Monday Made It!!!!

I have been working hard over the past two weeks in my classroom. I really enjoy looking at what everyone makes and posts, but I am thinking that I need to stop looking because it just makes me want to make more, and my classroom will never get finished lol! Anyway, I have lots to share with you this Monday.

I finally finished my wreath for outside my classroom door. I got everything half off at Hobby Lobby! Got to love it!!

I had that ugly brown book case in my classroom, so a friend of mine and I painted it to make it look beautiful. Then I was able to paint the back wall of my library to give it a little more color to make it pop! I absolutely love how my library turned out!

I took my normal looking filing cabinet and covered it with cute fabric and Mod Podge. I am thinking that I might actually paint the filing cabinet later to complete it. 

It seems to be one of the "hot" items to make this year! I think it is a great way to keep organized! 

I decided to make my drawers a little more colorful. I did some with Mod Podge and it took a while to do, but then I thought.... why not use double stick tape? It made life so much easier! You can't tell that I used it at all! I used double stick tape on the top drawer and Mod Podge on the bottom two. I think they both turned out great, but the tape was much easier to deal with. 

This is my new behavior chart. At my school we have a three strikes and you are out policy. I have some magnets with their numbers on them and they will move them down the board, warning, detention, paddling.... 

This is the outside of my classroom.

So that is what I have been busy doing. I will have more pictures of my classroom coming when I get closer to completing it. I will be so glad when it is finished. We start in two weeks! Where did the summer go???? 

Daily 5/Centers

So, I am needing some advice. I have done some reading about the Daily 5. It seems like a great program, but it almost seems geared more towards little ones. I have read how some teachers use it in 3-5th grade. I want to use some of the Daily 5 in my classroom, but not 100% due to time constraints. I was thinking that I could just use them as part of my centers. I would use all 5 plus add my one math center to it. I guess I am just wondering how some of you fabulous teachers use the Daily 5 / centers in your classrooms. I also want to make sure that they are held accountable for their work. You know how the older kids can get if they know that something is not going to be graded, they do it half way. Any advice????

The Horrible Pencil Problem

So, I was chatting with a fellow teacher today and we were discussing problems that we have in our classrooms and of course the dreaded pencil issue came up. There never seems to be a good way to control pencils in the classroom. I have always had two jars, one for sharpened pencils and one for un-sharpened  pencils. I sharpen pencils every morning, which is a pain, but I do not want my kids touching my expensive pencil sharpener. I let them get up in class, when I am not teaching,  and get a pencil when they need. They put their broken pencil up and get a new one.  I have not had too many problems with this method, but I was wondering how other teachers do pencils in their classrooms. What do you do if you have tables instead of desks? It is sad that something so simple can cause major issues. I appreciate any advice :)

Labeled Binder Clips

So I was looking through "Really Good Stuff" the other day and I came across these labeled binder clips that looked like they would help me stay organized. They were labeled the days of the week. I usually stay late on Fridays to get all my copies done for the following week, so I do not have to fight the other teachers Monday morning. I usually just paper clip all my copies and stick them in a basket. Then each day I have to dig through it to find the ones that I need for the day. No complaints really because they are already copied and done, but these clips looked like they would help a lot. The only problem was that they were like $15 per dozen which I thought was a bit much. So.... I made my own. I went to Office Depot and bought 48 binder clips. They were on sale for $1 a pack of 24. You can go to the Dollar Store I am sure and get them as well. Then I bought return address labels from Walmart and made my own labels for them. I am so excited. They only cost me like $5 total to make. I also made some that are more custom to my needs.I know it does not seem like much, but you know it is the little things that can make life a little easier :)

First Day Back in My Classroom

So I went to my classroom on Tuesday for the first time since the summer began. We are not allowed to go back until after the 4th of July due to waxing and cleaning. As usual at the end of the school year, I either moved most of my classroom home because I had the intentions of doing lots of work in June or I just shoved it anywhere it would fit so that it was off the floor. I did get quite a bit done, like sketching out my year and creating some cute things for my room, but I always bring home way too much. Anyway, I loaded my car up. I filled my trunk, and my back seat with school things.... I really think that I have a problem :) I get up to school and it takes me about 20 minutes to unload everything. I finally get in my room and just sit there looking around at the mess! Here are some pictures of what I was looking at... I do know that it could be much worse, but it still is very scary looking at my room like this lol...

I sat there for like 20 minutes just thinking.... where do I begin? I finally lit a fire under my butt and began to move stuff around. I have many many days ahead of me in my room, but I got a jump start on it. I am thinking about heading up there tomorrow to do some more damage. I have lots of organizing to do before I can get to the fun part of decorating.
I can't believe that school is knocking on my door step. Where has the summer gone?

P.S. I wish UPS would get here with my Vistaprint order.... lol

Super Surprised

  This morning I went to check my email and I found that my blog was awarded an award. I was super surprised. I was awarded the Versatile Blogger award by Mrs. Corbitt from Tadpole Tidbits. 

So now here are the requirements for the award:

1.  Thank the blogger who nominated you.

       Thank you Mrs. Corbitt you have a great blog!

2.  Include a link to their site.

       http://mrscorbitt.blogspot.com/

3.  Include the image award on your blog.

 

4.  Give 7 random facts about yourself.

     *I am super organized almost to a fault ;)

     * I do not like chocolate. 

     * I am super allergic to bananas. 

     * I love to go fishing and crabbing. 

     * I am related to a famous pirate. 

     * I have a fabulous family and great group of friends. 

     * I went through 5 majors before figuring out education was for me;)

5.  Nominate 15 other blogs for the award.

   The Loop

   Keep Calm & Imagine- Then Get Excited and Make Things    

   My Tales of a Fourth Grade Teacher

   Precious Kinder Moments

   Creekside Teacher Tales

   How Cute is This! 

Stay Calm and Teach On

   Blog Stalker

  Kisses From a frog

  Books. Cupcakes.Life

  One Class, One Sound

  Teaching Chick

  Fabulous and Fun 4th Graders

  T is for teaching

  iTeach 1 to 1

6.  When nominating include a link to their site.

     Done (above)

7.  Let other bloggers know they've been nominated.

     Check for a comment from me :)

        

Craft Projects/ Vista Print Creations

I am sorry that it has been a while since my last post. I have spent the last three weeks visiting my dad in North Carolina and I have not had too much computer time. I wanted to share some of the crafty things and Vista Print creations that I have been working on this summer. I do not know about you, but my summer is just flying by!

I first made a new wreath for outside my classroom door:

Then I bought a Cricut at the beginning of June and decided to start playing with it..... I have a long way to go, but it was fun making this sign anyway: 

I saw these on Pinterest and had to make me one. I love the organization of it all: 

The last thing that I have made(so far) are some monkey magnets for my board. 

Here are just some of my Vista Print Creations for this year!