I LOVE Creative Teaching Press! From the beginning of my teaching career, I would wait anxiously for the arrival of their catalog that featured all of their new products. I can sit for hours combing over each and every page and making notes of everything I want to purchase for the upcoming school year.
This year, they introduced a new product called “magnet books.” I couldn’t wait to get my hands on these little cuties and try them out in my classroom! When I received my shipment, it seriously felt like Christmas!
To my surprise, they were much smaller than I anticipated, which made me very HAPPY! They are about pocket size and SUPER magnetic! These little books offer a whole lot of learning and functionality for their size. When you open up the book, you are surprised with the number of pages they could fit into this little portable learning tool!
Now, I have to be honest, I was a little worried at first. I thought for sure that my children would have these books ripped into shreds once they got their hands on them, but I was wrong!!! When you read the fine print, it states that the pages CANNOT be ripped! Woohoo! Now, I LOVE them even more! I even tried it myself…NOPE…they do NOT rip! Let your kids play with them without fear…they can’t ruin them!
I decided to utilize their magnetic capabilities by creating all of this cute portable magnetic centers. I’m telling you…my kids LOVED these. The minute they saw them, they couldn’t wait to play and have fun!
Here is my portable spelling/word work center using the Sight Word magnet book. Yes, I painted my cookie sheet…over the top, I know, I just wanted it to look cute!
Here is a blank 10 frame and number cards. Your students can get lots of practice with their number skills using this cute Number magnet book.
Here is the alphabet magnet book. This activity was used for letter order!
Here is another activity using the alphabet magnet book. You can match the picture with the correct beginning letter/sound. Really, the possibilities are endless!
I even use my magnet books for my own children! The cookie sheet fits perfectly into my bag and it is great to keep the kids busy in the car or sitting in the doctor’s office. I use my alphabet magnet book for letter recognition and letter order. I also have a cute Travel Games magnet book for those long car rides!
I have to tell you, these little books are one of the things that my students LOVE the most! My kids could sit and play with these things FOREVER! There are so many to choose from that your students will never get bored. Magnetic centers are a fun way to engage your students!
Agree – Creative Teaching Press has consistently been a great teaching resource. Now, please share about your bag – do you use it as your purse or school bag – or possibly both??? Where did you get it?
Hi Mary! It is my “little bit of everything” bag! I don’t use it as my purse, but to carry school and kid stuff around. One of my parents bought it for me from Thirty One – isn’t it super cute?!?! 🙂
I sell for the direct selling company, Thirty-one gifts where this bag is from!!! It’s an awesome company with awesome products! Visit my website to view the new spring catalog that just released yesterday!!! http://www.mythirtyone.com/nrachell Let me know if I can help with anything or answer any questions!!!! You know us teachers LOVE bags!!!
Very neat. Been looking for something like this for my kiddos. My students might like it as well.I just have to plan and prep and find a lot of magnets. Thanks for sharing.
You can get anything you want on magnets at vistaprint.com. I use their “small car magnet” and upload an image. You can cut it up or use it as a mat. I have a magnet center with various skills to practice. There is a calendar, ABC chart with letters to match to pictures, and a domino addition mat, all of which I made at vistaprint.com…you get one free per order and just pay shipping. Get on their mailing list!
Hi! How do you paint your cookie sheets? That looks great! Magnets and a stable base of support work well for my student w visual impairment to use manipulatives, thanks!
Hi Amber! Just spray paint for these. I probably should have used a spray primer as well – this would keep the paint from chipping.
Please explain how you set up your stations using the magnetic books. What materials did you add with them? Where do you place these? Are they on shelves or on a table, or are they in buckets you pull out?