My Favorites & Dollar Tree Finds

So all of your cute Dollar Tree finds that I've been seeing this week led me to head on over there yesterday!  Here's a look at what I found for the classroom....

First of all, I was very excited yet disappointed to find this little thing there.  I know it says "dinosaur" but doesn't it kind of look like an alligator hat??  I just made an alligator hat from green foam and a visor for our "Sally Ann Thunder Ann" tall tale play!!  Of course, they would get these in AFTER our play!  But, I will save it for next year!  They did have brown dinosaur ones, too, if anyone needs those!

This little container is what sent me on my shopping trip!  I had seen "soap travel containers" used to hold card games on Pinterest before, but these little snack containers are even better!  They are super sturdy with locking sides.  I bought enough to hold all of my decks of number cards that we use weekly during math!

I also bought new decks of cards and took the time to number the containers and cards in each set so that when those cards get "left out" the kids will know which set to return them to.  I didn't do this for my last investment, and well we have some decks of cards that have twice as many cards as other decks at the moment.  :( 
I think these little containers will help with that, too.  No more rubber bands snapping and cards being mixed at the bottom of our card box.  My dice containers have worked beautifully this year, and I'm pretty confident these will, too!  I bought a different color to store our "Scrabble Slam" cards.

I like to pick up coloring books that go along with our genre studies whenever I can find them.  I tear the pages out and have them in our centers so that students can color a page and make up their own stories (fairytales in this case) to go along with them.  It's amazing how when just given one picture students don't usually know the story it came from....and the stories they create are adorbs!
We're well into learning cursive and these mini-whiteboards with writing lines will be perfect for that center....and you can't beat 4 for $1.  :)

Y'all sucked me into looking for these cardboard coasters!  Not sure how I'll use them yet...I think I will save them to use for an activity during our nutrition unit! :)

And, of course, I had to pick up these LARGE popcorn containers that will be perfect for holding our popcorn treats during our "Poppin' for Poetry" celebration that I'm working on!
I ended up going back and picking up some of these Safari Hats.  They would precious for those of you who do a jungle theme, but I'm going to use them during our animal unit and/or animal informational research.  These are NOT those flimsy little safari hats you typically see.  They are super hard plastic and would last FOREVER!
I didn't buy these, but I was in love with them.  They would be super cute for an insect classroom (ladybugs, anyone?), a frog classroom (that green would be perfect!) or just a polka-dot room!  I had to resist since I already have a collection of EMPTY containers in my classroom.

And, now....since it's Saturday....my last day to link up, I'm joining in the fun again...
This week is a favorite survey, so here goes....

Favorite Place to Shop

I heart that they love teachers so much. :)

Favorite TV Show

I watch waayyyy too much TV, so I'll stick with shows that are currently on (sorry, Dexter!)
I'm a suspense gal and the twists and turns in this show keep blindsiding me - love it!
My guilty pleasure is The Real Housewives...I watch them all, but the OC originals and BH are my faves. DRAMA!!
And, like the rest of America, I'm addicted to The Voice.  #teamadam here!

Favorite Sweet Treat

Chocolate + Peanut Butter...especially as ice cream or a milkshake = Heaven!

Favorite Food
This one is a toss up - Mexican? Italian?  Mexican?  Italian?
BOTH, please! :)

Favorite Restaurant
Luckily, my favorite little restaurant is just minutes away.  We eat there at least once a week, but if it were up to me it would be at least once a day.  Not sure why the husband needs variety! Geesh!


Tomorrow we'll be on the road for a day trip to Virginia before heading back to school on Monday.  It'll be nice to get away one last time before getting back into the grind.  See you on Monday with some FREEBIES!!

Don't forget that tomorrow is the last day to win a FREE Classroom Theme Pack from Teacher's Clubhouse in my giveaway!!  I'll announce the winner on Monday!  Good Luck!

21 comments

  1. What a great idea to number the cards in each container! It is a perfect job for my own kids to do for me to help me out! I keep seeing the sandwich coasters too but can't think of why I need them so I haven't bought them yet (can't wait to hear how you use them - so then maybe I have a real reason to buy them).

    Looking From Third to Fourth

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    1. Oh my gosh! I number or color-code EVERYTHING possible in my classroom (or have volunteers do it..hehe) It is SUCH a time saver in the long run!

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  2. Hi Amanda - I'm right there with you on the toss up between Mexican and Italian.. I think if I really had to choose it would be Mexican. And...I hate to admit it but I watch the Housewives of the OC too. Guilty pleasure I guess. Cute finds -- I just love Target.
    Hugs,
    Vicky
    Traditions, Laughter and Happily Ever After

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    1. Yeah, I'm pretty sure Mexican would win out if I HAD to choose. :) Sounds like we could have ourselves a great girls' night out - Mexican + RHOC + Target! lol

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  3. I am glad you went back for the hats! :) I am itching to get to a Dollar Tree but my daughter has prom tonight. I hope I can go tomorrow or I will be so sad! Those popcorn tubs are awesome too! They are big then, not individual sized? I have to have those too...and the containers for cards, another excellent idea! Way better than baggies and rubber bands!
    :)Kim

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    1. Hope you made it to Dollar Tree and found all the goodies!!

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  4. I'm the same way with containers!! Man, I love them- especially cute ones like that!! But somehow, I end up with collections of empty ones too.......
    Jivey
    ideas by jivey


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    1. I'm pretty sure it's a requirement for teachers - must have a container addiction! lol

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  5. Those containers are cool! I have so many though. I really need to stop buying them!

    Sara :)
    Smiling In Second Grade

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    1. Me too, me too....why weren't you shopping with me to remind me?! :)

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  6. Ummm couldn't resist those containers...or the matching dustpans...or the mini sweeper brushes. However I did have a small victory and resisted the matching sponges. I have a serious problem! I am going to share all my shopping finds on my blog tomorrow and it will be item overload!

    ThePolishedTeacher

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  7. When I went home to SC for my spring break I ate at Sabroso's for the first time and LOVED it! It might make our list of places to each when I go home! :-)

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    1. Seriously....we should meet up there the next time you come to visit. :) I will find any excuse to go - and that would be a great one! :)

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  8. Amanda I love The Following and The Voice too! They are the two shows that I won't miss each week, I think Kevin Bacon just doesn't age. It's crazy! Thanks for sharing all your awesome Dollar Store finds! I'm heading there tomorrow!

    Karyn

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    1. You are so right about Kevin Bacon...and his wife is that same! Gosh, that show is so good!

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  9. I was just doing a little blog hopping through this linky party (even though I'm too late to link in) and I love your taste- My guilty pleasure is definitely Real Housewives (and Big Rich Texas) and I LOVE Mexican food- we have to force ourselves to only have tacos twice a week because we'd love them every night!

    I only started my blog last week so I love finding teachers I think I can identify with (even if it is initially over non-teaching things haha)! I'll definitely be becoming your latest follower now!

    x Serena x
    Magic Mistakes & Mayhem

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    1. Thanks for dropping by Serena! I'm headed over to check out your blog now! :)

      I've never seen Big Rich Texas, but if it's anything like Big Rich Atlanta...oh - my - word! ;)

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  10. Yeah Team Adam! Woo-Woo! :) I DID pick up one of those containers. I got the green polka dot one for my lunch clips. :)
    Jean
    Diving Into 2nd Grade

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    1. It is so nice to have all matching containers! How cute are the ones you found! Last week I started my official teaching blog. I am looking forward to sharing ideas with other primary teachers! Let's keep the sharing going! ~Tava :)
      www.teachingtinytreasuresbyt.blogspot.com

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