Are YOU Ready?!

At the end of the year I moved to a new classroom on the other side of the school.  I did a lot of the moving and work at the end of the year so I could enjoy summer vacation.

My room has been ready for quite some time and now I'm just waiting on you!  I can't wait to meet each and everyone of you.  We'll have a great year learning and having fun.

Here's what our room looks like!!

Here's the newest addition!  I made a teepee a few years ago but found this on amazon and just love the look of it.  It will be a great reading nook.  You just might find me hanging out in it too.

See you soon.

Welcome to Our Classroom

Here it is, squeaky clean and looking amazing!!  A HUGE thank you to the custodians who work through the HOT summer months getting our rooms ready.  I didn't even have to ask once if the wax was dry or if my room was ready.  They worked fast this summer.

Here are some pictures of our space and how I've set it up.

Outside Bulletin Board 

WELCOME!!

YES, I have a disco ball so we can have our 30 second dance parties!

We'll build our writing bulletin board together.

We'll begin with apples and take a trip to the apple orchard.

New comfy seat from Walmart.

So, I have debated and gone back and forth on how to place the shelf above in my room.  I've always had it out from the wall to create a reading nook.  I like it against the board because it opens up my classroom but I'm not sure HOW much I like it.  Plus, it REALLY needs to meet up with a spray can for an update!

I can't wait to meet each of you when you come in for the Observation Survey!  

Oh LOOK How My Room Shines!

I hope you're all enjoying the last few weeks of your vacation!!  My mind has been consumed with school again and making LOTS of lists.

My husband and I spent our summer hiking a bit and going to camp. July was a tough month for us. We lost our pup to cancer, which was very sudden and unexpected.  She was quite a spunky girl and we miss her lots!

I went to school this morning to spend the day getting my room arranged and organized.  My room looks SO big when nothing is in it.

Just look at those floors!!  So shiny and clean.  Our custodians do an amazing job at cleaning our entire school!!

So within just a few hours it went from the picture above to this...

I'm trying to find a new arrangement for my desks where students can easily get their materials.  I REALLY want to get rid of ALL the bins I have in my room so I'm hoping to keep their math manipulative kits, writer's notebooks, and science binders in the storage drawers.  I only bought one to see if I actually like the look of it.  It might take some time to get use to it but I'm going to give it a try this year.

The reading nook looks so cozy!!  I found the sign on the top shelf at Hobby Lobby and love the quote, "Kid, you'll move mountains."

I can't wait to meet all of you.  It's going to be a GREAT year.

What Have You Been Up To?

I think I'm finally on summer vacation mode!  I found myself asking what day it was this week.  I'm still up bright and early but there's nothing like kicking up my feet and enjoying a cup of coffee.

I've been busy working on a new color scheme for my room.  I've decided to go with blue chevron and I began changing things around a bit at the end of the school year.  Navy blue bulletin board paper, turquoise chevron border, and some pretty garland I found on Etsy. Pics to come soon.

My dad has been home visiting from Arkansas so what better way to spend his vacation (insert sarcasm here) than helping me build tables!!  Whenever I start a project he just never knows what he's in for.  It's always a lot of fun along the way and I definitely make it entertaining.

I've been wanting some SOLID work tables for my room so I asked for his help.  I just needed him to cut the angles with the "MANLY" tools. I found this DIY table here (Strawberry Chic).  She found a kid's table at Pottery Barn for $200 and decided to make one herself.  I built each table for about $40 (not including paint or finishing coat).

I like projects and consider myself quite handy so once the pieces were cut we built them and I painted.   I made a chevron template, taped it off with painter's tape, and painted away.  I started out only wanting two but once we got started I made a third.  I LOVE how they came out and can't wait to see how my room comes together.

A HUGE thank you to my dad for his help.  Every time I  look at them I'll think of him.  Awe...

Taming the WILD!!

Here's how I TAME the wild!!  I began using a Class Store (The Lyons' Store of course) when I began as a third grade teacher and I decided to continue it in first.

Each kiddo gets a wallet with a license at the beginning of the year. They all start with $25.  Kiddos earn money for classroom jobs and following our school motto of, "Work hard and be kind."

They can also loose money for inappropriate behavior.

Throughout the week I keep track (which is some work) of who earned and lost money.  Friday is pay day.  Students who had a job get paid and the kiddos who lost money pay me.

The Lyons' Store opens once a month.  I buy most of my items at the Dollar Store and also ask for parents to donate items.

They really like this system and are able to practice counting money.  

At first I wasn't sure about this system because students should follow the rules, work hard, and be kind.  Right?  I often tell my classes I didn't get anything for being good in school.  They truly have to earn the money and I don't just freely hand it out for expected behavior.

Next up, a team member found this behavior chart.  I had made one last year (not as pretty) but will be using this one this year.  Here's the link A Sunny Day in First Grade.

Set high expectations, be consistent, have a routine yet have those moments where they can let loose.  We have moments when we get up and have 30 second dance parties!

I feel it's so important to create community and spend time getting to know your kiddos at the beginning of the year.  The majority WANT to please you and most of the time the rest will follow!

I can't wait to see other ideas for classroom management!

Ode To Summah

As summer draws to an end I was compelled to take a moment to say how much she has mean't to me the last couple of months.

I can honestly say this is the first summer I've actually taken a mental break.  Don't get me wrong, I did bring a lot of work home but worked on it throughout the summer at my own pace.  I also added new products to my TPT Store.  I only went into school a handful of times which is SO unlike me!

There are SO many reasons why I absolutely love this time of year and I thought I'd reflect...

Gone will be the days of...

*Finally adjusting to not going 50 miles per hour

*No definite schedule, routine, or plans

*Sleeping in until 6

*Bathroom breaks throughout the day (instead of getting home and realizing how badly I had to go)

*Quiet mornings sipping my coffee (not one complete gulp)

*Not drying or straightening my hair (went the entire summer)

*Not having to get dressed (as in presentable)

*Camp days on my float and having a nice glow 

*Feeling completely relaxed

*FLIP FLOPS (every...single...day...)
*NO ironing (the one chore I could do without)

Now that vacation is winding down I do look forward to meeting my new kiddos and getting back into a routine!

I've been in this week buckling down and getting ready for the start of the year.  I LOVED seeing my shiny floor and clean room.

Here are a few pictures of it all put back together.

Our kiddos come back on September 3rd but I'll be completing the Observation Survey on August 28th and 29th.  I'll see you then!!

No Sew Teepee and I Made It in One Try

I'm not sure if any of you have seen this no sew teepee (AKA tepee or tipi) from The Handmade Home but I find it simply A-mazing!!

So what do you think I decided to do?  Of course, I decided to make one this weekend.  I think of myself as a pretty crafty person but I often jump into projects with no pre-planning.  Yup, I sort've just wing it and hope it comes out right.  Along the way there are usually some mishaps...not enough fabric, not the right size, not having all the materials, burning of fingers, put together completely wrong, and torn all apart only to begin again.  You get the picture.

Well, I went and bought some wood for the frame.  I thought wood was just expensive but my grandmother told me I got ripped off.  For 6 poles, which are 6 feet tall, it came to $30.  Not as cheap as I thought but maybe I just bought some REALLY special wood (I"ll just keep telling myself that).

For fabric, I bought colors that would match my room.  I went right to the marked down items and found many great patterns.

I began by putting the frame together.  I drilled holes at the top and tied them together with cord.  Of course I've NEVER made a teepee before so I just placed them until it had the right shape.

I cut fabric pieces and hot glued them to the wooden frame. I used MASS amounts of glue and even had to go back to the store today to buy more.  I just glued around the frame and added pieces as needed.

I'm quite impressed with how it came out (in ONE try) and can't wait to show the kids on Monday.  Oh, and you might be asking why did I decide to make this?  Well I plan on doing a camping theme in my room this week and was looking for a cute tent to add to my room.  They're REALLY expensive online so I thought I'd try to recreate one myself.

Here's how it looks.

As for how long it took...I put the frame together last night in no time at all.  The fabric took a few hours to get it cut and glued on just right.  Plus, I overloaded it with glue so it hopefully stays secure.  I'm hoping to collapse it and take it to school on Monday.  Fingers crossed it will hold up to 6 and 7 year olds.  Maybe I should reconsider...I could see it staying at my place!

Scaredy Squirrel's Adventure with Abby

Here's the latest edition of Scaredy's adventures at Abby's house!

Scaredy Squirrel Mascot

Check out Erica Bohrer's Blog to see her ideas for classroom mascots.  Scaredy Squirrel is going to be our classroom mascot this year and I plan on using the FREE packet she has made.  THANKS!!  I had to make a bag to go along with Scaredy Squirrel and his travel log.  I'm debating on if I want to paint him or just leave him the color of the bag.  Here's a pic!

Now...I need to find a Scaredy Squirrel stuffed animal.

Lyon's $$$...I Want Some!!

Lyon's Money has been a BIG hit in first grade.  I used this system in 3rd and thought I'd try it out with the younger kids.  Students get paid for weekly classroom jobs (ex. line leader, caboose, lunch bin carrier, errand runner, etc).

They can also lose money for not completing homework or for inappropriate classroom behavior.  At the end of the month the Lyon's Store opens and kids browse and shop!  This is a great way for students to practice counting and to make difficult decisions on if they should buy or save.

Most of the items for the store are bought at the Dollar Store but kids go wild!