Making it Mine

Moving to a new room was not my idea of kicking off my summer vacation, but it is what I had to do. I said this before...it was a mess, and I really meant it!! I was waiting for my new room to get painted, so I had to just pile my things in the middle of the floor when school ended in May.

This is how I left it on the last day.  

Now it's the middle of July, and I was finally able to start putting things away and making my room MY room.  I finally decided this was the year I was going to rid my room of the colors that make me go nuts.  It's not that I dislike the colors by themselves or in other people's rooms; it is just in my room...I go crazy looking at all the primary colors mixed together all day long.

It took me several days just to sort through the piles and move the big stuff to where it needed to be. 

I got all the "stuff" put away finally and began to decorate a few bulletin boards. 

I absolutely LOVE the black and white polka dot rug from IKEA. It's hard to beat a rug that is only $20 and so darn cute!!

I think I'm going to go back and get a second rug to make this my meeting spot.  I still need to organize and label my library baskets and add ribbon to them. 

My wonderful and very patient husband came and taped off my new word wall area. I tried to do it myself, but I am not crafty nor patient with any type of crafty project. Thankfully he is!! I LOVE the way it turned out!! The whiteboard is magnetic, so I plan to use magnetic tape on the back of the words as I teach them. 

This is the view if you are looking in my room from the door. The red shelves right in front are cubby boxes. My teacher table/guided reading area is in the back next to the class library and meeting area. 

The view once again from the door but showing the front of the room. I have a storage cabinet, Smartboard, reading chairs for the Read to Self center, centers bookshelf, and student work tables in this area. 

Now I'm standing at the back computer looking at the front. 

This room is setup differently, even though all of our rooms are pretty close to being the same size. 

I almost have it all put away. I just have a small pile of containers and odds and ends, but thankfully I'm so close to being finished!

I have to go through things and organize my "stations" better. I still have May centers in center boxes that need to be changed to Back to School centers. 

I'm staying home next week to get things done around here before school starts in 3 weeks. 

I've been working on a few projects from home too. I painted my ugly blue bookshelf and table cherry red. I also painted my big brown rocking chair glossy black. 

I'm getting closer to being finished, and I'm so glad!

Summer Project #2

It was almost 10 o'clock at night and I started working on my second summer project. Darn that Pinterest!

I had seen on Pinterest several pins where a teacher took a twisty straw and could turn it into a little birthday treasure for their students. 

They looked like a Pinterest project that I could actually do...myself...and is very affordable thanks to the Dollar Tree. 

And a free printable from Morgan Lammert's TpT store. 

All I had to do was cut the ballon printable, tape it to the straw and then I was finished. Fancy that!!

I think my kinder kids are going to love them!! My next mission is to find a container to put them in.  

Happy...

For the LOVE of School Supplies

Oh my gosh!!! Nothing is more exciting to me in the summer than when the stores start putting out the new school supplies!! I've been stalking Target and Walmart for weeks. But today when I went, they were there...aisles and aisles of glorious school supplies!! 

I always have to reassure the people staring at me that "I'm ok. I'm just a teacher and I LOVE school supplies!" 

My older boys hide because I'm clapping and cheering. I try to be calm, but my plan always seems to fail me. 

Deals of the day:

Today at target I found 3 drawer towers in black with black plastic drawers. I bought four of them. I'm not sure what I'm going to use them for yet, but it was too good of a deal to pass up. 

Oooohhhh and at Walmart...

I found the sturdy kindergartener proof plastic folders. I use red for "Important Folders," green for writing and black folders for work folders. 

The 3 ring binders are for me and I am so in LOVE with them!! Black and white polka dots and chevron!! No way!!

Walmart price matched the Mr Sketch markers for $3.99 and the Crayola markers for 99¢. I think it's great that they price match and with a smartphone it is easier than ever. 

Today was a good day!

Liebster Award Nomination...

While on vacation in Branson with my family, I received some exciting news...

I was nominated for the 

by Cindy Price

Thank you Cindy!

To accept the nomination I must:
1. Link back to the blog that nominated me
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers
3. Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator
4. Share 11 random facts about yourself
5. Create 11 questions for your nominees
6. Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them

My nominees:

Mrs. Pletcher and Mrs. Baker at Kindergarten Pals

Cool Teach at Kindergarten Tales

Susan at First Grade Friendly Froggies

Krazy4K

Mrs. Olson's Lucky Little Learners

My Questions:

1. What is your favorite grade to teach?

I like to teach kindergarten through 2nd grade.  1st grade might just 

be my favorite, but it is the one I have taught the least.

2. What is your favorite time of year and why?

I L-O-V-E the fall! We have cool weather, it's football season, and it is when my

 husband and I started dating in high school.

3. What was your favorite trip you have ever taken?

My favorite trip as an adult would have been our trip to San Antonio with our boys.  

There was so much to do and they loved it!

4. What was the last conference you attended?

I rarely get to go to conferences anymore...I know cry for me please...I love to go! 

But, I think the last one I went to was in Salt Lake City which was also my first and 

only time to fly!! I went to the Waterford computer training.  It was a great trip!

5. What was the last book you read?

The last book I read was The Daily 5.  I love to read "teacher" books!

6. How do you relax during the school year?

I go to the gym and "run" and do the elliptical to relax during the school year.  

I usually get up at 4 and try to get home by 6:15 so I can get ready on time.

7. How long have you been blogging?

I have only been blogging a few weeks.  I still have no idea what I am doing, 

but I enjoy the challenge of it.

8. Where did you go to College?

I went to the University of Central Oklahoma for my B.S. in Elementary Education. 

 I went to Southern Nazarene University for my Masters Degree of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction.

9. What is your favorite product off of Teachers Pay Teachers?

OH MY GOODNESS!!! How do I pick one?? I LOVE TpT like L-O-V-E it!! 

I really like all of Cara's products! 

10. Do you use a smart board in your classroom?

I do use a smartboard in my room, but must admit that I used it a lot more

when I taught 1st and 2nd grade.

Random Facts about Me:

I have known my husband since the 4th grade.

I LOVE snowcones and in the summer get one just about everyday!

I am a Gilmore girls expert!

I have had a secret (ok its not so secret) love of Michael Jordan since 

the 6th grade.  You could say I'm his #1 stalker. lol

I have a "pinning" addiction and I don't want help for it.

I love snow...well I love the thought of snow not actually driving in it!

I am a Thunder fan...of course!

I cheer for both OU and OSU because they are representing my state!

I am a NBCT!

I work on school stuff when I am stressed.

I am not domesticated at all.  I can cook but house things...not so much!

Now Your Questions:

1.  Why did you start blogging?

2.  What is the crazy thing that has happened at school to you?

3.  Where would you travel to if you could go anywhere?

4.  What is your dream job/grade level?

5.  Why did you start teaching?

6. What do you do for fun?

7.  How many schools did you go to as a child?

8.  Who was your favorite teacher? Why?

9.  What is your class theme or how is it decorated?

10. Does your school do a school wide theme? 

If so, what is it for the next year?

11. Do you sell things on Tpt? If no, do you plan to in the future? 

What is your link if you do?