10 Free Back to School Fonts

So, I haven't blogged in a while. A long, long while...

In addition to teaching, and spending 60+ hours each week on school related things, I was also taking courses for my MAEd in Instructional Technology at East Carolina University. So, although I've been in hiding for a long time, I promise it was for a good cause. And the fantastic news is that I'm finally DONE!

I finished my last course in June, and my portfolio was completed and accepted last month! Such a great feeling to be done :)

So now that I have *oodles* of free time, I was trying to think of something to blog about. Something fun. Something I love. Fonts! Fonts make me happy! So, after organizing a few cluttered and disorganized folders of fonts, I was able to narrow it down to 10 fonts for this post.

So, since it's August, and "Back to School" is all over the place, here's my contribution with fun, and not to mention free, fonts!

(Links to download fonts are below the image)

I love using fonts to add excitement to my documents, lessons, and materials. Plus, sometimes it's just nice to have a change, so I'm always searching for new fonts to add to my collection! 

Do you love fonts as much as I do?! :) What do you use fun fonts for?

I hope you can use some of these for something wonderful!

Now it's back to doing "real work" to get ready for the first teacher workday on August 19!

• Colleged
• Permanent Marker
• Europe Underground
• Handy George
• bubbleboddy
• Sketch Block
• Mom's Typewriter
• PW Scolarpaper
• Patterns & Dots
• Stroke Dimension

Pinterest Project

This Pinterest Project isn't very educational, and doesn't really relate to teaching. But it does relate directly to my need to be organized!! :)

I've seen a few pinners share how they organized their makeup and makeup brushes, and it inspired me to organize my own stuff! I forgot to take a before picture of the table in my bedroom, but believe me, it was a complete mess! The table was covered in makeup, mail, receipts, jewelry, and other ridiculous items.

So here's my take on organizing my makeup, brushes, and other products.

The main items that helped me organize my stuff:

Glass trays from Pier 1 Imports

Glass cups from Target

Mini glass beads from Michaels (couldn't find a link, but they were $2.79 a bag and in the floral/candle area)

I used the glass tray for blushes, bronzers, eye shadows, etc., and put the mini glass beads in the cups to hold my brushes and mascara.

Here's my newly organized table!

I'm actually really pleased with the end result! It's pretty, and everything has a place. The only thing I'd change (if I could) is that the cup doesn't hold many items once the beads are inside. But, for me it's not an issue because I don't use many brushes and whatnot. There are lots of other options instead of the cups, but I liked them because they had the light green tint like the trays! 

Oh, how organizing makes me happy! :) 

Now, on to the next Pinterest Project!

the perfect SMART Board ball!

I went to Target a few days ago, and started off in the $1 section because I was searching for items to put in my prize box at school. I usually find cute note pads, stickers, art supplies, etc., but nothing amazing. Until the other day!

I found these balls!

My initial reaction was that they were cute, so I got a few different colors for my prize box. The next morning, I went into my best friend's classroom to say good morning, and she was watching a movie on the SMART Board while packing up and getting ready to move classrooms. I showed her my prize box finds, and had the notion to throw the puffy mine ball at the SMART Board. 


And it worked!!


Now let me back up a little bit...
I've had a SMART Board, or some type of interactive whiteboard, for the past 4 years. And in all that time, I've never been able to find the right kind of ball, with the right kind of material, to use with the SMART Board. I've made "Koosh Ball" games, and other activities, where it would be so fun to throw a koosh ball, or something of the sort, at the board, instead of just tapping or poking with a pointer. And the games have never really worked. Until NOW :)


I just finished working on a SMART Notebook document that's a "Meet Mrs. Alexander" game/activity that I'm going to use at Meet the Teacher in August.
Here it is: Meet Mrs. Alexander "Koosh Ball" Game


I'm sure there's other who've heard of the koosh ball games, and have probably even had the right ball for a long time. I feel a little behind, but I'm just SOO excited that I've finally found the perfect one! I suggest you go get some of your own asap at Target! :)

a new discovery

I'm really enjoying the class I'm currently taking online at ECU...EDTC 6070 Digital Literacy for 21st Century Classrooms. The assignment we're working on right now is developing three projects, and I've found a lot of great sources and useful information from my classmates from blogs, links on Delicious, photo sharing with Flickr, and more!
I think my favorite find thus far is a site called ZooBurst. I honestly can't remember which of my classmates posted this link to their Delicious site, but THANK YOU!! :)

ZooBurst is a site where you can make interactive 3D pop-up books! A basic teacher account is free, but if you want access to the premium features, you'll have to pay. I really love Storybird, because it's along the same line - choose art, type your story, and publish. But with ZooBurst, students can search for characters and backgrounds, so they can mix and match while they're creating their pop-up book.
I think this Web 2.0 Tool is great, and I've already made an account and had fun learning and playing.


Here's a link to the first ZooBurst book I made. It's nothing fantastic because I was trying to get used to the site and format of making a book. But it was fun, and I think you should check it out!

one of my favorite obsessions

I've been somewhat productive this weekend. There was definitely the possibility of being even more productive, if it weren't for one of my favorite obsessions...

For anyone that isn't familiar, Pinterest is a social network and virtual pinboard that allows users to organize and share images and videos.


I find myself on Pinterest usually every other day, sometimes even every day if I have some unexpected free time. I'm addicted, and although it's probably not the best use of my time, I have found some great ideas, recipes, and tips.


Most of my pinboards probably won't interest you, but I wanted to share my "Teaching" pinboard because I've found some really great ideas and blogs from other Pinterest users.

caityemily's Teaching Pinboard

I'm curious if anyone else loves Pinterest as much (or half as much) as I do? What are your favorite categories and types of pins? Have you found any great educational/teaching pins that are worth sharing? Feel free to share your link or username, and I'll follow your boards! 

Happy Pinning! :)

Lazy Saturday

I've read that if you fall asleep at night within 5 minutes of going to bed, that you're considered to be exhausted and severely sleep deprived. That's me....every single night. So this morning I decided to take advantage of not having anything planned, and sleep in! 
At noon, I'm still being very lazy, sitting on the couch, reading Real Simple, drinking coffee from my new "i <3 my aunt" mug (!!), and now, blogging! I hope the rest of my weekend is this relaxing!


I haven't blogged for a couple days, but I had my topic ready to go: blogs!
At the beginning of the school year, it's important to talk about internet safety, netiquette, and other related topics since a lot of our time in the computer lab is spent using the Internet. One of my favorite resources is BrainPOP, and I'm SOO glad that my school has a subscription! BrainPOP (4th grade and up) and BrainPOP Jr. (K to 3rd) are two wonderful resources that have tons of videos on almost any topic imaginable. And the videos are also supported with games, writing, word wall, and vocab activities, just to name a few. I love their technology videos, specifically the ones about blogs, because they're kid-friendly, while still being informative and detailed. 
Here are a couple screen shots that are linked directly to the videos I'm talking about!

BrainPOP Jr.

BrainPOP

SN: Can I mention how much I LOVE that Blogger resizes your pictures for you, and then you can choose the size you want, S - XL!!! Being the webmaster at my school, and having to size, and resize, and tweak to get images just the way I want them, this is SO much easier, and much appreciated! Thanks Blogger!!

Anyway, those are the videos - and there's so much more available on the two sites. To have full access you do have to have a subscription, but all throughout the year, there are a number of videos that are free depending on the topics that are being featured on each site. Anyone else out there that loves BrainPOP/Jr.?!? It's made a huge difference at our school, and the kids love Moby! :)

Anyway, that's it for now! I hope everyone has a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend!!

too much testing!

I feel like I'm torturing some of the kids at my school. Unintentionally of course! 
Last week was EOG testing, and next week is EOG Re-testing, so it would be a great idea to have a week of normalcy between the two weeks of stress and chaos. But of course, that isn't the case. My 2nd through 4th graders need to take the SRI (Scholastic Reading Inventory) for the last time this year. I hate to have to submit them to yet another test, but we need the data for their records, and this is the last week I'm available to help and monitor them while they take the test in the lab.
I think I'm done complaining now.
Despite having to tackle another test, I have to brag on these children. They have been 110% focused, 120% serious, and 150% determined to rock this SRI test! It makes me so proud knowing that despite testing, remediation, and longing for summer, they are being excellent students by doing their personal best! 
I <3 my students! :)


I went on a rant about testing because it actually leads me into my next topic...Popplet.


I learned about the free Web 2.0 tool at NCTIES, and as soon as I made an account, I LOVED it. I've been working with my 4th graders to teach them how to use the resource to make a North Carolina Popplet.
I know my students love using Popplet just as much as I do, because a few students today were logging into Popplet to work on their project as soon as they finished their SRI test. Talk about dedication and excellent work ethic!


Here's a link to one of their popplets: CL's Popplet
I strongly recommend this tool to anyone, and everyone, that works with students and educators! 
Happy exploring and poppling! :)

Getting Started

I created this blog a long, long time ago, but never really put it together to start using. So I finally just updated my profile, fixed the template, and now I think it's ready to use...sort of!

So...Hi! I'm Caitlin Alexander, and this is my blog! 

I'm actually not new to the world of blogs. I try to read blogs as often as I can find the time. Some of my favorites are Runs for Cookies, JW Illustrations, and Joy Is At Home. I also use blogs quite often with my older students, mainly third through fifth graders, in the computer lab to explore and discuss new and interesting topics. But now that I've revisited my blog here, I'm excited to begin using it for educational and professional purposes. Hopefully I'll be able to use this blog to share some of my favorite ideas, resources, sites, and more!

I hate to call it quits for tonight, but I'm sleepy. It seems the older I get (I just had a birthday two days ago...29....), the earlier my bedtime gets! 

I'll try to add something new and exciting tomorrow!