Postcard Exchange!

I'm linking up with other middle level classrooms (grades 4-8) for an international postcard exchange!  Michelle Lundy at Making It As A Middle School Teacher has organized this classroom exchange, which will begin this week.  I'm excited for my students to participate in this connection with classes around the world!

To all you teachers out there... Michelle is still looking for teachers from these states, so visit her blog if you're interested!  Feel free to pass this along to your friends, too.

Alaska
Arkansas
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Idaho
Iowa
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming
Washington, D.C.

Australia
Canada
Israel
Mexico
South Africa

D.I.Y. [Do It Yourself]

This quarter I have enjoyed teaching the middle school D.I.Y. elective, a brand new elective class that I'm creating as I go!  Yes, the idea originated from my love of Pinterest, but it has been really neat to see the students develop important life skills - resourcefulness, creativity, generosity - through our fun projects.

DIY Envelopes

(Idea from: http://www.neverhomemaker.com/2009/12/craftastic-envelope-diy.html)

DIY Collage Covers

I laminated their final result and taped it to their homework planner cover.

DIY Origami Frogs and Boxes

I used the opaque projector to demonstrate paper folding.

(Idea from: http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-box-with-cover.html)

DIY Trail Mix

Our class made the bags of mix for the middle school overnight.

DIY Decorative Letters

We wrapped cardboard letters with colored yarn - and had some fun adventures with the glue gun!

(Idea from: http://www.delicateconstruction.com)

DIY House Scent Jars

We packed small glass jars with fall-smelling things to give as appreciation gifts to the middle school teachers.  (One mix: orange, anise stars, allspice, and cinnamon sticks.  Other mix: orange, ginger, vanilla extract.)  When the contents of this jar are simmered over low heat on the stove, the house smells amazing! 

(Idea from: http://www.theyummylife.com/Natural_Room_Scents)

DIY Candle Holders

These jars are wrapped in rubber bands, ready for spraypainting.  After the paint dries, rubber bands are removed to allow light from the candle to shine through.

(Idea from: http://theforgestyle.blogspot.de/2011/11/diy-yarn-wrapped-painted-jars.html and http://www.thehyperhouse.com/2012/01/elegant-votive-candleholders/)

I am also absolutely thrilled for my D.I.Y. class to be heading up Operation Christmas Child this year!  Last year, I worked with my fourth graders to coordinate the project at the elementary school.  Each student had a job to get the rest of the elementary grades involved.  Together we packed 43 boxes!   This year the middle school DIY elective also has jobs and will head it up for all three campuses.  We have a goal of 100 boxes!  I'm excited to see how our community comes together to make an impact with shoeboxes -- and how God will use these shoeboxes to transform the lives of kids around the world.