A Classroom Sneak Peak

My classroom is no where near complete, I keep saying I have until after Labor Day like that's a lifetime away...when in reality I will have babies in my room on Wednesday, like that's six days away! Six still seems like a decent amount of prep time, but do to the waxing of floors and other such things, the school isn't open most of the weekend... So I actually have Friday and Tuesday, which is stressing me out just thinking about it.  I keep hoping when I stop by my room quickly in the morning before our trainings, that little teaching/interior decorating fairies decided to organize, decorate and clean up my room for me, so far I have not been that lucky -___- 

BUT I have accomplished a couple things that make me feel better about being ready when kiddos walk through my door, and I'm actually falling in love with my classroom! Last year I had a new room in a new school and didn't get keys until 2 days before kids walked through the door, so functionality was the top priority and I hated my room, I mean literally hated being in my ugly, unorganized room. This year, having some time over the summer and coming in a week before meetings started, allowed me to start creating a room that I love. 

A couple things that I've accomplished so far that I love: 

My bulletin board that shows kids how a heading looks in my class (History) on assignments and in their Social Studies Notebook (ie. composition book)

My room is old school, red, black and white chalkboard theme, hence the color scheme of the board.  But I LOVE my glittery clothes pins that I'm using to hang the sample notebook pages.  I will also be using these as a means to hang student work, which will allow me to change work more frequently since I don't have to staple and remove staples all the time... Here's a closer look at these fabulous clothespins! 

I bought a 25 pack of clothespins at Target for $0.99.  I then applied a coat of glitter modge podge to the flat sides of the pins, one coat was not sufficiently glittery and fabulous for my liking so I applied two coats ( ps. If you are not familiar with modge podge, specifically the glitter modge podge you are missing out on a life experience, like it might be the 8th wonder of the world!) I finished them off by hot gluing a silver push-pin to the back so I can stick them in the wall anywhere and hang stuff, they might be my favorite little addition to my room :) 

The last little thing that makes me happy is my W on my teacher board.  I have an "about me" board behind my desk.  On that board I traditionally have photos of myself and my family & friends, concert & sporting event ticket stubs, UW (University of Washington) memorabilia, a Seahawks jersey, etc.  This year I found a thin, wooden W from Michaels ( a craft store), applied a couple coats of my glittery modge podge, and hot glued some fabulous polka dot and ABCs ribbon to have a cute little monogram behind my desk! 

In case your curious, that is fabric and not butcher paper that in covering my bulletin boards, if you haven't thought about it, it's great! It is a little more expensive, (I bought mine at JoAnn fabrics every time I had coupons.  It did take a couple trips but there is one right by the Target I go to, and if you're like me, Target trips are a very common occurrence) BUT it lasts all year, and even multiple years, it doesn't fade like paper and best of all it doesn't rip! 

I hope you like the sneak peak of a few of my favorite things that I've created and put up in my room so far, stay tuned for a full classroom tour soon :) 

-Karissa