Creating For the Classroom: $6.00 + A Trip to Jo-Ann's = Three Cute Classroom Goodies!

Let me first start out by telling you... I LOVE Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store!  I have a store about a mile away from my house, so you could call me a "frequent flyer" or should I say a "frequent buyer".  

When I read Miss Kindergarten's post about Jo-Ann's Classroom Crafts Linky Party... I knew I had to jump in!  I am over there at least once a week 

Now here's the fun part.  Once a month, I head to Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft with $10.00, two coupons, and a personal challenge to see what I can make for the classroom for $10.00 or less.  I spent $6.32 this trip and here is what I purchased:
 

Jewelry Designer: Brass Tie Tack with Clutch

Craft Essentials: Felt Stickers

Pack of 61 Halloween Erasers

Here's what I did with them:

1)  Created Halloween (finger trackers) for reading.  I like to create new finger trackers for reading each month.  I always have packs of craft sticks around the house.  They are inexpensive and I use them for everything!  I simply paint the craft sticks and glue on different themed felt stickers.  The kids love getting new and fun fingers tracers each month.  They are quick and inexpensive to make.

Here they are spooky and ready for reading.

 2)  Birthday Pins for that special day.  I always struggle with how to acknowledge each child's birthday.  I have tried birthday hats but some children don't like to wear them.  Gift packets can get to be expensive.  So... buttons to the rescue!  I am always collecting buttons.  I have hundreds (and that's no exaggeration).   It occurred to me one day that I could easily turn my buttons into special pins.

Brass tie tacks with a clutch cost less than $3.00 (there are about 15 in a bag).  I select fun buttons and glue (Gorilla Glue) them on the flat side of the tie tack.  Once they are dry,  I showcase them on a Birthday label and allow the children to select the pin of their choice on their special day.  They love wearing the Birthday pins.  They can remove the label the next day and still keep wearing the pins.  They have become quite popular.

Pins and buttons

Glue the button on the flat part of the tie tack

Birthday pins with tags. 

3) Halloween Erasers (pack of 60!) Graphing Work.   I use these bigger packs for  graphing centers.  I put the erasers in zip-lock baggies (10 to the bag) and create graphing charts.  Super hands-on, super fun!  Each pile of 10 is different so there's lots of opportunity for practice. These erasers are also wonderful for 10 frames work.   

Groups of 10 ready for bagging and the math center.  

Here is a copy of my Halloween eraser graph page.  Feel free to pick it up!

Click here to download.

What can I say but - "Not bad for $6.32" (plus 2 Jo-Ann's coupons).   Thank you Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store! 

Granny (Cindy)