Student Math Boxes

Last year I started keeping student math boxes for each student in class. They are small plastic boxes with lids (6.5" x 7.5" and 4.5" tall) that I bought at the dollar store. As I introduce the manipulatives for each new unit, I pass around enough for each student to have their own. Students then add the materials to the collection in their math boxes. They can pull these out for centers, help on work, tests, games, etc. They come in really handy in second grade where manipulatives are still so important to understanding math concepts. Plus, they're a huge time-saver because it saves me from having to pass these materials out and put them away every time we need them. Here is what they look like:

One student's math box.

Here are the materials that are in each box so far this year: plastic money, base-10 blocks, pattern blocks, unifix cubes, a die and a student clock. These tiny boxes really hold a lot of material!

Students store them on a shelf in our class.

Birthday Bulletin Board

I was shopping through the dollar spot at Target when I came across this cute celebrate banner and coordinating bags and stickers. I decided to use them to create a birthday wall on one of my hard-to-reach bulletin boards. This way I don't have to climb up on my counter every six weeks to change it. I used a black fabric background (a twin flat sheet from Wal-Mart that was less than $5) and a polka dot border from U.S. Toy. (I'm trying this black border/chalk board theme this year.)

I really like the way it turned out!