A Little Secret About my Classroom Reveal.... A Welcome banner FREEBIE

Hey Dear Friends!

Since it's just you and me reading this post.... I have a BIG Secret to tell you.

*** I didn't redo or change my classroom this year.***

I JUST couldn't do it.  

1.  It gets too EXPENSIVE to change everything.

2.  Too time consuming. ( Seriously.... why didn't I listen to my family and friends who said that when your kids get older you actually have LESS free time than when they were younger.  It's TRUE, I tell you!   I'm in the middle of finding that out now.  I have 2 teenagers, a 9 year old, and a 4 year old.  Our Nissan Armada is now officially a taxi to sporting events, piano lessons, gymnastics, and so much more. ) Life is hectic and I don't have a lot of time to redo it all. 

 I FINALLY said it.  I feel better.

I did move to a new classroom this year, so my bulletin boards and etc may be in different places.  I even purged so much stuff at the end of the year.  ( Like those all those bulletin board pieces from 15 years ago!)  My filing cabinet no longer holds files.... I purged all of my paper files too.   I went digital!  My filing cabinets are the new home to games and activities that I use in stations.

Just for memory's sake you can check out last year's Classroom Reveal HERE.

I'll leave you with a few pics I took of my completed classroom for this year and a  Welcome banner FREEBIE I created with graphics from Melonheadz Illustrating.

 

Of course, with all the photos I took of my classroom, I forgot to take a picture of the Welcome Banner I created for the outside of my classroom.  You can grab this Welcome Banner Freebie HERE or by clicking on the photo collage below.  Enjoy!!

ONE more secret..... Did you know that TPT is having their BACK To SCHOOL Sale on Monday, August 4 and Tuesday, August 5?  

Everything in my store is 20% off.  If you use the TPT promo code BTS14, you get a total of 28% of everything you purchase.  Now is the time to stock up!   Just click HERE or on the photo above to check out the products in my store.

Introducing... My 2013-2014 Classroom!!

IT is finally finished!!!

I'm referring to my classroom.

I am doing the happy dance that I finally have it ready.

NOW to the hard stuff... planning.

I wanted to share some photos of my classroom.  I will try to provide links to items that are shown in the pictures.

Here's an overlook of my classroom as you enter.  My color theme is anything yellow, red, white and polka dots.

This is an overview of the other side of my classroom.  You can see the library to the back of the classroom.

This is a photo of my Brag Tag area along with the brag tag I made for the first day of school.  It's all set for my new group of third graders.

This is a photo of my Accelerated Reader bulletin board.  Students are given their goals for the quarter.  I have pitchers of lemonade with their names on them to move along the board as they work towards their goal of 100% ( met their goal).  I used Krista Wallden's adorable lemonade clip art for this board.

This is my writing center.  The bulletin board display comes from Miss Nelson.  You can click HERE to check out this FREEBIE.

Next to my writing center are the writing binders for writing workshop.  At the top are my writing posters that you can check out HERE.  Also shown is my Newspaper Station that is to the left.  Click HERE to check this out.  Hanging directly above the binders are writing topic cards from Lori Rosenberg.  Click Here to check these out.

This is my Common Core board.  I purchased plastic pockets from the Target Dollar Spot to hold my Common Core Standards.  You can click HERE to check out these Common Core Posters.

Below the bulletin board is my portable word wall.  These are part of my "At The Lemonade Stand" Classroom Decor pack.  You can check it out HERE.

This is a photo that is above my teacher work area.  Shown are my birthday treats and birthday frame and homework club. Click HERE and HERE to download these freebies. Also shown is our classroom calendar and daily schedule.  These are all part of the Classroom Decor At the Lemonade Stand.  I also have posted by reading comprehension strategy posters.  You can click HERE to view these.

This is also part of my teacher work area.  This is where I store my teacher supplies since I am not using a desk this year.  There is a round table for working with students in this area.

This is also in my teacher work area.  There is a shelf that runs along the length of my classroom window. Pictured is my teacher toolbox, R.A.K. jar, my supply caddy, a sub tub, and copies for the days of the week.

This is our math board.  It comes from A Cupcake for a Teacher.  You can click HERE to check this out.

This is my classroom library.  The book baskets are labeled with items that come from my Classroom Library Kit.  You can click HERE to check this out.  Above the book baskets I have posted by reading genre posters.  You can click HERE to check these out.  Also shown in the far left are our reading pals.

This is a photo of all the items on need easy access to while teaching.  It includes the "Pick Me Pot" from a Cupcake for a Teacher.  Also shown are my All-Star Breaks.  Click HERE to check this out.  I also have our "Owl-Star" Kids Book Club sticks on this shelf as well.  Click HERE to check these out.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I loved showing you a sneak peek of my classroom.

My completed classroom.....

IT is finished..... my classroom set up that is.

I  have been working on this since early July.

My classroom design this year is Pinterest and teacher blogs inspired.

Thank you!!!! I wish I had "before" pictures of my classroom to show you.  

I LOVE how the new design turned out.

Take a peek.

This is one view from the doorway of my classroom.

Another view from the doorway of my classroom.

The library.....

Another partial view of the library...

The ladybug and dots calendar

The ladybug and dots cursive alphabet...

The math workshop board and my math word problem posters above the workshop board...

A view from my desk.. it's at the back of my classroom.

Another view from the back of the classroom..

Our meeting area is located in front of the Promethean board.  I forgot to take a close up of this area.

This is our "Bulldog Brag Tag" board.  I am out of bulletin board space so I used the door to

the front of the built in cabinet as a place for our "Brag Tags".  I just used the Contact hooks and numbered each one.  Students will be able to wear their brag tags on Fridays.  I purchased the necklaces from Image Stuff, but decided to make my own tags to go on them.  Below is a peek at the first tag each student will receive.  It has their name and our school mascot on them on one side. On the other side is the name of our school along with the  picture of our mascot.

This is a partial view of the writing center...

The CAFE board... I used the posters from  Ginger at  Ginger Snaps.

Just a little snapshot of a portion of my word wall that is below the CAFE board..

My Pinterest inspired bathroom passes and sign out sheets from the  Clutter Free Classroom.

My little classroom is ready and waiting for my new students ( 24 of them so far).

Back to School Night is Monday, and I can't wait  to meet  my students ( and their parents) the night before school begins. It's a great way to help students with those "first day jitters".

AND of course, with only a few days left before school begins, you have to have some time for fun. So my daughter and I did a little back to school shopping today.  She's SO totally not a shopper.   When I mentioned to her about having some mother/daughter time ( without brothers) to go school shopping, she says " Can we just pick something out online?" I just had to laugh.  I did manage to drag her into a few stores AND we had a lot of fun.

Since we are on the topic of shopping... did you hear about these fabulous back to school sales?

TPT is having a Back to School Sale on Sunday August 12-Monday August 13.

If you use the code below you will get an additional 10% off each item.

All items in my store will be 20% off for this sale.

Teacher Notebook is also having a Back To  Sale on August 11-13.  All items in my Teacher Notebook shop will be 30% off during this time.

I have already been filling my shopping cart with items that I want for my classroom.

This year's classroom theme.....

Okay.... I know I've said this SO many times but I absolutely love all the fabulous ideas that I have gotten from all of you this includes the theme for my classroom this year.  Before Pinterest and blogging, my classroom was bright and cheerful but definitely not as organized and all tied together as it will be this year. THANK YOU!!!  I'm so excited!!!  I've been fortunate enough to be able to get into my classroom this summer and start the transformation.  I've also had some help from my sweet daughter. 

So here are a few pics of my classroom theme this year.... I'm linking up with Corinna at Surfin Through Second for her Classroom Linky Party Theme and with 3-6 Free Resources.
Click on the buttons below to check out other classroom themes.  ( It makes me want a new theme every 9 weeks.)

I started this transformation this past winter.  I was inspired by Melanie's Schoolgirl Style design of polka dots and daisies.  I LOVE polka dots.  I just had to add my twist with some ladybug accents.

My theme is:  polka dots and ladybugs

First, I have a window that goes across the whole width of my classroom.  It's wonderful, but it simply had an ugly old yellow blind that covered it.  I had fabric to create a curtain covering this, BUT it was definitely time to bring this old, dusty thing down.  I ordered polka dot fabric from fabric.com for my window.  I simply hung it up using my favorite  teacher's tool ( hot glue).  I even made pleats into the curtain using hot glue.   Since my window is so huge, this is the focal point for my classroom. This was also the most expensive part of my classroom remodel. I ordered more fabric to create table skirts for two tables in my classroom this year.

I also ordered SchoolGirl's Style Polka Dot and Daisy Welcome banner that I hung using ribbon.  If you are interested simply, click the pictures below to be taken to the links to these items.

Next, I wanted to update all of my bulletin boards to match my theme. So I ordered these two borders to match.  I even ordered enough to use it as a border at the top of my classroom walls.  At my school, our classrooms are all painted white, so this helps add more color to the walls.
Below is a picture of one of my bulletin boards.  I used polka dot wrapping paper as the background and then the daisy border.  This is my Common Core bulletin board. It's a work in progress right now.

 Click on the pictures of the borders below to find out more  information about these borders.

I also ordered 5 of the tissue paper flowers to hang above my tables.

Then I created my own tissue paper pom poms in my theme colors to hang above my library.

I also created a teacher toolbox to match. You can get this kit for free in my TPT store.

I also made this Pinterest inspired birthday frame to help celebrate my students' birthdays. If you like this idea, you can find the kit in my TPT store.  It is sitting on top of the filing cabinet that is located behind my desk.  I also have a black wrought iron lamp with a red lamp shade next to this.  It looks fabulous!

I also needed desk tags, labels for my book boxes, writing binders,  and book labels for this year.  So I created my own to match my black and white polka dot with  red ladybugs themed classroom.  I haven't been able to hang them up yet, but I can't wait to see this finished product.  Here's a picture of the items.  If you are interested, simply click on the picture to be taken to this product in my TPT store. It is $3.00.  All you will need to do is print them on cardstock and laminate them if you choose for durability.

I also created alphabet posters to hang in my classroom as well, and calendar items that fit in my pocket chart calendar.  These are all in my TPT store if you would like to check them out.

Here's a pic of my classroom at the end of last year after I began working on the transformation.

 I can't wait to post new pictures at the end of this month of my finished classroom with the table skirts, completely transformed bulletin boards, new writing center, and remodeled library. School begins for us on August 13th, so I hope to have my classroom ready by the end of July in hopes that I can spend the last couple of weeks planning.

Don't forget to link up with Corinna and 3-6 Free Resources to show off your classroom theme.