In the past year we have both introduced the Math Journal into our Guided Math program. This has been a great and innovative way for students to communicate their math knowledge. However, we both found the same thing; the students were only using a small part of the page, and we felt most of the journal was going to waste. So we decided we wanted to find a way to cut the journals in half!
We made a few phone calls, and got a lot of laughs on the other end. Most of the big hardware stores told us no over the phone. We called a printing store and they would do it, but charge $1.50 a cut. Feeling discouraged, we went to the stores in person, composition notebooks in hand. Our logic was that it would be much harder to turn down a teacher in person. (I mean it is all in the name of education right!?!?) We were finally successful at one of the big hardware chain stores.
Ta-Da! One notebook becomes two!
Each child now has a manageable sized notebook.
Our cart full! We could not thank them enough!
While we were there we stopped by the paint department. The employees were kind enough to donate each of us a class set of paint stirrers. We use these as individual shelf markers for the students in our classroom libraries. The kids decorate them with markers and love using them, and our books stay organized!
All-in-all a successful trip!
