water bottles.

I enjoy giving the kids goodies but I'm conflicted about it.  I want to welcome them and get them excited about the new school year, but I think that some kids have come to expect it.  I've heard them say some  things about what they got or did not get.  What are your feelings on the matter?  Do you give out goodies?

8 comments freebies, motivation

A Giveaway and a Freebie

First for the giveaway...
Amanda at Teaching Maddeness has reached 300 followers in a super short time and is having an awesome giveaway.  Yay!

Cheack out the goodies:

Teacher's Clubhouse is donating
 THREE FREE UNITS of YOUR CHOICE (If you're an intermediate teacher you can select units from Lightbulb Minds)  and I'm also giving away $30 IN GIFTCARDS - $25 Macy's Giftcard$5 Starbucks Giftcard 

Click on her button to drop by and enter.

And now for the freebie...
I found this cute sign on Pinterest the other day and decided I HAD to have it!  I wish I had had this last year; it would have become my battle cry. 

The blog it originally came from has been deleted, so I ended up creating my own with the help of some KPM Doodles clip art.  After looking at it for awhile, I decided to try a different version

I left it plain around the edges because I plan to put it in a bright green frame before hanging it in my classroom.  Click on the picture above if you want need one of these too.

2 comments freebies, motivation, signs