I Love Polka Dots!

I have been busy working for the last week and a half preparing my classroom for the new year.  As I mentioned earlier this summer, I decided to go with black and white polka dots with pink and green accents.  Well, I finally have some pictures to share with you.  I am not completely finished....it's still a work in progress, but at least I COULD welcome parents and students in my classroom without being totally embarrassed.  Whether I am ready or not, Open House/Registration is this Thursday night and our first day of school is Monday. 

Here is what I have so far...This is a picture from the door. 

 I am so happy with the way these drawers turned out.  I bought these the day that I found out that I got my first teaching job ten years ago.  The TOTALLY didn't go with my decore.  They were primary colors, blue, yellow, and red. I just couldn't part with them though becayse they have sentimental value, so I decided to paint them.  Then I added polka dots to them.  I don't have a Cricut, so I used contact paper and the circle diecuts we have at school and ta-da.....polka dotted drawers.  The contact paper sticks on them well and doesn't take off the paint.  I LOVE THESE! 

Here are the black bookshelves I painted this summer.  The baskets I purchased a Walmart and added cute ribbon to dress them up. 

My learning target board.  Also, I saw on Pinterest that cute cupcake pan as an incentive.  I plan to use this in conjuction with our PBIS program. 



My Math Word Wall that I purchased from Ginger Snaps.

My comprehension posters courtesy of A Year of Many Firsts.  You can snag these for free here.  

 

My birthday balloons.  You can get the template for these here.  Thanks Brooke! 

 

 
My mailboxes were another purchase I made my first year of teaching.  Let's just say, they had seen their better days.  So, I recovered the insides with white contact paper, covered the outside with black duct tape, and made polka dots from the contact paper.  SUCH AN IMPROVEMENT!  :)  What do you think? 

 I love these sharpened and unsharpened pencil canisters.  I got the labels from Ladybug Files.  Click here to download them for your classroom.  Thanks Kristen!

Here is my ELA word wall.  Words from Ginger Snaps.  

 My desk.  I covered my desk with fabric and ribbon.  Simply dip your fabric and ribbon in liquid starch and "hang" it like wallpaper and let it dry.  I purchased my initials from Hobby Lobby and painted them.  (I am not digging the zebra folders...I have ordered black and white polka dot ones...they just have not arrived yet. )

 Super excited about the lamp...I have been eyeing it all summer long.  Hobby Lobby finally had it on sale for 50% off this past week. Woohoo! 

 Here is a better view of my desk. 

 These are still a work in progress.  They were originally white and I painted them black and added scrap paper to the front.  I just need to make labels for the drawers. 

 I am excited about this cute hanging file basket.  Perfect for all of my TpT units.  :)

 I have posted this wreath before....here it is in my classroom. 

I am SUPER excited about starting the Reading Olympians program this school year.  It is absolutely fabulous for teaching roots.  I plan for the students to hang their reading necklaces on tacks here. I will be posting more about this program as the school year progresses; however, if you want to check out my friends, Julie and Krista's program, click here. 

 Here are my genre posters.  I purchased them from Ginger Snaps. 

I don't know about you, but our district is big about setting goals with our students.  This is going to be my board dedicated to "Our Data".  I plan to post our class's average for MAP (fall, winter, spring), AR data, PBIS behavior information, etc. 

 See...told you it's still a work in progress.  I think this board is going to be my Calendar Math Board.  We use the Every Day Counts Math program to supplement our Math In Focus Program.  Once I get my bulletin boards up, I will post more pictures. 

Do you have a writer's eye?  I have seen these all over Pinterest.  This particular set came from Miss Nelson.  You can download this adorable freebie for your classroom here. 

This is another bulletin board that will be dedicated to Reading Olympians program.  I plan to post the roots we are working on for the week here.   

These are above my tables.  I have pink, green, and white.  I purchased the flowers at Polka Dot Market.  

So, you can see that I am not completely finished.  I think I will have it finished tomorrow.....well, as finished as it is going to get before school starts.  My classroom is something that I work on all year long.  :) This theme has been so much fun and one that I plan to stick with for a while.  I have decided it is too much work and too expensive to change every year.  This is IT for a few year.  LOL!  More pictures to come tomorrow. 

Happy Monday!

Christmas in July Sale Extended

I know that many sellers, including myself, promised a 20% off sale for today only.  Well, as you know the maintainance on the TpT site has take much longer than expected.  Due to technical difficulties, I am extended the sale for another day.  As soon as I am able to log back on to TpT and make changes to my store, I will extend the sale.  Thank you so much for your patience!  :) 

Christmas in July

It may be HOT outside, but many TpT sellers are cooling things off with a Christmas in July sale. For one day ONLY (July 25th), many sellers will be running a sale with up to 20% off. If you are like me, you have a wishlist or shopping cart full of back to school items. Now is the time to get those items at a discounted price. So head on over to TpT and shop until you drop! :)

Super Hero Writing Unit

Well, it's a Saturday night and I am busy finishing up a unit and watching reruns of Monk.  Yes, my life is VERY boring!  :)  I am excited to share with you my latest product.  If your kids are like mine, they LOVE Super Heroes.  I know they seem to be "trendy" these days.  This writing packet has FIVE different writing activities to choose from.  You can implement them in your classroom in a variety of ways.  You can allow your students to choose the activity they like the best, you can put them in writing centers and have the students complete all of them over a period of time, or you can have the students complete the one that you like best.  Regardless of how you decide to implement this in your classroom, I know it will be one that your students will enjoy. 

Here is a preview of the 25 page unit:

Click on the picture above to purchase this unit for $2.75.  However, for three lucky people you will get it for free.  All you have to do is be the first three people to leave a comment WITH your email address and  I will send it to you.  So....ready, set, go! 

Have a SUPER Saturday evening!

Burlap Door Hanger Giveaway!!

I know it's been a little while since I blogged.  I have been MIA for a while because I have been on vacation.  We went to Jamaica...my home away from home.  My husband got to celebrate his birthday on the beach.  This is us having a Bob Marley moment.  :) 

I am looking forward to getting into school mode.  I have been working on my classroom and a couple of products.  I hope to have those to share soon.  Meanwhile, I wanted to share this giveaway with you.  This is just adorable and custom made for you!

Nicole from Rowdy in Room 300 is giving away TWO custom made burlap sign hangers for your classroom door! 

Aren't these things the cutest?  I am so excited about them.  I just wish I was crafty enough to make them.  I did enter the giveaway. Go on over and enter too!

Enjoy your Monday!  :)