Mystery Solved!

Where have the Reading Buddies been?

I know that is the question on everyone's mind.  Well, with the first official day of school for teachers only 2 days away...WE HAVE BEEN IN OUR CLASSROOMS!

As you may know Kelly has been moved up to 2nd grade, a move that came with a room change, and I have been doing some serious redecorating.  This of course has taken over the end of August although we have been squeezing in some pool/beach days.

Here's a few pictures of my room in the midst of the process...

Sometimes I think I just make a bigger mess.

Thankfully these pictures are from two weeks ago and I am gearing up for the BIG reveal.  I can tell you first hand that this year Kelly and I have kicked it up a notch!

Can't wait to share...
Damien and Kelly

Painting *Magic*

So the Classroom Beautification Project, or CBP as I like to call it, continues.

As mentioned in previous posts I have decided to revamp the Harry Potter theme in my 5th grade classroom.  This included painting the metal shelves that ran underneath my window and my magnificent purple filing cabinet.

Well, I continued painting last week.  I have two metal free standing shelving units that I inherited when I moved into the room six years ago.  The cabinets were in terrible shape: SCRATCHED, RUSTED, STAINED, you get the point!

I decided to paint these using both the silver and purple paints that I previously used.

Here they are:

The original MESS!

The first coat of SILVER

The outside coat of PURPLE

I have to say, the original plan was to make this all silver.  However, once I saw the purple filing cabinet I had to figure out another way to get that purple on something...anything!  So, I did the outside of the free-standing units in PURPLE and LOVE it!

Keeping myself busy the last few weeks of August.
-Damien

Back to School SALE!

We are partaking in Teachers Pay Teachers Back to School sale...

EVERYTHING in our TPT store is on sale!

It is time to empty those Wishlist carts! :0)

Check us out at: The Reading Buddies TPT Store

Happy Shopping!
The Reading Buddies

Made it Monday and a Trip to NYC

Hello all-

This week I report to you live from NYC and the Teachers College Reading Project at Columbia University.  I am SUPER excited to be here and to learn the inside scoop on Reading Workshop.  As usual, I do a version of Reading Workshop in my classroom-I call it the Damien Version.  However, I am thrilled to see what the Pros say.

Now-I live in NJ, a bridge/tunnel ride to the city,  but have chosen to stay in a hotel in the city.  It eases the commute, allows me to take in a museum or two, and a Broadway show (I hope!).  I have been to the city a million times but have always avoided the subway.  I much prefer to walk or take a taxi but it was time to bite the bullet and ride the subway.  Today was day one, and to be honest, it wasn't that bad (knocking on wood).  I LOVED spending the day with some teacher friends from different schools in my district and can't wait 'til tomorrow.  Today was just the introduction but I have learned so much and the wheels have already been turning for changes in my classroom for Sept.  I can't wait to tomorrow to dive in and roll my sleeves up.  (I'll keep ya posted)

Time for my MADE IT MONDAY!

This week I have taken the behavior chart I have seen everywhere, seriously everywhere, and have given it a little...

 Harry *Magic*

Take a Look: 

The star boarder is courtesy of Graphics by the Pond and the ADORABLE clipart
comes from My Digi World

Hopefully your class this year will land on these sections often!

Unfortunately, we've all had a Malfoy or two!

Don't ya love it!  You can get it here: Harry Potter Behavior Chart at The Reading Buddies TPT Store

I have many projects in the works at home (my dining room hasn't seen a dinner plate since July).  I hope I will have some of my creations to share with you next week. 

Happy August!
-Damien 

Genius Idea

So I read on someone's blog how they find time to create products without too many interuptions.  The concept was genius and I had to try it!  This is the product I created, which happens to be my favorite craft of the year.  It can be done anytime of the year but beginning or end of the year is when I like to incorporate this project.  It makes such an impressive display that Open House or Back to School is a perfect time to impress the parents and the administrators. 
Here are some pictures and samples from my Ocean Murals product.  I teach about organisms under the sea and make a craft for each one.  Every child makes an individual ocean and then you can incorporate a fiction or nonfiction writing piece to go with the mural.
Are you still wondering what the genius idea was?  Keep reading....

Finished ocean murals.



Nonfiction writing paper.

Cover for nonfiction writing.



Fiction writing paper two different sized lines are provided.

 GENIUS IDEA:  I created most of this project while I was riding in the car for 3 and 1/2 hours going to vacation.  Then I kept on working another 3 and 1/2 hours on the ride home from vacation.  Kids were busy sleeping or on their electronic gadgets , hubby was busy driving and dog was sleeping!  Minimum interuption and I enjoyed my vacation while being productive, Genius!  I am leaving for my last vacation on Saturday and I can't wait to create another product.



Gotta love the blogging world because the simple ideas we write about are so helpful to others.  If this was your idea I would love to hear from you because I don't remember where I read the GENIUS IDEA.



If you would like to view my product just click on the link below.


Ocean Murals

Adding a little Harry *magic* to the desks of my students!

Hello buddies!

I just finished creating a product for my classroom that I LOVE!

After redoing my theme thanks to School Girl Style I couldn't imagine using my old green Desktop Name Tags in my new purple, blue, and silver room.  Therefore I knew I had to take matters into my own hand.  I bought some HP clipart from Blackleaf Studios and then I went to work!

I plan on cutting these out, writing the students names, and laminating them so that they last the year.  I am going to use double-sided tape to attach them to the kid's desks.

Harry and Ron for the boys!

Harry and Hermione for the girls!

I don't know about you, but they just make me SMILE! I particularly LOVE the quote from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone " It is our choices, Harry, that show us who we truly are, far more than our abilities" -Albus Dumbledore.  What a GREAT message for my students, and yours, to see everyday!


You can grab these from my TPT Store by clicking here:  Harry Potter Desktop Name Tags


Let me know what you think!
-Damien of The Reading Buddies

Floating Through School

 So I am panicking because I haven't been to my new room to attempt to unpack!  I keep putting off the inevitable, instead I have been creating products which I can use at the beginning of the year.  Since I am keeping with my ocean theme I came up with these adorable floating tubes with kids to hang from the ceiling.  Did I mention that I am not allowed to hang anything from the ceiling!!  Oh, well I am not a good rule follower.

  So I will have my students create these the first week of school for Back to School Night.  For those of you who have Open House it would work great for then also. They should make a great  atmosphere for my under the sea classroom.  Take a look at some pictures I took, keep in mind these are hanging in my house.  The hardest thing about this craft is hanging it from the ceiling, I used fishing line. 

 These would also be a great project for summer school!  Damien is going to try it out with his summer school kids, can't wait to see pictures!!

I went to the dollar store and bought 20 inch kid tubes and added  the legs and bathing suits.

Here are the tubes the kids will make by filling in answers on tube and making the legs and bathing suits.  I used scrapbook paper for the adorable bathing suits.

I also included this sign which can be hung from the ceiling also.

Three different graphs and one graph analaysis are also included.

To get your copy just go to my tpt store or click the link below.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Floating-Through-School-beginning-or-end-of-the-year-craftivity