I have made it the ought the first two weeks of school. Procedures and routines are being learned. Now it is time to add a few more.  In that order, I have laminating and sticker charts to cut out. Feet up and DRV going, relaxing teacher style. ...

Have you heard the news? TPT is having a one day sale this week; Wednesday, August 20th. That's right, a second chance to buy all those things we missed during the first BTS sale. TPT is offering 10% off prices with the code BOOST. If you favorite seller is having a sale, you get the 10% on top of the sellers discount. Be sure to check out your favorite seller on Wednesday.   Did you buy a lot or a little earlier in the month. I bought a little. I couldn't resist this Color the Room set by Erin from Creating and Teaching. Many of my students aren't ready to write the room in August. Coloring is something they can do. Click on the picture to go directly to the product.  My wish list is always at least 3 pages long. The majority of the list is clip art, but there are plenty of activities as well. The Listen Up bundle by Fluttering Through First Grade looks like a great way to practice listening skills.  Finally, I added a new product to my store this w...

It is official. School starts tomorrow. Bright and Early! Ready or Not!  I am ready, well my room is at least. I really don't have a theme that carries throughout all my decorations. I like bright colors. I have started putting border around large displays on the walls. It adds a finishing touch to the display. It also helps the display stand out on the cream colored walls. This is the view from my desk. Complete with my Tervis tumbler. I drink iced tea all day. I have several tumblers that follow me everywhere I go.  This is the view from the door. We use tables for Kindergarten. I am using shower caddies to hold the scissors, glue, and pencils for the table. Each student will have their own box for crayons.  I have set my tables and chairs so that everyone will be able to see the piloting a 2:1 laptop program this year, so the kids will need to see the board. Lots more on that throughout the year.  Here is the reading corner. I found the little...

Oh My! There is so much to do for back to school. I could post something new for a month to talk about all the items I am creating and things I am doing. But I won't bore you. I have been using clothes pins on my bulletin board for a couple of years. It makes changing out the student work so much faster. As I was redoing the board this week a teacher stopped by and commented that the clothespins would be cute if they were painted. I completely agree, but decided to use washi tape instead. Less Mess!!  Here are my supplies all lined up. Hot glue gun, thumb tacks, clothes pins, and washi tape.  I started by gluing the thumb tacks to the clothes pins.  Once the glue dried, I put the washi tape on the other side. I found this tape at the dollar store. Primary colored hearts will match my bulletin board perfectly.  The little bit of color adds just enough to go from blah to cute. Add washi tape to your supply list. It is a simple way to add the cute. ...

I spent the day in my classroom. It doesn't look as bare as in the earlier post from today. There are no 'in progress' photos. I will do after shots next week. I have more to get ready than my room though. My goal for the year: Paperless. I have been trying to use Evernote more and more for personal and work related organization. If you haven't heard of Evernote , check them out. It is a cross platform organizational tool. Everything syncs, so your phone, tablet, and web versions are always current. I love using a really cute desktop calendar. A calendar app is perfect for recording important dates, but they just aren't cute. So I made my own. I really like the graphics from KHDigi on Etsy. They are bright and colorful. Just what I wanted. I use an iPad; with Pages I will be able to type right on each month. Just like a real calendar.  For my friends, I posted a PDF version on TPT. Click on the calendar cover or here .  Enjoy. ...

Here it is. All ready for me to rearrange and decorate. ...

I am a few days late, but with everything going on this month I shall not fret. I am joining the Currently Linky at Oh'Boy 4th Grade this month. It is my first linky. Listening: I am listening to my Broadway Musical playlist. Tomorrow?? I change playlists daily, I always have music in the background. Loving: My new computer, see post a few days ago. :)  Thinking: About my classroom and the school year. I have rearranged my room at least 5 times. Wanting: I have lists for Amazon and Home Depot. All for my classroom. FL gives us supply money in September, so everything is a want. Needing: My supply money so I can get the things I want. 1st Day: Me... 8/7               Kids... 8/18 ...

It seems early to be having a Back to School sale. Yet it really isn't. I have family and friends that all start school this week, the kids not just the teachers. Here it is, TPT's back to school sale. I am linking up with Nicole & Eliceo from Teacher Tips Around The World to share the sale with my fellow bloggers. Check it out here to see other fantastic stores on sale.  Happy Shopping.  An InLinkz Link-up ...

I really enjoy creating things, art, whatever you want to call it. I can't draw my way out of a box, but give me some materials and I am good to go. I have discovered I don't care what medium those materials may be, as long as I can manipulate the into something pretty. In my life I have tried my hand at quite a few things: hook and latch, sewing, photography, scrapbooking, card making, mixed media, painting, crotchet, probably some I have forgotten, and now digital design. Who knew it would be so much fun?!?!?! Clip Art, Design Elements, Digital Papers, Fun Fonts... all put together to make art. I am hooked. So what does this have to do with my classroom you ask? Read on.  One of my classroom goals this year is to blend play into the content areas as much as possible. It is so easy to get carried away with the academic expectations. I strive to make those interactive and engaging, but I want to add more play elements this year. Besides, I need to be reminded of that as...