Classroom Reveal 2014 (Otherwise Known as I HATE Moving!)

Can I just tell you how much I HATE moving rooms!  At the rate I have moved, I should be an expert, but I’m not.  In my building, when you change grades, you move rooms.  Most of us are lucky enough to be able to stay in one spot, and I’m NOT one of those few. I have moved to 5 rooms in 10 years at my school, with the longest (and most favorite room) being 4 years.  It’s not the grade change that kills me, it’s this: 

The majority of my stuff!

My book shelves (loaded with books that we moved) and my paper station.

Most of my math supplies and some of my holiday decor.  

Yes, that is 21 years of crazy teacher stuff spread out all over my new room!  It only took us a morning to move everything because I was lucky enough to pack most of it the last few days of school.  I decided to put my units into plastic bins (which are in there somewhere) and that helped me a lot, especially on space.  I moved from the biggest closet in the building-it was big, like park an SUV in it big- to one of the smallest:

(this is tiny for our building) which was a whole different challenge for me!  That meant clean it out and pack it tight.  It took me 5 days to get this stuff put away (and a whole lot of Advil too!)  But I got er’ done!

Since I was moving grade levels, I also decided to change themes. That was the fun part.  Once the junk-um, I mean, teaching supplies-were put away, I started to decorate.  As I decorated, I loved the room more.  As I loved the room more, I began to “feel” the space and organize more and more.  So, here it is!  The “official” Room Reveal!  I’m loving it, and so are the kids!  

(Most of the Superhero products are from Susan Morrow)

The outside of my room!

And the inside.....

My meeting spot!

The calendar area.

This is what I face when I am sitting in my chair.  

Cute Cubby Numbers by Susan Morrow!

To the left of the cubbies is my desk. I don't really like this huge desk, but it is hiding A LOT!

My word wall!

My library with the computers behind it.  You can see the white monitors poking above the far books.  And, notice the fan.  It is a warmer classroom, so we need the circulation!  This week I had kids put some sweaters on, so that's a good sign!

The view across my room from the Word Wall area.

Great table signs by Susan Morrow

Birthday signs waiting for student's birthdays!

How We Get Home signs - freebie from a TpT Store.

Job Chart from Susan Morrow.  I made the star burst with Power Point.  

The board was all ready for Back - To - School Nite!  

Find Super Hero Giving Tree HERE! You can also see a peek of my rules, which are free HERE!

Super Hero Scientists!  Find them HERE!

This is also a product from another TpT seller.  It is editable and easy to use.

All ready for parents to take home a use to learn about our classroom!

Here are my essential question frames that I used in my other classroom.  What I did was create superhero pages to put inside! They work great!  You can download these for free HERE and HERE!

So, as you can see, I kept many of the elements that I created and used in my former room!  

Here's another look from the teacher desk looking forward. 

I have to admit, this was three weeks ago, so there are kids, messes, papers, crayons, markers and messy book shelves, but that's what makes it our space! I do like this room, and I'm coming to love it!  I just have to work on that closet space! 

And, so, with that, I leave you to enjoy your school year.  Let me know what you think and what you are doing in your classroom.  I'd love to hear about it!

I Made It Monday!

Today starts the 2^nd week of school for me, and, as I intended, I am writing a blog post.  However, it is NOT the topic I meant it to be.  This post was supposed to be about my classroom theme, not what I did all summer!  But, alas, I left my phone at school with ALL the pictures on it that I needed to make the post work!  So, instead, you get "I MADE IT MONDAY"! 

Lots of bloggers share "Made it Monday", showing off all the goodies they made for their classrooms throughout the summer.   I’ve decided to show you what I made to wear in my classroom for the school year!  This summer I rediscovered the seamstress inside of me!  I must say, it was like having therapy!  And, I look great to boot!  That’s a win win!

Here’s how it started.  I was in our local Walmart ALONE and decided to go down the newly reinstated material and pattern isle!  I started looking through the pattern book and, to my surprise, was amazed by the very stylish  patterns that we in it!  One of the reasons I stopped sewing was because the patterns were not keeping up with the fashions of the time!  These new patterns were awesome!  It just so happens that the next day I was speaking to my mother.  I asked where the closest JoAnn’s was, and she informed me that it was out in the community I worked in.  The very next day, a Monday, my son started his summer session at his school –in that community!  It was lining up perfectly!  I hit JoAnn’s and came home with material to make two skirts and a shirt.  That very afternoon, skirt number one was made, and the rest is history!  So, without further delay, here we go!

This picture comes first because it is what I wore today!  I had my son take some shots of me in the back yard.  It is McCall’s # M6706 (skirt) and #M6708 (jacket).  The red shirt is store bought.  It was very fun to wear, but the skirt took a while to sew. Lots of straight LONG lines!  I got lots of compliments on it!

These are two of the skirts I made with New Look pattern #6899.  The brown one is the first skirt I made this summer. The other is rigged in so many ways that it made me realize sewing is like riding a bike! (The pattern lies about how much you need, so I had to add some fabric here and there to make it work!)

This is the shirt from the same New Look pattern (#6899) and a skirt to go with it.  I’m not thrilled with the shirt, as it is a little large for me.  But the orange sweater I have will go with it and cover it up enough that I will be fine.

This is the first dress I made.  McCall’s patterns were on sale that first week.  I really love this dress.  It is fun and I love the pockets.  It was actually very easy too! McCall's M6506 with a smaller collar.  I actually took a lot off of it!

This skirt is a fun pattern but it lies. (McCall’s pattern #5430)  It says “one hour skirt!”  It took me six hours between the pressing, the sewing, and adding a self-slip! But, I love it!  

This is just a fun picture of the other dress I made, McCall’s M6503 .  On Friday night my Church’s youth group had a scavenger hunt based on Where’s Waldo!  I was the Pink Shopping Lady!  I added the boa and hat just for the event!  This is the dress I wore the first day of school as well.  It is cool and pretty at the same time!  In this heat, it is a plus! 

I did make a pair of pants, which, honestly, are in the wash right now!  They aren’t my favorite, but they work with a long shirt!  I have 3 more dresses to make (I’m hoping to make one over this long weekend coming up) and a skirt as well.  I did get material and a pattern for a winter jacket.  I need to pick out lining and hope for weather cool enough here in Florida to be able to wear it.  We usually get some cold fronts that are worthy of a good winter coat! 

That’s may fashion show for Make It Monday!  Now, if I could just remember my phone, I can post what my classroom looks like this year!  

Meet the Teacher Linky Party!

I've joined in the fun over at Falling into First!  She is hosting a linky party!  So, here it goes!

Hi, my name is Julie and I've been teaching for 22 years!  I have taught almost everything in elementary-1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and Science Lab, which included a period a day with Kinders!  This year I am back in 1st grade and, currently, should be working on getting things ready instead of distracting myself.  I tend to be easily distracted!  I am a mom of two wonderful boys and a wife to my wonderful husband!  In my "spare" time I have taken up triathlon and will be competing in my 3rd event on August 30th!  It is a great way to keep in shape (and loose the shape I currently have!)  

I have also rediscovered the joy of sewing!  I'm happy to say that my first two weeks (except Friday's) fashions will be things I have made-either to go with something or, the whole outfit!  

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

Joann's Fabrics, swimming-as in, laps!, scrap booking, CAMPING, spending time in and with nature, barred owls!, Eagle Watch, Adopt-a-Block, photography, Church, lasagna 

 IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

A few years ago I was actually faced with thinking about this. Florida went to that crazy idea that teachers should give up tenure. I actually planned my new career.  Para Legal.  It was something I could sink my teeth into and I love to do research on things.  Thank goodness, the law doesn't require a mandator removal of tenure!

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

Creative (This one was an actual graduate award!), committed, caring

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

I LOVE all the paperwork....

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

I don't know why, but every time I hear a question like this, I respond with Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.  It is always those two, in that order.  I think I have a lot of questions for them!

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

The Search for the "Just Right" Everything

Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

I actually took a Facebook test and got invisibility!  I said that it was "just right" for me!  I would love to use it and be the fly on the wall idea!

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

Golden Rule:  Never assume a task is too hard-let them try!  

University of Cambridge Web Site

It's my email tag and I don't know if it is even on the website anymore.  

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

Fearless by Group 1 Crew (Just love this song!)

 Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

Morning! And I cold caffeinate!

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

It's a TIE!

My favorite one that the kids complete is my Native American Mall (for upper grades).

My favorite one I created is:

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU! 

As you can see, I am a redhead.  However, as I've aged, I've had to color my hair BACK to some close shade of red (it fades hard and fast! What you may not know is that I think this is God's joke (because we all know he has a sense of humor and knows us enough to know we will get it!)  My WHOLE life I would cry and complain about my carrot top curls!  I wanted to dye it as soon as I got old enough-period!  When I got old enough, I realized that even though I wasn't thrilled with it, people paid A LOT of money for my color, so why change it.  Now that I'm TOO OLD, I have to color the hair I hated most of my life back to a decent red and I long for my true red color.  It simply proves that God knows what he is doing!  (Plus, I'd look totally ridiculous with black hair!)

Thanks for following along!  Now, go check out some other bloggers or join in yourself!  I'll be checking out others along the way too!