Teaching is an expensive love of mine, so I love finding cheap alternatives to tools. Pocket charts are a teacher’s best friend, but pocket chart stands can be costly. Instead of buying a pocket chart stand, I purchased a garment rack pictured below. The rail holds the pocket charts with book rings, and there is a bottom rack that can hold materials as well. It also breaks down to be stored when not needed. 

        Teachers are always looking for fun ways to review skills in the classroom. At the end of each summer many stores have a great sale on beach fun items. I stock up on cheap blow up beach balls; which I get for around .10¢ to .25¢ each. I then write on the beach ball with a permanent marker. For example I have a simile/metaphor practice ball . I wrote various similes and metaphors all over the ball. To play students stand in a circle. The rules are: 

• You must call the person’s name before you throw the ball to them. 
• The only person allowed to talk in the circle is the person holding the ball. (expect the teacher of course!)
• When you catch the ball whatever statement your right hand lands on you read to the group. Then you explain whether it is a simile or metaphor. Then explain why it is a simile or metaphor.