Twice in one day...oh my!

I had to blog again to share some more.

FREEBIE ALERT!

Remember earlier today I mentioned that focus wall??  Well, I made headers for it!  They can be used for the focus wall, objectives & essential questions and even your W.O.W. hall way displays.  I've made one for every content area, including every part of Common Core ELA.  I've made them in 4 different styles, all of which are included in the FREEBIE download on my TpT site.  I also must give credit where credit is due...the frames are all from The 3AM Teacher.  

Click here to download!

Focusing.

Things are coming together.  Yes, pre-planning starts in two days, but Im still working and I'll be working in to pre-planning to be 100% ready for this school year.  See, I have this issue with doing things better than perfect.  I can't just throw something together or leave something for later.  I do everything until it's completely finished and to my standard.  And I have high standards.  So, I pay the price.  Yesterday, I worked all day on labels, dividers, a PowerPoint and getting my reader's notebook together.  However, I am happy to say I completed these tasks and have them here to share!

First, I wanted to share pictures of my upscaled ugly plastic laptop cart.  It was dingy and dirty and yucky when I entered my new room.  So I cleaned it, draped it in fabric, added ribbon on the edge and applied contact paper on the top to give it a new life.

Also, here is a picture of how I displayed my class rules...

My word wall which is right above where my focus wall will be for all our "We Can" statements, both organized and displayed by content area.  I made them dots to match my theme!  ;)

My writing materials center, "The Write Stuff".  

NOW to share my stuff!!  First up is my PowerPoint for introducing classroom expectations.  I've saved it in PDF format in Google Docs because the font I used will not transfer over in otherwise.  The version in Google Docs does not have my name on it. ;) You can bring it up on your interactive whiteboard and delete the slides you don't want or use it as a guide to create your own.

Classroom Expectations- in Google Docs

A Little Each Day

I've been working on my room each day since returning from Arizona on Thursday.  I finally got my $16 couch completed and in my room (SO EXCITED)!  Remember this?

Well here it is completed in my reading area.  The reading center is not finished, but the couch is! I got that maroon suede slip cover...for $29!  The pillows are covered in a regular pillow case I got at Wal-Mart for $1.97 each.  Houndstooth nonetheless!  

Love. It.

Oh and notice my DIY No-Sew classroom curtains!!  Here's a close up...

I also FINALLY painted that free bookshelf I got from a neighbor.  It isn't in my room yet, but here it is...

It looks SO much better black.  

AND I was able to make the curtain and hang the fabric to cover my back bookshelves behind my desk, hang my DIY file folder pocket chart and wrap my desk!  My desk area is just about finished...I just need to organize and unpack everything to put inside my desk.  Right now it's all on top and in a tote.  I think it's looking good though...

There are the other set of those curtains!  My desk is wrapped in regular wrapping paper I found at Hobby Lobby, black with white small dots and large red dots.  It really makes it a whole lot more appealing than a yucky metal desk!

I apologize if some of the photos are blurry.  I used my iPhone.  Sometimes it's pretty good...and sometimes, not so much.

Tomorrow's goal is to cover my boards, hang my rules and clip chart.  ;)  I'll post more pictures of all that and how I organized my supplies, crates for journals and folders, how I upscaled my disgusting, old plastic laptop cart, etc.  Here's a preview of my labels...

More Pinterest Crafting!!

As promised, I made the DIY No-Sew Classroom curtains today.  After a trip to Hobby Lobby for $0.99 bandanas and stitch witchy, I tried it out.  They were SO easy, took me about 30-45 minutes to do all 20 panels, and came out so cute!  BUT, of course, I put my own spin on them and added 2” grosgrain ribbon at the bottoms of each of the panels for added cuteness.  Here are some pics....

How To Make No-Sew Curtains

Curtain Panels - before and after

DIY No-Sew Classroom Curtains

Where did I get the idea from?!  Why Little Miss Kindergarten on Classroom DIY, of course!  Here’s the link to the “how to” and Little Miss Kindergarten’s blog....

Classroom DIY: No-Sew Curtains

Moving Day!

Today was the big day...moving day!  Well, moving in that is!  Yes, I moved all the stuff I’ve compiled since learning that I’d be moving up to 3 rd grade in to my new classroom today.  Well, I actually placed the totes in the classroom and spent the 4 hours that followed cleaning out and moving out the prior occupants belongings.  Grrr!

You read that correctly.  I moved out the last teachers belongings. Actually, what was left of them.  BUT there was enough left in there to take 4 hours for me and 2 helpers to move it all out in to the hallway (as suggested by my principal).  I hope she isn’t mad when she comes back to school!  In my defense, I emailed a few times over the last few weeks, waited, and then called twice yesterday and today.  No answer, no reply, no response.  So, at the suggestion of my administration and academic coach, I moved it all in the hallway!

So now, I’ve cleared the space and the real “moving in” can happen!! Tomorrow, that is.  I’m exhausted!!  Did you know that moving furniture, cleaning and carrying boxes for 4 hours burns over 1100 calories?!

AND I BOUGHT A COUCH FOR $16!  Yes...a couch.  For $16!! A nice little Goodwill special, 50% off because it was today’s chosen color!  ;)  I cannot wait to cover it and make it match my room.  I will definitely be posting pictures of THAT project!

The plan.  My plan for tomorrow is to return to school and clean everything.  De-dust, de-funk, and de-stink EVERYTHING!  ALSO...tomorrow I’ll be trying my hand at no-sew, DIY curtains for the classroom, thanks to DIY Classroom blog!  Pictures to follow of my adventures with stitch witchy...


P.S.  Here’s the couch I got for $16!

$16 before...