Thursday, July 25, 2013

DIY Black Pocket Chart




I have been searching the internet
for a black pocket chart and couldn't
find anything! Several people suggested
spray painting...that didn't work for me!

Several people suggested using black RIT
dye and it worked!  I used a blue Wal-Mart
pocket chart and cut a small slit in the bottom 
to take out the plastic rod. 

First I got the water very hot as the
directions stated for nylon. I used two 
large pots of almost boiling water and
a 5 gallon bucket. I poured in a cup of 
vinegar, again as the directions stated.
I put the pocket chart in and stirred it.
I used an ice cream bucket filled with
water to weigh the chart down. I stirred
and readjusted many, many times and left it
in overnight. The readjusting is necessary
to get inside the pockets.  Use gloves! I didn't
and had to use diluted bleach to get my hands
 clean! Rinse in cold water and hang to dry!

The pockets came out clear! 
The dye didn't dye the plastic!

Here it is again because I am so happy
with how it turned out!!! 





Many of you know I am getting 30
1st graders this year...
so in an effort to simplify,
I am getting rid of classroom jobs...kind of! 
I will have 2 assistants a day,
which I will switch daily. 
Except for the line leader. 
That is always the star of the week!

I will take a picture of the kids on
the first day of school, print, laminate and
add velcro for easy changing daily!
Two small pictures should fit on the chart!

    Classroom Freebies Manic Monday


Click the picture for your freebie!





I thought I should mention the 
rocking chair and stool as well!
I spent 4 days stripping the old
stuff off that rocking chair! 
What a chore! I saw a similar chair
on Pinterest and knew I wanted it!
I painted the stool and my desk chair
to match. I have been switching from
primary colors to pink and lime green.

Time is running out and I might not
get everything switched before school
starts, such as baskets and my frames
for self-portraits that hang on a wall.
I hope I can live with the mixed color
scheme if I don't get it done!



Thanks for stopping by!


19 comments:

  1. I love your chair and the matching zebra stool!! So cute!

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  2. OMG! I am so impressed with your pocket chart! I know mine would of been half black and half whatever color I started with! Good work! :)

    Kimberly Ann
    Live, Laugh, I love Kindergarten

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  3. Okay, I want to like this 1000 times! I tried the pocket chart thing last night and it didn't work, but you did yours slightly different than I did, so I'm going to try again tonight. Also, I am IN LOVE with your chair and stool. That has been on my To Do List for 2 years! Hopefully, I'll get to it before August 1 :)

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  4. I have the same exact color scheme Zebra print. pink and lime green. I totally love it and can't wait to see what new ideas you share so I can add them to my room too. I will have to try dying my pocket charts. It was bugging me too that they didn't match the rest of my room!
    Ruthanne

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  5. I like the idea of your assistants! It is hard to keep up with student helpers, I think. Good luck! I hope it works out well for your room this year!

    Em
    Curious Firsties

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  6. Excellent job on the charts! I get more anal every year about things matching :) haha! The blue and purple and red don't go with the jungle them. So cool that you took a chance and it turned out so well!! thanks for sharing, too, as I think many folks are in the same boat.

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  7. Girl, I owe you big! I used your chart advice and it worked! I'm linking my blog post to you.

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    Replies
    1. Awesome! I am so happy it worked for you too!

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  8. I need to try this! I have an awful red pocket chart that is in need of some fixin'

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  9. Thank you! I can't wait to try this. I HATE the typical primary colored charts, but that's all they have. I had no idea they could be dyed.

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  10. Did the dye do anything to the clear pockets?

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  11. I ♥love♥ your chart, your colors, your chair, your stool, everything! I have ALWAYS done two helpers a day since 1991!!! It makes it so much easier instead of wasting academic time asking, "Who's the paper passer outer?" Who's the librarian?" I just have to say Helpers, do blah, blah, blah and the academics keep flowing!! Also, it feels like they get a turn more often, and at the end of everyday I say, "Sue and John, you're the helpers tomorrow, don't be absent!" It builds excitement for school! :) The real reason I'm here is to thank you for linking up at TBA and to let you know **YOU** are my featured blogger tomorrow, so please come back!
    ~Fern
    Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas!
    Fern Smith's Pinterest Boards!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Fern! I am very happy with how it all turned out and am looking forward to simplifying class jobs! :)

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  12. What did you do with the water when you were finished?

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  13. I dyed it outside and we have a grate in front of our garage that drains underground, because our driveway is a slope, so I poured it down the drain.

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  14. Thanks! A little worried about dying the sink. Can't wait to get rid of the blue and red.

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