Classroom -- BEFORE!

I finally got to go into my classroom today!! I drove out to school with my car full of fun classroom stuff ready to be used! Time seemed to fly when I was in there, rearranging, cleaning, organizing, and more rearranging. But, I figured it would be fun to show the progress of where my classroom was to where it will be!!

Here is the view when you first walk in from the front door.

This will be my reading corner/ library!

Looking at the front door! Someone already made the tree so I can just keep it =)

The side wall, love the window and light!

And one last view, trying to get the full classroom!

It was a long day, but I made TONS of progress, and can't wait to share what it looks like at the end of the week!

How to make a Class Rules poster

I get to move into my classroom on Monday! I thought I would be taking over my cooperating teacher from student teaching's room, but recently found out I would be moving into a portable! That means lots of wall space, great storage, and a clean slate to decorate!

I have decided to make a lot of my own posters to save some money. Today I am sharing how I made a Class Rules chart with only materials from the Dollar Tree. Let's just say that store has AWESOME teaching materials!!

I started off with just half a sheet of white poster board.

Dollar Tree sells borders as well -- tons of designs, curved and straight lined ones. I chose a neutral ABC and 123 border to outline my rules. They also have lots of borders with shapes, patterns and words. 

Then I measured out the borders to perfectly outline the border of my white poster board and glued them down to create this...

It is a little skinny, but works for just a few rules. If you have many long rules, I would advise not cutting the poster board in half. Then I chose how I wanted to decorate my rules and where to place them and started writing in permanent marker. I will probably laminate my board once I get to the school because I know I will be using for years after this. Here is the finished product!

I hope you found this helpful! Once again, everything was found at the dollar store, and I didn't even use all of the borders or poster board, so I have leftovers! All in all, this project came out to be about $1.00! 

What are you creating for your classroom?

Another giveaway and Moving!!

We all know I love a good giveaway!! My boyfriend always makes fun of me because I enter so many raffles and giveaways, and I NEVER win! But, I am determined that I will eventually. Today;'s giveaway comes from Third Grade Tidbits, an awesome blog that I follow. She has teamed up with tons of bloggers in the intermediate grade to give away some awesome prizes! So go check out her page and win!! It is a week long giveaway so you have many chances.

Enter here --> http://thirdgradetidbits.blogspot.com/2013/07/finally-my-delayed-one-year-celebration.html

One more for the day =) The Teacher's Cauldron is another fabulous blog! Today is Jen's birthday! She is giving you 15% of anything on her blog or you can enter to win a h.e.m originals bag from Etsy! Super cute and a great teacher bag. Enter here to win --> http://theteacherscauldron.blogspot.com/2013/07/its-my-birthday-giveaway.html

I am moving up to San Luis Obispo on Thursday and I am super excited and nervous!! Excited to be back in a town that I love but nervous because I know how much work is ahead of me. I can't wait to start decorating my room!

I have a few projects laying around the house that need to be done, hopefully I will have some pictures up tomorrow!

Until then, have a great MONDAY and don't forget to enter to win the raffle!

Blessings

Reality Check

I have a little less than 2 weeks now until I am on my school campus beginning to set up my class and go to to meetings with the staff...I want to enjoy my last moments of freedom before I have responsibility, but I feel like there is too much to do -- but I don't know what those things are!

I see other teacher bloggers talking about the fabulous projects they are making and how little time there is left to get everything done! Which is where I feel like I should be...but I don't know what needs to be done...so I wait...

I am painting a bookshelf, and collecting small things for my class here and there which is fun. I am going to get my curriculum Thursday so I can actually start planning! yay!


Blessings

A new teaching blog with some awesome freebies and prizes!

As I am preparing for the new year as a new teacher, I have been looking to many veteran teacher blogs for help! I am a HUGE fan of freebies and blog hops to collect all of the great ideas they have to share! A new blog, The Teaching Tribune, started a blog hop today with some awesome freebies! It is a simple process, so head over, read the directions, and get started!

Click here to start the blog hop and maybe win!!  --> Teaching Tribune Blog Hop .

I finished the blog hop and hope I win some awesome things for my classroom!

Have you ever won anything from a blog??

Blessings

Let the craziness begin

2 weeks ago I got the call that I was offered a 3rd grade position...eek! Goodbye summer; hello planning, organizing, garage sale shopping, freaking out!!! I will be moving back to San Luis Obispo (my favorite little California central coast town) to begin my career in teaching! I was so blessed to have gotten this job, afterall, it was only my first teaching interview ever, 3 months after graduating college...CRAZY! Let's just say God has got my back and this is definitely where I meant to be for the time being. So, I'll be packing up my life down south in Claremont and making the trek back to SLO to begin!!! We start school August 12, so it is going to be a quick transition.

I am so lucky to be teaching at the school I just student taught and substituted for. I am familiar with the school and the staff which makes it SO much more comforting, although I am still freaking out!! I have great support from some teachers there and two of my close friends whom I just graduated with, got jobs there too!!! Yay for first year teaching buddies =)

As I prepare for this new year, so many things are rolling through my brain, not sure how to plan everything!!

• behavior management plan
• classroom layout
• common core standards
• first day activities
• building a classroom library
• engaging lessons
• money to buy supplies
• how to fit a social life into this year (is it possible??)
• and many more...

I am taking things one day at a time. I know this is where I am meant to be, so with that, I know it is going to be okay. I have a great support system (my boyfriend, friends, and family) and I know I am going to LOVE my kiddos!! I hope I can write a lot about what happens this first year so that I can look back and remember all the fun, crazy, hard, sad, exciting, and funny moments I had! Thanks for joining me!

What advice would you give to a first year teacher??

Dios te bendiga