Fabulous Finds and a Fantastic Giveaway

Too bad "Giveaway" didn't start with an "F".  I'd be thrilled with my alliteration...

I told you earlier this week that I'd be back with a giveaway for you.

I'm back with the giveaway and a monthly version of "Fabulous Finds".  What do you think?  I can manage once a month, can you?  I'd love for you to link up below...and enter the giveaway, too.

On to my fabulous find(s):

I was contacted by Signs on the Cheap over the summer to review some products.  I was happy to do so because I knew exactly what I needed for my classroom.  Now, let me tell you, the name "On the Cheap" only means cheap in cost.  These are some quality products, people.
Cheap Signs
Bandit Signs
I am a strong believer in the "Cubes" method for solving math word problems.  I've blogged about it {here}. 

Basically, students follow these guidelines to help them tackle a math word problem:

Click on the picture to see it closer, but basically:
C-Circle any key numbers
U-Underline the question
B-Box any action words
E-Evaluate how you will solve the problem
S-Solve the problem (and check).

I made the above "poster" for my students last year and wanted to make it larger for my room.  I was toying with taking the image to Wal-something or maybe Costco when along came Signs on the Cheap.

I was able to create a H.U.G.E banner of my "poster" and it is now hanging proudly on my window...I thought I had a better picture, but you can just make it out in the picture of my week 1 mess:

Bad picture...I will try to update tomorrow.
This 2 x 3 foot banner only costs about $12 and it's customized to what my needs are in my classroom.  Score!

I also enlarged my "R.E.L.A.X" poster for testing:

R-Read the question carefully
E-Examine every answer choice
L-Label your answer in the passage or problem
A-Always check your work
X-X-out answers that cannot possibly be correct.

I love them both :)

You, too, can have banners in your classroom.

Or maybe you want to utilize the company's Magnets on the Cheap:

For less than ten bucks, you can have a 9 x 12 car magnet made to your liking.

I knew I wanted to have pictures of supplies as a magnet.  This way, I could throw the magnet on the board of the supplies the kids needed out as they entered my room.  (Remember I'm teaching 3 classes of math.) I used the Back to School Supplies graphics from Michelle (The 3AM teacher) and inserted them into the template for the car magnet and created this:

Plus I threw in a copy of the math book and labeled one as a workbook.

That's a magnetic sheet that I then cut apart (gasp!) and now, when students enter the room, they look on the board to see which magnets are posted and they can get out the necessary materials.  Hello, easy peasy :)

Yes, I know.  I think outside the box every now and again.
So, do you think these are some fabulous finds?  I sure do... I know it's Thursday, but I'm posting now so that you know I'm doing this Fabulous Find First Friday and you can link up :)
Do you want to have a banner, sign or magnet of your own? Enter below to receive the product of your choice:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

28 comments

  1. I love that idea of using those supply magnets to let students know what they need. That way you don't have to keep repeating yourself too. Great idea!

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  2. Love the alliteration. These products look great. Thanks for the opportunity.
    jkmatuch@aol.com

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  3. This looks cool! It might be good for Daily 5?
    Liz
    Teaching in the Valley

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  4. I love your Fab Find (and monthly linky)! I especially love how you made supply magnets! no more telling supplies/directions/homework/etc. 25 times! and it's a great visual for ELLs! Thanks for sharing!

    Allie
    The Gypsy Teacher

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  5. You just blew my mind with the car magnet supply system. BEAUTIFUL.

    -Caitlyn
    Fourth Grade Lemonade

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  6. Thanks for creating such practical yet decorative tools for the classroom.

    Christina

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  7. I love your blog!!
    bl3982@Yahoo.com

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  8. Your supply magnets are awesome! It is such a cool idea Elizabeth, I love it! :)

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  9. Love the posters! I really love the RELAX one and would love it for my room. Of course I am picky about colors though and the colors don't match! It's just so stinkin' cute and perfect!:)

    Amelia
    thewildthingslearn.blogspot.com

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  10. this is so so so smart E!! I love it! I am going to do the same (sans magnets, sadly, we don't have magnetic boards). Looking forward to when things calm down so we can talk more!!!!!

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  11. Lovvveee the magnets Elizabeth!! That is is neat that they print off in a sheet you can cut apart!! I have sooo many ideas going around in my head of what I could use this for! Also, your posters look amazing! I love your CUBES acronym! Totally going to use that in my class now! :)

    Molly
    Lessons with Laughter

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  12. That sign looks awesome, and the magnets are adorable!!

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  13. I LOVE that sign and magnets :)

    Lauren
    Lauren@smyrna.k12.de.us

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  14. Great ideas! And the prices sound very reasonable. Thanks for the tip! I use my ActivBoard to post the supplies students need as they enter the room. Each flipchart page is for a different class and I copied the cover of my textbooks from Google images into the flipcharts. New idea this year and I'm happy with the results. Thanks again! Love your blog!! :)

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  15. Great to find another resource. I love your craftiness.
    Heather

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  16. Great idea! I wish I'd thought of that. :) This would be great for schedule cards for your white board too.
    Katie
    I Want to be a Super Teacher

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  17. Great ideas and a great giveaway!

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  18. Such a great idea. I attempted to do something like this, but it hasn't worked out so great, yet. But it's still early.

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  19. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the magnets of the items they need. Such a great idea!

    Abby
    Third Grade Bookworm

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  20. I love your supplies magnets. What a great idea!
    lraines78@gmail.com

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  21. Love it! GREAT ideas!

    Cheryl
    cheryllhoff@yahoo.com

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  22. Supply magnets are such a great idea! I also love your RELAX test taking strategies-- filing it away for our testing in the Spring!

    Jenny
    Luckeyfrog's Lilypad

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