Classroom Tour and TPT Sale

This week has been so busy getting my classroom ready!  I can't wait to show it to you!

This is absolutely my favorite part of my classroom... my classroom library!

I wanted a cozy space that was well organized for the kiddos.  The baskets are organized according to Genre but if I have a lot of one specific series (i.e. Junie B. Jones) then they get their own basket.  My classroom didn't have any bookshelves but I bought these beauties at Target.  I'm wanting a 5th one to replace the silver shelf to the left.  It's on my list of things to get at some point.

I also wanted a place to hang our anchor charts.  I used glittery clothespins from Michaels and hot glued tacks on the back so that they would go into my bulletin board.  

My filing cabinet displays where students will choose lunch each day.  I got the wire "Flat Stanley" from a yard sale a few years ago and that's where I will place any of our mentor texts.  My boyfriend's mom is currently making a cover for the shelf that isn't sheer but this will do for now.

The back displays inspirational quotes from Hope at 2nd Grade Shenanigans.  The large cabinet will be where I place all of our SS terms to know for each unit.

Don't worry!  There will be a table skirt around that table on Monday!  YIKES!  But it's a great place to store items until I need them.  On top, my shelf from Big Lots will house all of my station items for ELA.  I will also display our Editor's Checklist as we compile it throughout the year.

This is what the front of my room looks like.  To the right is my teacher area.  I'm loving my cursive alphabet from LadyBug Teacher Files.

I love my Cafe board!  I got the printouts from LadyBug Teacher Files.  We will velcro the items to the ribbon as we talk about them.

I bought frames and Hobby Lobby and this is where I will write the Essential Questions each day!  I added magnets to the back of each of them because I knew this is where I wanted them!  I love the way they turned out!!

Each grade level has a theme for the hallway and 4th grade's theme is "Hollywood/Movies!"  So I talked with some friends at the local movie theater and they were nice enough to donate these posters!  Everything else came from Party City.

I looked on my TPT account today.... I have 43 items in my TPT wishlist.  These are 43 things that I've been wanting, wishing for, and dying to use in my classroom.  How many are on your TPT wishlist?  This weekend is a great opportunity to get some of those items... during the TPT Back to School Sale!

{Thanks to Krista from The Creative Chalkboard for the cute sale sign! :)}

All of my items are 20% PLUS you can use the Promo Code: BTS13 for additional savings!

Smiles and Snapshots! :)

Blogger Exchange and an Organizational FREEBIE!

I can't believe that I go back to work this week.  We can't get into our school tomorrow and Tuesday is our last day of summer vacay before Teacher Workdays begin on Wednesday.  I am going to TRY not to go to the school on Tuesday.  I'd rather lay in bed all day in my pjs and watch reruns of the Big Bang Theory.  I'll let you know how that one goes! ha.

I talked my mom into going with me to my room on Friday and helping.  With my foot still recovering from surgery, I am not able to really stand on anything and get things hung up.  My mom was a HUGE HUGE help!

I have a little bit more to do inside my room and hopefully my next post will be a tour of the finished product! Wahoo!!!!

Did you participate in the Back to School Blogger Exchange?

I was paired with Amelia from Where the Wild Things Learn!  She sent me some great goodies to start of the school year!

Thanks Amelia! :)

I love organization.  I love having everything ready and in "its spot" so that I can easily get things ready  for the week.  I bought these a few years ago.  It's 2 Sterlite drawer organizers stacked on top of one another.  I've always reserved the top 5 drawers for Monday-Friday and the 6th for "Next Week." 

I decided to jazz them up a little this year.

I love the way they turned out!  You can grab this freebie { HERE! }

Smiles and Snapshots! :)

Monday Made It... on a Tuesday

The summer is certainly winding down and I (like you too, I'm sure!) am busier than ever! I spent the day trying to work in my classroom.  My poor boyfriend had to go with me and listen to my ranting as he put together several items (2 shelves and a desk chair).  Couldn't have done it without him!

So I'm linking up with my first ever Monday Made- It... on a Tuesday. 

Better late than never, right?

I LOVE birthdays!  I always like to give my kiddos something to take with them.  I found these pencils at Walmart for $1 a pack.

I found these super CUTE printables from Lucky to Be In First!

I cut each of them out and attached them to the pencils.  I will put them in my clear paint can from Michael's so they are easily accessible on birthdays.

Another thing I've been working on are my Goodwill finds.  I got 2 of these chairs for $5.50 each.  I didn't really like the khaki color and wanted something a little more fun!

I spent a few days sanding them.  (I have decided that I strongly dislike sanding!) And found this fun color at Home Depot.

I cannot wait to put these in my classroom library!!!!

And then I decided to jump on the "Teacher Toolbox" bandwagon.  But I have wanted one for my desk and one for my guided reading table.  I brought really bright scrapbook paper from Target and used a template that I downloaded from Fun in 4B.  I love the way that they turned out.

Evidently, I've been feeling extra crafty lately!  

I spent the weekend with a wonderful group of bloggers!  Amanda over at Teaching Maddeness put together a great SC blogger meet-up where I got to meet a lot of the bloggers that I currently follow.  I also got to meet a lot of bloggers that I now follow! :)

Brooke from Whooo's in Second?

Sarah at Education Electrification

Diane at Fun in Second Grade

Heather at Room 4 Imagination

Elisabeth at Twins, Teaching, and Tacos

Amber at Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher

Natalie at Teachery Tidbits

Kim at Thanks to a Teacher

Kris at The Poole Pages

Brandee at Creating Lifelong Learners

Ginger at GingerSnaps

Rachel at The Tattooed Teacher

Elizabeth at Fun in Room 4B

Ashley from Primary Teacherhood

Tammy at Life, Love, Literacy

Emily AND Kerry at Third and Goal

The Charleston girls - so jealous of your location and loved talking with you at lunch.  I say we have next year's meet-up in your zip code! :)

Lauren at The Sweetest Thing

Jeannie at The Second Grade Surprise

Lana at 4 The Love of Teaching

Amanda at Teaching Maddeness

Go check out some of my new bloggy friends! 

Smiles and Snapshots! :)

August Currently

I'm confused. It's August ALREADY?  Where did June and July go?  I have no clue but I've spent the day at my new school in my new classroom and I am so excited!  To celebrate, I am linking up with Farley for her Currently!

 

 

Listening:  AGT is on.. same episode as last night.  Really I'm just killing time until Big Brother comes on at 9!  Anyone else addicted? 

  Loving:  So this week I OFFICIALLY became a Thirty-One consultant.  I'm stoked!  Interested in getting a new teacher bag for this year or a new thermal tote for you or your child?  Don't have a consultant?  Interested in having an online/catalog party even if we don't live in the same state? Visit my site: https://www.mythirtyone.com/388439. (or email me at longc2013@gmail.com)     ( Shameless plug OVER :) )   Thinking:  I am so excited about attending the SC blogger meet-up this weekend in Greenville. I have never been to one but I am looking forward to meeting some awesome teachers.   Wanting:  I am seriously in overload with ideas for my classroom thanks to Pinterest, instagram, all of the blogs I stalk.  I have zebra again but adding  a lot of neon throughout.  Do you have a theme or color scheme this year?   Needing:  I love my little Scotch laminator and I LOVE laminating stuff.  However, I have a deep hatred for cutting it out.  Ugh!   B2S Must Haves: 1. teacher bag: thirty-one of course! 2. EC planner:  What did I EVER do without?! 3. Post-Its:  There is just something so wonderful about opening up a new pack of colorful post-its!  I love lists so it's right up my alley!   Alright! Go link up!   Smiles and Snapshots! :)

Latest Back to School Purchases

 Loved this ecard!  I am loving planning for my new classroom but I will be sad when summer ends!!!!

 

GREAT news!  I finally got my cast off!  WAHOO!  Now it's on to physical therapy and learning how to walk again but I've been promised that I will be walking without crutches by the time that teacher workdays start.

 

Recovering from this surgery has made me one heavy duty online shopper.  Here are a few things that I purchased...

 

 

I had to have this chair for my classroom.  They are currently on sale so I ended up buying 2.  They will be great in my reading area.  Sorry the picture looks a little blurry!

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Big-Joe-Bean-Bag-Chair-Multiple-Colors/20525956

 

 

 

Next up are these baskets for my classroom library.  For the past 3 years I have been using dollar tree baskets that break like crazy!  Those were cheap but I needed to spend a bit more money this time to get something that will last a little longer.  These come in packages of 6.

http://www.target.com/p/room-essentials-medium-stacking-basket-set-of-6-black/-/A-14484319#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=room+essentials+medium+stacking+

 

 

 

Anyone else love livingsocial deals and groupon?  A few weeks ago I bought a living social deal... $10 for $50 of products on Vistaprint.com.  I've been browsing and browsing and browsing but I decided that I would get stamps for my classroom.  The first one says "Miss Long thinks I am awesome!!!!" and the 2nd is for parent signatures.  I'm in LOVE with the 2 that I created.  I can't wait to use them!!!

 

I raided Goodwill today and bought several things for my classroom.  I love a good bargain! I can't wait to post my newest project! :)

 

Off to finish watching this "Law and Order: SVU" marathon! :)

 

Smiles and snapshots! :)

Favorite Pins Friday and Giveaway Winners

I am O.B.S.E.S.S.E.D. with Pinterest.  It has gotten even worse since I’ve been in a cast all summer.  I’m ready to get some Pinterest projects going for my new classroom at my new school!  WAHOO!  So just to justify all of this pinning I’ve been doing lately, I’m linking up with Cara at First Grade Parade to share some of my favorite pins!

 

 

Teaching Pins

http://firstgradefresh.blogspot.com/2011/09/literacy-work-stations-launch.html

I love this!  I really want to do some sort of focus wall/main stage in my classroom this year!  It would be a great way to display the learning objectives for the week.

 

Food Pins

http://www.ziplist.com/recipes/1488136-Skillet_Chili_Mac?spJobID=319062858&_szp=419489&spReportId=MzE5MDYyODU4S0&spUserID=MzM3MTU5MDQwMDcS1&spMailingID=5465196

YUM-O! And it uses ground turkey which I love!

 Quotable Pins

http://spiritualinspiration.tumblr.com/page/3

This is the perfect quote for me.  So often I worry about things but this quote reminds me that I need to have patience because God may not be done with exactly what I’m going through. 

 

http://www.inspiredbycharm.com/2013/01/lessons-from-amy-poehler.html

I love to be silly… especially in my classroom.  It helps me connect to my kids.  Hey, if I have to teach nouns and verbs by making up a silly song and marching around my classroom in a witch hat, then so be it! 

Products

http://craziestgadgets.com/2010/11/12/the-dipr-is-an-oreo-dunking-spoon/

This is absolutely going in my boyfriend’s stocking for Christmas this year!  How cool is this?!

 

And my giveaway ended last night!  A special congratulations to Pauline and Lauren.  Pauline received my Detective Theme Classroom Schedule Cards and Lauren received my Common Core Writing Curriculum!  Didn’t win but still have your eye on something in my store?  Well, I’m having a sale so go ahead and grab what you need!

Smiles and Snapshots! :)