Five For Friday- First Week of School

Happy Friday friends!! Sometimes I was convinced this first week of school would NEVER end, but it did and I'm ready to relax this extended weekend. I always forget these first few weeks can wear a teacher out. My new set of minis don't have that automatic independence yet, but I know they'll get there soon. I can't wait to watch them grow and learn this year!
It's time for another week of Five For Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching. After this post I'll head out to celebrate the first week down with yummy sushi.

For the first time ever I got sent back to school flowers! Two of my married teacher friends get them all the time, and I've always secretly hoped to get my own. Well, this year I did woohoo! Hopefully I don't kill them too fast.

Thursday my school had our V.I.P. night for parents. During this time we go over grade level procedures and routines. I share a little bit about myself and some of my favorite things. Anyone who knows me well will tell you I LOVE anything red velvet. A+ for the day to the parents who sent their minis with red velvet donuts this morning! 

I'm impressed with how organized the minis are already. Each group has their own storage crate and supply caddy. I'll blog more about this system later when I do a classroom organization post.

Part of our Fun Friday is the estimation jar. The jar is filled with some sort of yummy treat and everyone in the class writes down their guess for the number of items inside. Whoever is the closest without going over or guesses the exact amount get to take the jar with any extras home. Everyone gets at least one of what is inside. We'll continue this part of Fun Friday until everyone gets an opportunity to take the jar home.

I finally got around to hanging up my fabulous new sign I won from The Daily Alphabet in a recent giveaway she had! If you're interested in your own, check out DL Designs on Etsy.

Don't forget to link up and share what's been happening with you this week!

Classroom Reveal 2014-2015

Convocation and Wildcat Welcome (our meet the teacher night) made for one loooong Thursday. When a parent you've just met hugs you and expresses how happy they are you know it's going to be a great year. The good news is I can FINALLY share my classroom pictures!! Be prepared for lots of pics in this post!
Before I get to the pictures, I've got to take a moment and share the one and only Ron Clark was our guest speaker at convocation today. This was my first time hearing and seeing him in person. His passion for what we do is contagious!

I wish I could have recorded his entire message. I'd love to visit the Ron Clark academy in Atlanta one day. Hmm, maybe I can convince a teacher friend or two to take a trip to Atlanta....

Moving along to classroom pictures. I kept my cupcake theme with coordinating colors. Come on inside and take a peek. :)

Eventually the welcome banner will be replaced with our class schedule. We're required to keep the black shade for lock down drills.

Student supplies were beginning to be delivered yesterday so I decided to leave them be instead of fighting with moving and removing to take pictures. I have one teacher area in the front at my computer and another at the back with my small group table. I chose to arrange my furniture this year in a way that allows me to monitor and move around all areas of the room.

I hand write my class rules poster every year. On the first day of school each mini will sign at the bottom and this handy dandy little poster then becomes a contract for the year.

I have supplies located at each area. Yes I can have supply overload but it saves me time bouncing from place to place getting what I need. We all know minutes count especially when working with our small groups.

Each group has their storage area along along with a caddy. The crates are for any class library books, privacy folders, and white boards. We'll put smaller supplies like glue sticks, spelling dictionaries, and dry erase markers in the caddies. 

Sorry for the not so great pic quality here! Every year I like starting with student names on the word wall and build throughout the year. Freebie alert! I got the cupcake letters from Kinder Confections.

A new addition this year is our "Tech Talk" bulletin board. Minis can find login information and library resources here.

Eventually I'll get around to jazzing up my class jobs, but for now it's all good. 

I use Filetastic hanging folders for student mailboxes since table top space is at a premium in the classroom.

Our listening station location (says that 5 times fast) is now at the front of the room. I'm so excited to begin the year with iPads! No more tapes or Cd's; all stories for this learning station are through QR codes. I plan to share more about my revamped listening station soon. The pillows were made for me by a friend a couple of years ago; the iPad rules freebie is from The Imagination Nook.

This file cabinet used to be by my computer but now it's used for spelling station. Storage for materials and games plus space for minis to work is a win win. Ignore that crate!

Boggle is one of the most popular activities in class.

The sign in clipboard and welcome sign were put out for tonight only. 

Loving my new calendar bb set I got from Lakeshore. My only problem is the calendar numbers. My old bulletin board had individual numbers as well as the 24th and 31st as one die cut. Calendar is an important part of our daily routine and I want it to be done correctly. I'll have to figure out how to fix this, bleh!

 

Another freebie alert! Hand signals courtesy of the always amazing Miss Nelson.

Birthday chart, second grade bucks poster, and sweet treats for classroom management. Ten class compliments equals a sweet treat party of some sort; almost always cupcakes!

My objectives frames and library sticks I made over the summer. The green bin was going to hold student earbuds, but aren't big enough so I'll have to find another use for them.

Our community supply shelf. Minis can simply grab what they need when they need it. Side note: I spent time organizing math games and materials with these same bins on the shelf underneath the calendar. I was pleased with the results and I promise you I took pictures of the organization greatness. The problem is the pictures are nowhere to be found. I'm 100% sure I took the pictures and am now upset I can't share them. So just imagine this neat colorful display in another area! Ugh, teacher brain. I'll have to share again in another post someday.

My writing process display is in the process of being jazzed up so this area will change to better meet the needs of the class. 

Meet the Teacher Linky

Hey y'all! Today was our first day of inservice and oh my goodness the back to school chaos has finally hit me! The good news is my room is 90% done. I'm so glad I got a head start this year and won't have to full on panic come next week when I meet my new set of minis.
I'm linking up with Falling Into First for a fun filled meet the teacher linky just in time for back to school.

 I've seen this linky floating around for a few days now, and I've hesitated on joining. I'm not one to talk about myself much and can be fairly shy. This will be the most pictures of myself I've ever put into a blog post.

I'm a 30 year old Christian, daughter, sister, friend, Cross doing, Texas twangin' second grade teacher! I'll start my fifth year of teaching in a couple of weeks. I've always loved school. I was the kid who played "school" with stuffed animals and graded their papers. 

Traveling is one of my favorite hobbies! My two must do's (do's? Is that correct?) while traveling are a spa visit and cupcakes. 

It was windy and the hair was a hot mess but I had to venture out to the observation deck!

The big piano at FAO Schwartz was one of my must visit places when I took my first trip to NYC in April.

New Orleans is my all time favorite place to visit. I try going every year if possible.

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS.....

Cupcakes, pink, anything sparkly, Target, Starbucks, pedicures, almost anything on Bravo, lounging poolside under a big umbrella with a yummy beverage, Christmas, QVC.

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

I'd love to be an event planner or someone who hosts one of those awesome traveling shows so I get to visit amazing places.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

Caring, calm, creative

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "_______, SAID NO TEACHER EVER!''

"Analyzing data AGAIN and going cross eyed from all the numbers is just so much fun, said no teacher ever!"

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

I'd invite Oprah. I've always been a fan of hers since I was little. Anyone who supports teachers is a favorite of mine.

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

Stronger Than Yesterday

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

Hmm, this is a tough one. I'd have to go with super human strength.

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

"Be careful not to do something permanently stupid because you are temporarily angry, stressed, tired, or hungry"

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

I'm currently obsessed with the song Fancy by Iggy Azalea, but only sing it in my car. Trust me y'all don't want me to sing in public!

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

Definitely more of a morning person once I wake up and get energzied for the day.

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

I don't have a TPT shop yet, BUT I am moving forward and hope to get it up and going in the next couple of months. I've thought about a TPT shop before and God placed it in my heart this summer. It's exciting and scary territory for me.

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU!

I have three tattoos! My most recent on my right ankle and favorite I got a few weeks ago. It's still in the healing/peeling phase.

Monday Made It

Happy Monday teacher friends! I went back to my classroom today to start working little by little.

 You know how you can tell you've returned back to school? When you don't stop to take a potty break until 3:00 in the afternoon! I'm linking up again with 4th Grade Frolics for some Monday Made It  fun!

Earlier I shared my finished product on Instagram. Bright colors always make me happy. Excuse my fresh faced (read no makeup and lazy) look ha! I noticed the smudges on the top right of the frame after taking pics and touched it up later in the day.

With the exception of the letters, I bought everything at Michael's a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully I can find another project to use the spray paint with. The color is too fabulous to let it sit unused. I originally was going to purchase chalkboard spray paint, but the bottle was on clearance for less than $1.

A teacher friend stopped by just as I was finished with everything. I'll rewrite 1st in fancier writing just before school and I'll switch it for the 100th and last day of school. 

The completed project cost me around $22. Don't forget to link up and share your awesome creations!

August Currently

I guess I can now say my summer has come to an end? Teachers don't start PD in my district until the 14th, but I'm going back tomorrow to start working on my classroom! I'm linking up with Farley again for August Currently. Who doesn't love the currently linky every month? It's one of my favorites hands down.

Listening- Normally I've got the t.v. on, but it's a rare moment when I've got no background noise. 

Loving- I can't wait for the TPT back to school sale! I've got some items on my wish list I can't wait to purchase and use my TPT credits to save even more!

Thinking- Tomorrow when I go back to my room I have a checklist; arrange furniture, purge old files, and complete one board. If I can get more done that's great but those 3 things are a top priority. I can't wait to start decorating and share with everyone!

Wanting- We all need a personal assistant this month am I right? 'Nuff said.

Needing- My eyebrows, hands, and feet look a hot mess right now. I got so busy with doing other things to get ready for BTS pampering had to take a backseat. 

As I mentioned earlier we don't start until the 14th but those PD days won't be enough time for prepping and they fly by so fast. Kids start the 25th. 

Five for Friday

Hey everyone! It's been a while since I've participated in the Five for Friday linky party with Doodle Bugs Teaching!
I have a to do list a mile long before going back to my classroom next week, ahhh! Let me tell you, part of me is ready to go back right now so I get back into a routine and I stop spending money!

I finally caved and started using Instagram! Hopefully I'll start posting more pics and connect with teacher friends soon. Anyone have suggestions for teacher hashtags? I've seen a couple today that I need to start using.

I posted this pic of what I found in my McDonald's bag today. Ha! Notice the A+ spelling of Jacuzzi....

I went to Legoland with a teacher friend Monday night. It was alright. I didn't walk away from it super impressed. The city landmarks made out of Legos were cool though.

While shopping for a birthday gift and Barnes and Noble I couldn't resist picking up ANOTHER book for my class. See what I mean by spending too much money? I have books I can't even find space for. Flat Stanley is one of my favorite book characters so of course I had to have it. 

I created some fancy schmancy new business card magnets. I'll have these ready to go for parents during supply drop off before school starts. 

I snagged this freebie from the fabulous Cupcakes n Curriculum. 

Let me tell you I'm easily entertained by even the smallest things. I went had dinner at Chili's this week for the first time in months. They know have these cool tablets/computers at each table how cool is that?! My friend commented it must have been a while because those things have been there for months. I paid the $0.99 to play the games and trivia.