Some weekend projects...

So this weekend -- no matter how hard I try to resist doing "teacher stuff" -- I just cant. My wonderful step dad and boyfriend helped me starting building my shelves yesterday (2). We stained them and will assemble them today. Well--he may assemble them--I may take a day to sit by the pool :) :) Will post pictures when they are done. My classroom provides built ins--but not enough to store my book baskets for my reading corner or my listening center. Paid 70$ for the pine wood at the lumber store down the street. Not bad considering most book shelves are ridiculously overpriced and use horrible wood.

While my step dad (yes, yes I live at home still -- and my parents love to be involved in everything I do) was at lowes picking up some screws for the shelves, he came across the CUTE chairs. They are little bit smaller than the chairs my fourth graders usually sit in--however, they are very strong and they fit in so well with my "Library Park" theme--I was going to go with a children's park bench--but guess what?? These chairs with $7.36 a pop! Hope they make my student's bottom's happy!! :)

 

Also--my girlfriend dragged me to the mall the other day  (literally---didn't want to go, all my money goes to my classroom instead of my wardrobe right now) --and we came across a brand new store, HOBBY LOBBY! May be my new guilty pleasure. I went to Michaels 5 minutes before I walked into this store--NO COMPARISON (even with the teacher discount!) I bought replacement adhesive pads for my cricut, replacement blades, 3 packs of cardstock paper, paint, an unfinished wooden treasure chest and crate (for brain bubbles) --all for....GUESS???? $40.00 --This would be almost impossible anywhere else. Replacement blades alone are normally 10 bucks. This place was absolutely insane! If I had a house to furnish, this is where I would be shopping because all their decor is the absolute cutest. 

My brain bubbles crate is a tiny bit smaller than what is on Tonya's site--but I painted it a nice "Morning Blue". I also did the treasure chest in a bright bright metallic gold color. However--I need help on this one. I am not too sure how I want to implement this in my classroom. Any ideas?? My school already does tickets with our mascot on them to implement PBS--kids get called down every week or so. So--I definitely don't want to be managing the passing out of two different ticket types...I was thinking maybe those students who "stay on green" all week.  THOUGHTS??? 

P.S. How do I get my blog around? I want to be able to share more things with everyone--at the same time I want more people to share with!! I am not too good at this blogging bit yet...but I am getting there! Still can't figure out how to display the grab my button thing everyone has got going on. I grew up in the computer age--you think I would know.


Off to the pool---excuse any spelling/grammatical errors--quick post for me! Last week of summer school for me this week! Everyone enjoy summer while it's still here!

Oriental Trading came in today!!!!! :)

So after I spent my entire morning at the teacher center laminating and printing a bunch of wonderful items from fellow bloggers--I came home to find that my oriental trading order came in today! Yay! Below are a few pictures--will look so much nicer once they are in my room!

  

This is my classroom management piece--I will attach the cars to clothespins and put their names on them. All laminated--yay!

 So cheap on oriental trading! Great for probability lessons and all types of math fun--even fractions! Love the foam--you know how annoying regular dice can be on desktops!

 Cute file folder boxes--couldn't resist! Matched the theme so perfectly.

 Fraction cubes (blow up)

 Number Tiles

 Traffic lights (3) to hang from ceiling for our classroom community!

 Store all my deco junk!

Word Wall letters (not popular for 4th grade I have noticed many teachers do not do word walls, but I am going to give it a try! I still think it's super important!)

Can I get a holler back to all those teachers who are addicted to making their classroom as cute and homey as possible?? I need to quit. Hopefully--since this is my first year--I won't need to hit up the stores as much next year!

Classroom Theme/Management System

This year, I have decided to implement a "Community of Learners" theme. My outside welcome board will read "Baltz's Community of Learners". On this board I will create a town-like setting--with a train riding throughout the town. On the windows of the trains will be the students' faces/names following a "We all pull our own weight" saying. On my door will be an interstate sign "C-103" with a highway to success motivational saying. This is what I have planned for the inside thus far: Library Park (reading corner designated with children's park bench and mini park light), City Hall (by my desk with classroom jobs), Post Office (student mailboxes as well as completed work bin), Recycled Word (put overused words into recycle area to come out with a new, better word of choice!), Listening Station ("Fill up your ears with a good book"), Topic Train (topics of the week, skill, essential questions). For my student group tables --they will be designated by street name signs hanging from the ceiling. This will tie into my behavior management system.Traditional traffic light system that will be monitored using student car clips that have their names on them--with a little twist. "How's your engine running?" Most of what I have going on in my mind so far. So ready to get in my room and get to work! Below is the letter I have designed for students to send home to parents regarding the traffic light system. Props to my co-op for that idea!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! With school just around the corner--and being a first year teacher--the stress and overwhelming feelings have officially set in. With the help of many generous teachers on the blog I have been following--I have been inspired to share my ideas and creations with others! Teaching is truly my life right now and I am so excited to see where this year takes me.