Back to School Bash Week #2

I'm back for Week #2 of the Back to School Bash with some of my friends..

Week #2 is ALL about Meet the Teacher!

I'm going to be honest with ya.  Meet the Teacher freaks me out.  Seriously.

A whole bunch of brand new 3rd graders are coming to my new (and not even decorated.. yet) classroom with their parents and/or guardians to meet me.  I've never been good with small talk of any sorts, much less with a person I don't know.  I do much better speaking with 8 years olds than I do adults anyways.  Yikes.

I knew that I needed to simplify this night for myself, to at least decrease anxiety somewhat.

I tried to picture what my perfect Meet the Teacher experience would look like and then went from there.  My dream was for it to be fun, informative, and self-guided.

So how in the world do I make THAT happen?

The first thing was to take care of the self-guided part.  I bought these frames from Amazon.  They are actually from Ikea.  They were super cheap and came in packs of 3.

I decided to make signs to guide parents and students around my classroom for various things that had to be done.  I  figured I can also reuse these signs for table numbers after Meet the Teacher!  I used Neon Paper to match my theme and I love the way they turned out.  Simple, yet effective.

To increase my self-guided MtT extravaganza, I made the parents and students a "To-do List."

This lists everything that has to be done while they are there!  They can use the signs to guide them as to where everything is!  

Now to make the night informative, I display a PowerPoint on the board with everything that will happen in 3rd grade. 

I also set out a Meet the Teacher book with information all about me!

Parents leave with a contact card that can be placed on the fridge for easy access.

I also use a flipbook that I purchased from Heidi Neels (Flipping for First) that you can purchase HERE.   It is awesome!  I have already entered all of my information and it will be ready to go for MtT.

So on to the FUN!  If you follow Classroom Snapshots on Facebook (which you should, by the way!), then you saw my purchase of my fabulous new Selfie Stick.  I swore up and down that I would NEVER buy one.  Well, jokes on me.  We take LOTS of pictures in my classroom so this was a necessary item to have.  I am putting that bad boy to work on Meet the Teacher with a fabulous selfie station!   I have props that I bought off of Etsy a few years ago that I am going to include.  

I will also give them a goody bag or (this year) a goody CUP!  I bought dome cups like this for super cheap on Amazon.  I have enough now for next year too!

 I am going to fill them with shredded paper, a red tootsie pop, candy, an eraser cap, and a neon pencil to top it off.  I can't lie.  I did't make up this idea.  I saw it on Instagram.

*I CAN'T REMEMBER FOR THE LIFE OF ME WHO THIS CAME FROM. IF YOU KNOW, PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO THAT I CAN GIVE THEM A SHOUTOUT!*

So I guess with simplifying this for myself, I am getting more excited for Meet the Teacher.  I feel super prepared and am really looking forward to meeting my new kiddos.  I guess now that everything is in order, it will help me relax.

How do you feel about it?  Are you prepared?  Do you need help getting your Meet the Teacher night off the ground?  Meet my Meet the Teacher Pack!  Seriously.  It has everything you need to hold a successful Meet the Teacher!   Postcards, Contact Cards, the Signs for the Frames, the PowerPoint, the Meet the Teacher book, Sign in Sheets, Volunteer Forms, a Banner, the To-Do List...And it is compeletely EDITABLE! WOOHOO!

You can grab it HERE!

Well that wraps up my Meet the Teacher ideas.  Why don't you link up with us and give us your ideas?  We would love to have you.

An InLinkz Link-up

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am also participating in a Blog Hop this week with Heidi at Droppin' Knowledge.

We have 4 giveaways and they are pretty awesome!  Enter the Rafflecopters for each Prize Pack to win some pretty cool stuff!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

July Currently

I’m blogging two days in a row.  It’s got to be some miracle…. Or rather, SUMMER!

Today I’m linking up with Farley at Oh Boy 4thGrade to bring you July’s Currently.

*Listening:  Yep, I’m in a classroom.  I’ve been doing summer school for about 3 weeks now.  3 down, 1 to go!  I have been enjoying it, however, I am completely ready for a few days of doing absolutely nothing. {like stay in my pajamas all day… nothing!}

*Loving: I LOVE the 4^th of July!  There is something so spectacular about fireworks!  We plan to head over to my mom’s house this weekend and doing some BBQing, firework watching, and spending some time on the lake.  YAY!

*Thinking: So I’ll be honest.  I have been seriously lacking inspiration for my TPT store lately.  But this TPT Sellers Challenge has really kicked my tail into high gear.  As I was creating my product for this week’s challenge, I really thought of some great ideas that I plan to get rolling soon.  I talked about my latest product for this week’s challenge in my last post HERE.

Click on the picture to purchase this fully editable Ultimate Teacher Binder!

*Wanting: So Vegas is right around the corner and I am seriously jealous of everyone that’s going.  I’ve already told my husband that I WILL be going next year! 

*Needing:  Although I’m not going to Vegas, I WILL be going on a cruise in August RIGHT before those teacher workdays start.  I am SOOOOOO excited!  I haven’t been on a cruise in about 9 years. Oh gosh.  33 days and I can’t wait!

*All-Star: I would say I’m pretty good at listening and giving advice.  I’ve always been the type of person who people spill all of their problems to… even people I DON’T know.  Seriously.  Mom says I must have that “face.”  Lord help.

So what’s going on in your world?  Link up with Farley so I can see what is “currently” happening with you!

Smiles and Snapshots,

Courtney

Make Your Masterpiece!

Super excited about this week's TPT Seller Challenge!  The goal was to design a product for our stores.  I have been wanting to design a Teacher Binder for quite some time but I guess I just needed a nudge to get it done.  As I was completing this product, I definitely gained some inspiration for several other products that I would LOVE to create this summer!  YAY!  The binder is jam-packed with forms and  such that will keep you extremely organized throughout the school year.  I included EVERY form that I love to have and several more!

So here it is... 

You can grab a copy of this ultimate organization tool HERE!

Well I need to get into bed... almost done with Summer School!

Smiles and Snapshots,

Courtney

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! :)