Back to School Bash Linky Weekly Series AND Giveaway

I am so excited to be co-hosting the Back to School Bash.  We have 4 weeks of Back to School topics to discuss.  This week is Classroom Set-Up and Organization! 

 I am moving from fourth to third grade this year and I cannot wait to get in my classroom.  I left it looking like this... 

  

When I moved rooms, I just put things in places to get it off the floor.  There's just stuff EVERYWHERE!  I have to-do lists upon to-do lists of things that I need to tackle as soon as I step foot in this room.

Here's a picture of my classroom from the past 2 years.  It is a LOT smaller than my new room but I did my best to use the space wisely!  [Did I mention my new room has a bathroom?!  WOOHOO!]  These black 3-drawer carts that you see in each table group have been a life saver for the past 2 years.  

I taught 2 classes of 4th grade every day (ELA and SS) so group A left their Reading and Writing notebooks in the top drawer and the second drawer was filled with group B's notebooks.  The bottom drawer contained dry erase board made of page protectors and socks (for erasers).  The tub on top of the cart held the class supplies.  Each group was responsible for making sure the tub was organized before they left my room.

These seats have been a wonderful addition to my room!  They are what my students sit on when they come to my Guided Reading table.  

I spray painted paint buckets from Lowes.   The seats are made from padding that I bought in the Walmart craft section.  I used zebra bandanas from Hobby Lobby and duck taped them on.  They are super glue to the lid of the paint buckets.  They are a wonderful source of storage.

So apparently I should have purchased stock in Target a long time ago.  Seriously.  But that's where I picked up 7 of these cubes, expect mine are black.  

They are called "Itso KD Cube" and are $8.99.  Four of these fit so perfectly on my back counter.  I also have one under my desk and two by the door when you step into my classroom.  Coupled with the shelf ($4.99) in black and the storage trays (2.99) in clear, these are perfect for keeping track of classroom supplies.  

Each cube will hold four of the storage trays! This is where I keep all of the highlighters, post-it notes, index cards, scisssors, glue bottles, glue sticks, and the list continues.  
Here's a picture of what they looked like on my back counter last year.  As you can see, I slowly added to my itso KD cube collection throughout the year.  

  
I love to make copies at least a week in advance.  Then with all of those copies, I had a hard time remembering what copy went with what day, etc.  Especially doing interactive notebooks (IANs as we call them in my class), I would go crazy-town if I didn't have a way to organize that hot mess.  I bought 2 of the sterlite drawer containers and put daily labels in the front of them.  

These buddies make my life a WHOLE lot simpler.  Did you know they are a freebie in my TPT store?  Go grab them HERE.


And of course, I couldn't be organized without my handy-dandy Teacher Binder!  Every form I need is right at my fingertips. And did I mention that it's completely editable?! You can get this guy HERE!

 

What are some of your best classroom organization and set-up suggestions?  I can't wait to hear them!  Link up with us and make sure to enter our giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An InLinkz Link-up

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

Dare to Dream :)

What a school year it was this year!  It was just one of those years ... apparently everyone has one at some point in their teaching careers.  Is that even true?  Oh well.  I loved my sweet 4th graders but spent the year battling some things that seemed overwhelming at times.  I'm thankful for the summer... a time of reflection and rest. 

I'm also thankful for this TPT Sellers Challenge that has renewed my interest in some things that have seemed to take a sideline.  

Week #1 was Makeover Madness, where I was able to perform a much-needed makeover on my Reading Comprehension Bookmarks.  I've used these as a great tool to send home with students to use during their independent reading.  They have questions on them that give parents a guide.  These bookmarks are a great addition to the classroom as well.  I have added new clip art, new fonts, and a nonfiction bookmark.

Click on the picture to access the updated version in my TPT store!

Week #2 was Dare to Dream.  Such a great way to reflect on why I started this TPT store in the first place and what it has become and even more so, what I want it to become!

*Live comfortably: I would love to expand my business so that maybe "paycheck-to-paycheck" wouldn't be a thing? Ya know?  How great would it be to have some "fun money?" or maybe even "Courtney needs a new purse" money? :)

*Pay off debt: Between student loans and a credit card or two, I am in debt.  I would LOVE for that to be gone for good. 

*Travel:  I love to visit places that I haven't visited before... and trust me, there are a LOT!  I want to use my TPT money to pay for some trips for me and my husband.  And that would certainly include the TPT conference in Las Vegas next year!

Well, those are my dreams.  I want to pour into this little business of mine even more this year.  I want these dreams to come true because they are certainly obtainable.  What are your dreams?  I look forward to reading them.

Thanks to the ladies of the following blogs for hosting this challenge!  It has been a blast and I look forward to the next 2 weeks :)

 

 

Until next time.
Smiles and Snapshots,
Courtney

Blogging Hiatus = OVER

So I am hoping that my blogging hiatus is over.  August 17th of last year was the last time that I published a blog entry.  I decided to take a break from the blogging world and making things for my TPT store for a little while but that little while turned into an entire year.  I guess that you could say that moving schools and going from teaching 17 kiddos to teaching almost 50 kiddos (2 classes a day) kicked my butt.  And it did.  But I had a lot of other stuff going on.... 

1. I signed up for my next 2 Ed.S. classes.  Learning about teaching Reading has been amazing... busy but amazing!

2.  On Christmas Eve, my boyfriend popped out of a box in my living room and asked me to marry him.

3.  In April, we closed on our first home.  It's just a little paint, they said... It'll be fun, they said.  Um  we officially hate painting. :)

4. On June 28th, 2014 we got married and I am now officially Mrs. Wood.

So yes, it's not like I've just been sitting around neglecting the blogging world.  I've been busy.  However, I'm baaaaaaaaaack and ready to rock in roll!  To celebrate, I'm giving away something... something good.  You pick!

GO HERE to my TPT store and find something you would want to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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! :)