Teach Factory

Do you want a theme you don’t see offered here?

I have received many kind emails over the summer from teachers all over who are using Teach Factory printables in their classrooms!  This is so exciting to hear!  As I have loved creating these printables and have a true enjoyment out of making decorations for classrooms, I have loved hearing from those of you who have printed and decorated your rooms with the themes I have offered here.  I have had a very busy past year, but am realizing that with so many teachers out there requesting themes, I might just need to hold a little contest to see who is “first” for my newest theme.

Here goes!  I have created a brand new portion of the site, the Teach Factory Cafe!  This is going to the place to gather, share ideas, and make theme requests.  I have had numerous problems with my comment moderation on this blog and after having to sift through 12,998 (to be exact) SPAM messages with ads I won’t mention here, I’ve been looking for a new, more secure way to share ideas and take theme requests.

So, to sign up, visit: http://www.teachfactory.com/cafe/

Post your theme request in the “Theme Request Zone”   At 12 noon (central time) on August 3, I will draw a random number and that post number will “win” the first new theme.

Please, if you’ve used the theme printables in your classroom, share your pictures!  I’d love to see them!

Thanks so much for the kind emails!

This week’s theme is a movie theme! I had so many requests for a movie theme that I couldn’t resist! I added sunglasses, stars, popcorn, and the red carpet to create a theme for Hollywood. Thanks for all the requests I received.   Can’t you just smell the popcorn poppin’? 

To download this theme click HERE.

For more themes, check out the main page under “Theme Machine”

The winner is… Number 4! Denise request “Victory Vouchers” for her racing theme. I used PrintShop clipart to make these. I don’t want to take credit for drawing that car! Hope they work for your classroom Denise and thanks for entering. (Download the PDF file)

Thanks to everyone who entered for personalized token economy coupons!

One more theme for the week. This one is called Jungle Jam and has a little monkey sportin’ his hat and binoculars for a safari! I’ve actually had a Jungle Themed classroom in the past, and it was one of my favorite. I think the students really enjoyed reading in the Reading Hut. I couldn’t resist using the monkey that I had drawn for last year’s classroom website. With his hat, he just seemed to fit right in. Of course, last year’s site had “peeking” monkeys… they never showed their face. Remember that old show Home Improvement… how neighbor Wilson never showed his face from over the fence? That’s kind of how I felt with the monkeys. Well, they’re not hiding anymore!

Download HERE!

Thanks again to Crystal, who’s idea inspired this theme!

Here is a pawprint theme! I was tempted to add little doggy bones, collars, and houses, but figured this theme is more usable for school mascots like cougars, tigers, black cats, leopards, and so on!

This theme is full of paw prints and comes with a sheet of reproducible “Paw Passes” for you to copy and use with your students!

You can download the theme here. Thanks again to Denise who’s idea inspired this theme!

One of my favorite tools in the classroom is the token economy. Whether it’s been Bullseye Bucks, Dolphin Dollars, Jungle Bucks, Bonus Bucks, Royal Rewards, or Monkey Moolah, the kids have loved it! By making business card sized “bucks” you can print 8 to 10 to a page! I have used Print Shop in the past and now use PhotoShop to make these. Copy these onto colored paper and voila…you have an instant token economy.

I usually add in other colors, too for different denominations of money! This way you don’t have to copy quite so many of the ones, because kids can trade them in for fives, then tens, then twenties, even hundreds if you choose! Here are a few I’ve used in the past…

Would you like your own classroom reward money?

Post a comment here telling what kind of classroom money you would like and I’ll pick a random number from the comments! Then, I’ll email you for extra details you’d like put on your personalized bucks! This contest will end on Friday, August 8 at Noon.

And the Winners from the

1st Annual Custom Theme Request Contest

Are Comments Numbered…

and

So next up will be two theme packs…

Jungle Jam:A jungle and safari classroom theme created for Crystal!

Pawsitively Perfect:A pawprint classroom theme for Denise!

Thanks for all the GREAT ideas! I’ll be back tomorrow to post these two new themes and to announce another contest that involves a Token Economy in the classroom! Would you like your face or your school mascot on a buck for your classroom? See you Monday!

The latest theme is complete with a treasure map, parrot, pirate, and treasure chest! Arrrrrrrrrrrr!

Go to http://www.teachfactory.com and click on “Theme Machine” to download!

I am currently working on a theme called “Treasure Trove” that is all about Pirates, Parrots, and Treasure! I am also working on a Monkey theme. I am going to create two more themes and it’s all about this contest! Leave a comment here, posting your idea for a theme. You can be as specific as you want, even listing colors you’d like used! I will use the Random Number Generator to pick 2 numbers and those comments will be selected as the next two themes! Post quickly, the contest ends Saturday night at Midnight, central standard time! Winners will be announced at noon on Sunday! So enter today! Good luck and thanks for challenging me!

The lastest theme: Lucky Ladybugs! Red and White checked picnic themed backgrounds and bright red lucky ladybugs with green leaf accents! Go to Teachfactory.com and click on Theme Machine to download! Stay tuned for more themes. Next up is… hint: Arrrrrr, Matey!