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cheap stuff
By Beth

I am known for not spending money, but having everything anyone wants. The first rule is, DON'T PASS IT UP!!! If you are at yard sales and flea markets, do not let anything stay on the tables. #2 If it is free, take it!
You may not know what to do with it, but you will find something sooner or later. I take those free CD's to start a new Internet company, or ones that come in the mail, and use them for Christmas decorations, by gluing sequins (from flea market) buttons or glitter on. A quick string and you are set! I found a guy at our flea market (Lee County Alabama) who gets craft supplies whole

sale, usually damaged ones, like paint that leaked, bags of sequins, and pom poms. Ten for a buck. Parents who work in offices have extra paper, or tablets that have old logos on and computer paper. They get thrown out, be sure your parents know what you want. They will usually drag the stuff in for you. If you are in with a church, they will also donate toys they do not use at home now. Packing foam and toothpicks make great building structures in small groups. Empty shoe boxes in place of those very expensive hollow blocks work well. It is an easy item to bring in and out(They look really cheesy, so do not leave them out all the time. ) If you are teaching 1st and 2nd, you can decorate one whole wall with a great big word wall. I printed mine in 200 point font. Be sure to use the correct font, like how they are taught to write. Mount each word on different colors, and use great ABC pictures to head each column. Start it out with the list of sight words from k & 1st, and each child's name so it is not empty the first day. Make walls into bulletin boards, and put up great work and art from the children. If you will do calendars, weather, words of the day, make it colorful and pretty so it adds to the decor, if you purchase a sentence strip holder, get one that is crayons or a smiley face, a star or anything other than blue!!! If you need to decorate, make what you use everyday count too! I also use the plastic flat shoe hangers. The ones that the shoes drop into. A name tag that can change with each season, and a piece of contact paper. We make a lot of LARGE mosaic pictures on poster board or bulletin board paper, and ripped paper. They can be big enough to decorate for each holiday. I hate to keep typing, but if you need specific ideas, write back at anytime. I have been in your situation, but with more kids and a smaller budget. A little creativeness goes a LOOOOOONG way. I love to talk about my job, and help/share ideas. Anything you need...write!