College or Grad School Anyone? Need to save money on TEXTBOOKS?

Anyone in Grad School or even College for that matter?

I completed grad school a while back, but thought about my fellow coworkers who have to go back to get their Masters...if they don't, their pay will freeze. Yes, FREEZE!  This means, no increase in salary until they get their Masters. Which then led me to think about my younger cousin who is going to college as well.  You will see why below!

I have one coworker who is going through this process right now.  She has 3 children under the age of  eight and her hubby travels for his job quite a bit.  She is now going back to get her Masters because she does not want her salary to freeze. I don't blame her, but could you imagine trying to balance work, family, and grad school?  I know, I know...some of you are going through this right now!  Others are trying to complete college, to get their teaching degree, and trying to find a job.  This all can add up...as well as text book costs.  I know from experience...I have one book that cost over $100 or more for one class...we didn't even use the textbook that much...AGH!  

For those of you going through this process I thought this site might help you out a little, www.campusbookrentals.com...especially when it can come to MONEY! Yes, it all adds up I know!  This site offers affordable textbooks, that you rent.  They even offer FREE SHIPPING BOTH WAYS!  You really should check it out.  They also offer 30 day risk free returns and LIVE customer support.  It doesn't get any better...I find this type of textbook shopping less stressful and more enjoyable...easy too!  They also have a quick search engine that helps you find the books that you need.

Ok so if that isn't awesome enough check out their new program called Rent Back, www.rentbackcom.  It is a new initiative that allows students to rent the textbooks they own to other students.  This is soooo what I needed!!!  It is a great option because it makes the students more money!

One more thing: This company has also partnered with Operation Smile and donated over 1,000 life saving cleft lip surgeries this year to children in need.

I partnered with this site because not only do I love the idea that they have partnered with Operation Smile, but I love the idea of renting textbooks... I still have most of my texts from grad school and have never sold them or even picked them up since I last used them in school.  I WISH I would have known about this site before I bought my books!

So what do you do now?  Go to www.campusbookrentals.com and rent your college or grad school books! It's so easy!  I would love to hear in my comment section about your experience with grade school or college!

Need more info?  Watch this clip!

Happy shopping everyone!

Economics Unit and Linky Paaarties

Economics...

Yes economics can be a lil boring...just my opinion!

However, I changed it around and kicked boredom out the door!

FUN, ENGAGING, and CREATIVE would be the words that I would use to describe my Economics unit. I have been meaning to share my economics unit. A while back I mentioned it in another post and haven't had a chance to further discuss this engaging unit. I absolutely love it and had A LOT of POSITIVE feedback not only from my teammates, but parents and students as well. This unit took about 2-3 weeks to teach, which wasn't too long, but long enough to teach each standard for first grade. Within the unit your students will learn about needs, wants, goods, services, producers, consumers, and opportunity cost. I did not include a full on lesson plan format, but just daily lesson ideas. We all write out or type our plans differently, this is just a way to fit everyone's needs. Do not fret the whole unit is mapped out for you. I even included a parent letter, mini-posters, an invitation, worksheets, book suggestions, lesson ideas, and activities to help teach the economic concepts. It's all there! Whew! Next year I will definitely be ready to teach this unit again. It is so nice to know that it is mapped out. I will just need to add my lesson ideas that were provided in the packet and write them out into my lesson planner. I just love that it is all there! It makes planning and teaching so much easier. Isn't this what we all want?!?!?! Go check it out! If you purchase this item and implement it into your classroom I would love to hear all about it!

I linked up with Sarah from Educasong.  She is having a Bestsellers Linky Party.  Thought this was fitting since I needed to blog about my economics unit.  I included more classroom pics from this unit below.  Scroll all the way down to see how we created the town in my classroom.

Ok so go check out Sarah's blog and link up. Click on her blog title above or her button below.
If you want to join my "Tour My Blog" linky party, click here or the picture below.

Pics from our "Make a Town", economics unit:

Pics from the classroom town...my class named their town "Cardinal Town"....

Freebie: Summer Activities Calendars and June Currently

Happy Summer!!!  Since summer break has officially started I decided to create calendars full of activities for kids. These activities will keep your children engaged and having fun during the summer months!  This freebie includes 3 full calendars and 1 blank calendar.
Click on the picture below to receive your free calendars for the summer!

Example of one calendar...

I am joining Farley and filling out my June Currently....

Listening: I am watching and listening to The Bachelorette...girl night!
Loving: I am loving summer break!  I am so thankful I have this time to relax, have fun, organize my  
             home and classroom, and I could go on and on!
Thinking: I am thinking about my fishing trip in the am. Yes...I love to fish...many are surprised by this!
Wanting:  I am wanting the weather to stay warm and stay sunny.  It has been raining nonstop!
Needing:  Now that it is summer break, I am in need of a mani/pedi! Time to get back in that routine!
3 Vacay Essentials:  I would need my suit, phone, family/friends...if I could add more I would add my  
                         sunglasses, I don't go anywhere without them!  I would also add magazines and bevies!

Don't forget to join my "Tour My Blog" Linky Party! I would love a tour of your blog...I know other bloggers/readers would too!
Click on the link or picture to link up!

Happy Summer Break Ya'll!