Monday, July 30, 2012

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!

26 comments:

  1. Nicole! Your room is PRECIOUS!! I LOVE the black and white polka dot theme...and the contact paper circles are BRILLIANT!!! So cute!!! I want to be in 4th grade! :)

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  2. Your room is adorable. It looks so well put together. I love the colors. You should be so proud of your hard work. Enjoy a fabulous school year.

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  3. Very cool! Thanks for sharing. How do you feel about posting student data?

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  4. I think the data definitely motivates the students. I am excited about including some of this information so that all the students can see it. Nothing I post will pinpoint any one student...it will be a "class" thing. It is my hope that everyone will want to do their part to increase the "class average" or score. :)

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  5. I am absolutely crazy over your polka dot decor!! LOVE them Nicole! :)
    Lisa
    Learning Is Something to Treasure

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  6. Thanks for the quick response. Posting data is something I've always had mixed feelings about and I like to hear what other teachers think. :)

    The Science Penguin

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  7. Very cute room! I can't believe you start on Monday!! We have 1 more month til we see kids, which is a good thing because my room looks like it's been in a tornado! I am your newest follower. I'd love for you to come over and check out my blog!

    Katie at Sixth Grade Scribbles

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  8. Your room looks great! Super adorable and the polka dot theme is perfect!I'm sure it was a ton of work but you make it look effortless! I would love it if you stopped over at my blog and checked out my 100 follower giveaway when you get a chance.
    -Jaime
    Bright Concepts 4 Teachers

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  9. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G
    I love your room!
    I learned some new things too - dipping fabric in liquid starch!
    I am your newest follower-come check me out too!!

    Angie
    Timeouts and Tootsie Rolls

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  10. I love your classroom! I too am going with a black, pink, and green theme, but not specifically with dots! It looks amazing!!!

    Jessica
    Fabulous and Fun 4th Graders

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  11. Wow, your room looks great! It makes mine feel so bare! You have worked so hard in here and your kids are going to love it! :)

    Samantha
    Mrs. Kelly's Klass

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  12. your room is beautiful!

    newest follower!

    Hodges Herald

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  13. Your classroom looks so great! You really did a super job painting those shelves.
    I am your newest follower!

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  14. oh it's so, so pretty!!! I love the black and white polka dots! Ginger's signs look fabulous on the wall! I'm excited you could use the pencil sign--thanks for linking back to my site. Ok, off to admire your photos again--congrats on an amazing job!! :)

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  15. I would love to be a student in your room. It is so fun! Love the colors and polka dots!

    Learning With Susie Q

    susieqsclass@gmail.com

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  16. wow love the polka dots....so cute...im your newest follower...drop by =)


    justwildaboutteaching.blogspot.com

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  17. I love polka dots, too! I just found your blog via No Monkey Business: Just Bunches of Learning & am your newest follower.
    Storie
    Stories by Storie

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  18. Your room looks awesome!! I am your newest follower.


    April
    Wolfelicious

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  19. Your room looks awesome!! I love the theme! And I think I might need to use your idea of re-doing the mailboxes. Mine look awful (and boring)!

    Sara :)
    Smiling In Second Grade

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  20. So pretty!! Thanks for sharing your pictures!!

    ღDeAnne
    First Grade and Fabulous

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  21. Your room looks wonderful! I am so inspired by how organized you are. I am a fellow fourth grade teacher too! I love to connect with other upper grade teachers. I am your newest follower and I am about to go back and read some of your other posts to see what other good ideas you have!
    I would love if you followed me back!
    Layla

    Fancy Free in Fourth

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  22. I nominated your blog for an award! Visit my blog to accept it :)
    ~Amy
    Sixth Grade Sparkle

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  23. I love your room!! It looks welcoming and ready to go!!


    Aimee
    aimee@vanmiddlesworth.org
    Pencils, Books, and Dirty Looks

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  24. Everything is looking great! I love the polka dots!

    Katie
    Dirty Hands and Lesson Plans

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