My Must-Have's for the Week

Hi everyone!  I am linking up today with Doodlebugs for another Five for Friday!!

This was our first full week of school, so I can officially say I've got that under my belt now.  Here are some things that made this week run more smoothly.  

My morning coffee.  Let's be honest...I'm a coffee girl.  Always have been, always will be.  Keeping it real, though, my coffee was used more for a "must have" than a relaxing entrance to the day ahead of me.  To all you non-teachers out there, I'm going to share a little secret with you...teachers get just as nervous and just as tired out from the beginning of the school year as the kiddos do.  Thankfully, though, this teacher has her coffee.  :-)

Playdoh.  Moth to a flame, I tell ya!  You make some Playdoh available in your classroom, and you have some happy students!  This was their go-to this week whenever we had some down time.  In this center, we covered alphabet letters with Playdoh.

"Beach Bum for the Day"-- So we have a weekly Star Student in my class and I changed a few things around from previous years.  I have 1 star student for an entire week.  On each day of the week, they get to do something special.  On Wednesdays this year, they get to be "Beach Bum for the Day".  They get to sit at this table under the umbrella, in the  octopus chair, with a drink and cool sunglasses.  She LOVED it!  And the other kids are so excited to get their turn too!!!  

We read one of my favorite stories and did a project with it!  Chrysanthemum is one of a teacher's staples, right?  

Alphabet, alphabet, and more alphabet.  In this center, we rolled the alphabet dice and if we had that letter in our parking garage, we parked the car over it.  The goal was to get the whole garage full.  

Those are my 5 things for this week!  I hope everyone had a great week!  

Classroom Reveal Linky

I'm proud of my classroom this year.  I spent a lot of hard work and time up there, trying to get more organized, and pretty up my beach themed classroom this year.  I'm linking with My Carolina Classroom

To remind you where I came from, here is the picture at the end of May, last school year:

To theme or not to theme...that was my question this school year.  On one hand, I do believe that the littles enjoy a theme...I know my own children do.  They look forward every year to what their classroom is going to be decorated as, however, it is so much work (not to mention $) to change out a theme every year!  At the moment, I have about 5 themes that I rotate through.  But still.  My main goal this year was to use bright, summer colors...teal, turquoise, pink, lime green.  I LOVE those colors and I knew anything I did with those would be A-ok.  So next was the question of "do I theme?"  I did.  I had created a beach decor pack that is in my TPT store, and it also had all of those colors in it, add the fact that the beach brings me to such a happy place, so I decided to do that theme,  but to do it focusing more on the colors than anything else.  That way next year I can use the same labels, bins, etc.  So without further adieu, here are some pictures of my classroom this year!  Hope you enjoy.  Ooooooh wait, right off the bat, I want to credit Learning in Wonderland for the cute drawer labels, and Frogs and Cupcakes for the Math cute labels you will see on my bins, and Teacher at Heart for all the bright polka dot labels you will see on many bins throughout my room.  If I missed anyone I am truly, truly sorry--just email me and I will add you to the list! 
Ok, so here is my classroom:

This is the view from my entrance to my room.  Do you love the colors as much as I do?? 

Speaking of entrances, here is my door for now.  My extremely artsy coworker made the flip flop for me.  Isn't she great?!?  

Here is a shot to my carpet area.  I am going to do my calendar on the Smartboard this year, so I didn't need as big of a set up as previous years since it's all done on the SB.  I did feel it still necessary to put up the calendar and the hundreds chart.  We work with those in various subjects, and personally it would drive me nutty not to have a calendar on display.  The carpet is from Ikea and I have also purchased these placemat circles in my fun colors initially because I wanted them to bring these to the Smartboard while we do our calendar routine, but the more I think of it, I also like it because it gives each child their own personal space as well.  

This area will couple as my Math center in the afternoons.  The math labels again are from Frogs and Cupcakes.  

So, moving on...I asked for tables this year because we have a larger class than previous years and I've wanted tables for a couple of years now.  My wish was granted!  I am so psyched to try them out.     It's the little things, right?!?  

When I got tables, I knew I would have to have something to store their materials, and this is what I came up with.  I bought the magazine file holders from Ikea.   See how I decorated them here.  This will hold some of their journals.   I have storage for extra crayons, markers and glue.  

Here are the nameplates and center signs I am using!  They are also in my Beach Decor packet.  They come in all kids of sea creatures.  

Next is my play area.  

This couples as the listening center, which is stored on that teal stool. 

 Here is my desk area.  (please ignore the overflowing trash bins, I didn't realize they were in the pic).  I have some shelves in the back keeping me organized an sane, and the bulletin board will be where our guided reading strategies will go.  

Here is some of my writing center set up.  

And a closer look at my class jobs.

And my word wall:

This is how I organize all my theme books.  

And this is how I organize my resource books behind my desk.

I found the bins at Target for $1 back in Spring and LOADED up!  Love the colors.  I labeled with circle labels and cut scallops on my Cricut machine.  My new thing this year is attaching labels with rings.  It's brilliant really, so whoever I saw that from on Pinterest, many MANY thanks to you!  :)

That about wraps it up for me.  Thanks for being so patient and looking through oodles and oodles of pictures.  I am very excited to and happy to start this year off with a room that fits me and what I was looking for.  

I wish you all a fantastic year of teaching!  A year with perhaps less snow days than last year!!!! :)

A new year has begun

We are officially up and running!  School started for us on Tuesday, and we've been going strong since then.  Earlier in the summer,  the teachers were asked what our favorite Bible verse was.  Beings that I work at a Catholic School, I just assumed we'd share why we liked it,  or something of that nature.  I came in the Sunday before school started and was so impressed by everyone's favorite verse displayed next to their door.  It has only been up a week, and already mine has inspired me several times.

Sometimes for me this verse comes in handy when I am experience emotional loss, and sometimes for me I use this verse quite literally:  "God give me the strength to make it to the kids bedtimes."  As most of you know, I have 3 small kiddos, and I love them to pieces, but there are days they drain the energy right out of their old momma.  :)  Whatever the case, thank you thank you, THANK YOU to the administrator, and whoever else aided in this idea.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!

On a related note...how many of you Kindergarten teachers made it past 9pm on your first week of school?  I actually DID!  One of the four nights anyway.  :)  A.  I am not adjusted to waking up early again.  Do any of you say what I say a couple weeks before school..."I'm going to start getting up at school time the week before school starts to start getting my body adjusted AND I'm going to wake the kids then too so they aren't crabby as all get-out get adjusted to when school starts."  Ppppsh, did not happen for us.  I did wake up earlier than the kids one of the days the week before school, and I contemplating waking them up.  Let's just say, some quiet, me time won out!!!  

But B.  you forget how go-go-go it is with these little guys at the start of school.  

I have to share this precious photo I took of one of the kiddos at our "Quiet Time" period we have after lunch.

How sweet is that?!?  Just precious. 

On to our first week though.  I always enjoy meeting the new faces, getting to know all the kids.  And I love the beginning of the school year because the kids are so excited about everything.  New toys, new routine, new teacher!   

For all the teachers out there:  "Good luck and blessings to you as you begin the school year with all your new kiddos.  I hope you have a fantastic, inspiring, and fun filled year."

For my parents:  "You made it through week 1!!  Thank you so much for entrusting your children to me--I promise to care for them like my own!"

Meet the Teacher/Blogger

Hi everyone!  As we start a new school year, I loved the idea of Falling Into First blogger linking a "meet the teacher/blogger".  

So here is just a little background info on me.  I am married to a wonderful, WONDERFUL man!  We just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary not too long ago!  He's is in the Air National Guard, so my family is a part of that family as well.  We have 3 kids, all pretty young still.  A 7 yr old girl, a 4 year old boy, and a 2 yr old boy.  I love being a mom!  They are my world!!

Here's a family photo:

We recently went to Florida for a family vacation.  I don't tan, peeps, just burn as you can see in my pic.  :)

I have taught for 14 yrs now.  I have taught one yr as a resource teacher, I have taught 5th grade for 5 yrs and moved down to Kindergarten (I know--big jump, right? )  where I have taught for 7 yrs now!!!!    

 THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

Coffee cups--I'm a collector of cute coffee cups.  Leads to Dunkin' Donuts coffee, then.  Also, Sharpies, cotton/Linen scent, those carbonated flavored waters, comfy clothes, & book stores.

 IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

A Beach Bum, for sure!!!!  :)  But if I had to still work...I guess I'd be an interior decorator.  Love me my HGTV!!

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

Depends who you are asking I suppose.  I'm very private until you are in my inner circle.  So, I guess I'd say private, honest, and a little silly.  

 

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

"Can we please Curriculum Map?!?"
 

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

My previously spoken of "inner circle" would HAVE to be there. I'm not a big celebrity stalker AT ALL, but I love Scandal and Grey's Anatomy, so maybe if both casts come could that would be pretty darn awesome!

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

 An Endless Journey

 Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

 Hmmm, I'd have to go with being able to freeze things.  The world and time goes by WAY too quickly!!

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"--that's my serious, thought provoking quote.  
But for some reason this summer, you could catch me saying "haters gonna hate" quite often.  :-)

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

 Oh Geez.  NOT a public singer, but boy do I rock it out in my car!  I guess I'd go with "Home"

 Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

A morning person is when I am most productive. (minus summers)

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

I think I really like my Interactive Alphabet Notebooks.  They are new this year, so I am very excited to try them out with my class.

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU! 

I have a weird OCD about my counters always having to be cleaned and free of clutter.  It drives me MAD when they are full of stuff. 

********************************************************************

That is all I got, guys!  Thanks to Falling Into First for hosting this "get to know you" linky  If you would like to participate, click here.  

My 2014-1015 Classroom Tour

It's that time everyone!  No doubt about it.  I am here to share my room revamp this year.  I am linking up with Just a Primary Girl, to showcase my new room.

I put a LOT of work, and a lot of heart into my room this year!!  And I'm exhausted!  I hope you all enjoy.  To remind you where I came from, here is the picture at the end of May, last school year:

To theme or not to theme...that was my question this school year.  On one hand, I do believe that the littles enjoy a theme...I know my own children do.  They look forward every year to what their classroom is going to be decorated as, however, it is so much work (not to mention $) to change out a theme every year!  At the moment, I have about 5 themes that I rotate through.  But still.  My main goal this year was to use bright, summer colors...teal, turquoise, pink, lime green.  I LOVE those colors and I knew anything I did with those would be A-ok.  So next was the question of "do I theme?"  I did.  I had created a beach decor pack that is in my TPT store, and it also had all of those colors in it, add the fact that the beach brings me to such a happy place, so I decided to do that theme,  but to do it focusing more on the colors than anything else.  That way next year I can use the same labels, bins, etc.  So without further adieu, here are some pictures of my classroom this year!  Hope you enjoy.  Ooooooh wait, right off the bat, I want to credit Learning in Wonderland for the cute drawer labels, and Frogs and Cupcakes for the Math cute labels you will see on my bins, and Teacher at Heart for all the bright polka dot labels you will see on many bins throughout my room.  If I missed anyone I am truly, truly sorry--just email me and I will add you to the list!
Ok, so here is my classroom:

This is the view from my entrance to my room.  Do you love the colors as much as I do??

Speaking of entrances, here is my door for now.  My extremely artsy coworker made the flip flop for me.  Isn't she great?!?  

Here is a shot to my carpet area.  I am going to do my calendar on the Smartboard this year, so I didn't need as big of a set up as previous years since it's all done on the SB.  I did feel it still necessary to put up the calendar and the hundreds chart.  We work with those in various subjects, and personally it would drive me nutty not to have a calendar on display.  The carpet is from Ikea and I have also purchased these placemat circles in my fun colors initially because I wanted them to bring these to the Smartboard while we do our calendar routine, but the more I think of it, I also like it because it gives each child their own personal space as well.  

This area will couple as my Math center in the afternoons.  The math labels again are from Frogs and Cupcakes.  

So, moving on...I asked for tables this year because we have a larger class than previous years and I've wanted tables for a couple of years now.  My wish was granted!  I am so psyched to try them out.     It's the little things, right?!?  

When I got tables, I knew I would have to have something to store their materials, and this is what I came up with.  I bought the magazine file holders from Ikea.   See how I decorated them here.  This will hold some of their journals.   I have storage for extra crayons, markers and glue.  

Here are the nameplates and center signs I am using!  They are also in my Beach Decor packet.  They come in all kids of sea creatures.  

Next is my play area.  

This couples as the listening center, which is stored on that teal stool. 

 Here is my desk area.  (please ignore the overflowing trash bins, I didn't realize they were in the pic).  I have some shelves in the back keeping me organized an sane, and the bulletin board will be where our guided reading strategies will go.  

Here is some of my writing center set up.  

And a closer look at my class jobs.

And my word wall:

This is how I organize all my theme books.  

And this is how I organize my resource books behind my desk.

I found the bins at Target for $1 back in Spring and LOADED up!  Love the colors.  I labeled with circle labels and cut scallops on my Cricut machine.  My new thing this year is attaching labels with rings.  It's brilliant really, so whoever I saw that from on Pinterest, many MANY thanks to you!  :)

That about wraps it up for me.  Thanks for being so patient and looking through oodles and oodles of pictures.  I am very excited to and happy to start this year off with a room that fits me and what I was looking for.  

I wish you all a fantastic year of teaching!  A year with perhaps less snow days than last year!!!! :)