Back to School Prep: Using Duct Tape for Making Mini-Books Last Longer

Making Mini-Books Last Longer for Mini-Fingers!

Hello everyone, I'm Fern from Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas. While you're prepping for back to school I would love to share one of my favorite tips. Once you invest in the paper and ink for printing mini-books and mini-readers, duct tape helps to make them last longer.

I like to use duck tape as a 
side binder OVER the staples.

Four Reasons:

1. It keeps the book together longer.

2. The BACK page is not as quick to rip off.

3. Little people don't start crying when little fingers get snagged on the back part of the staple!

Oh.the.Drama!

4. Teacher stays happy! :)

Guided Reading Groups and Fluency

You can also print 6 to 8 of the same mini-books to make sets to use again and again during your guided reading instruction. The students can use the books with white boards and white board markers. 

Another Favorite Tip: Use one color of duct tape for the binding to keep all the same titles of a book easy to find and organized. 

Click here for Michelle at Teach123 camping mini-books. 

Click here for my phonics mini-books.

Please follow me for more tips, tricks, resources and freebies!

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Duct Tape for Making Mini-Books Last Longer

Making Mini-Books Last Longer for Mini-Fingers!

Hello everyone, I'm Fern from Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas. Just a quick little tip for your PRINTED mini-books and mini-readers.

I like to use duck tape as a side binder OVER the staples.

Four Reasons:

1. It keeps the book together longer.

2. The BACK page is not as quick to rip off.

3. Little people don't start crying when little fingers get snagged on the back part of the staple! Oh the drama!

4. Teacher stays happy! :)

Guided Reading Groups and Fluency

You can also print 6 to 8 of the same mini-books to make sets to use again and again during your guided reading instruction. The students can use the books with white boards and white board markers. Use one color of duct tape for the binding to keep all the same titles of a book easy to find and organized.

Click here for Michelle at Teach123 camping mini-books. 

Click here for my phonics mini-books.

Please follow me for more tips, tricks, resources and freebies!

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Duct tape desks!

Hey y'all! It's Rachel from the tattooed teacher!
It's duct tape week!
I LOVE Duct tape! Really!
More specifically DUCK brand duct tape!
Have you seen their pinterest boards! oh my!

Today I'm here showing off my [former] teacher desk that now belongs to another teacher! Ignore the mess on top-it was summer!

Now, are your school supplied teacher desks from the 70s?
Mine are!
dented, metal, sad desk
I got this idea while covering the exposed part of my bookshelves in duct tape
I am a hoarder of the stuff...no lie...and started whipping it out finding a good pattern.
All I did was literally put strips of duct tape on the front and sides of my desk!
but boy did it make a difference! The pink zebra and green paint splats I borrowed from my neighbor to break it up a little. and I had to get one strip of my hello kitty in there, too!
Last year I got rid of my desk, but another teacher picked mine up and uses it!
simple, pretty cheap, and a big difference!
here are the different patterns I used-all are duck brand! (minus the neons which I purchased at Big Lots!-but are still Duck brand)

and here are a few other teacher desks I found on Pinterest! Most don't lead to anywhere...sad face

 

and for whatever reason, this picture is upside down!

this is my fav! she used wrapping paper and white duct tape!

here's a little sideways action for ya! but it's a great looking desk!

so there you have it!

What have you made with duct tape?

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Duct Tape Containers

Hey everyone!

This time we are talking about how you use duct tape! I remember when you could only get it in silver and now there are so many patterns you can buy. This is a dream for teachers wanting to spruce things up!

I used  neon striped duct tape and a Crystal Light container and wrapped the duct tape around. Simple and easy!

That's it, two materials!

Strip your container.

Wrap and sit back and enjoy your simple, but cute creation.

What can you use these for? Store popsicle sticks, pencils, a fake flower vase, supply storage (I carry eraser tops as prizes for kids in there). 

Hope this gave you some ideas!

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