Tour my Classroom 2014

This post is shamefully late. Several months late, I know. I recently had some requests to see my new class room and well, I suppose this is as good a time as any. Better late than never right? I have to say that I just LOVE my room this year. It is such a calming space, a comment I hear from almost everyone that walks in. I could not have done it without the help of a very talented bloggy friend, Melanie, from School Girl Style.
Oh, one thing, make sure you get to the end. ;)

Let's get started...
This year I switched from a surfing theme to a Nautical theme. This sweet little flag pennant came from School Girl Styles Nautical theme. I just printed them several sheets to a page to make them smaller.

I chose navy, turquoise and coral as my colors.
This is my door...

Here is our main board.

Here is a picture of what it looks like today.

New shoes for my birthday. ❤️ #Chucks #Leopard

A photo posted by Ms. M (@msk1ell) on Oct 10, 2014 at 3:14pm PDT

I house all my writing supplies, paper, folder, binders and student "pockets" front and center.

The vinyl anchors on my white board are one of my favorite decorative accents.

To the left I put up my Reading bulletin board. The BB is flanked my my reading genre posters.

The Steampunk poster is my favorite!

Here you can see my board in use. We were studying Making Connections.

To the right you can see my Writing bulletin board. I use the board for our 6 traits anchor charts and on the right I have the writing process. My students use the ribbon and clips to show what writing process step they are on.

The opposite side of my room has my word wall. This is what it looked like at the start of the year. However, the large anchor labels were too large and I switched them out for smaller flag pennants. 

Here is a shot of it after the change.

Then next to that word wall I have one more bulletin board that I am using to post our weeks learning.

The fish and whale are for our weekly HFW.

I have one more bulletin board, our calendar board. It is probably the one we use the most, a focal point in our room, the first thing you see when you walk into the room. 

Then something awful happened, I ran out of bulletin boarders! I couldn't leave it bare so I used a different border combo, but kept the same colors.

Above my board I have my birthdate display.

I couldn't find the color combo I wanted so I created most of the calendar pieces myself.

I have since then ordered more borders, but I kind of like how it turned out and am not sure if I am going to change it or not. I do have some more elements to add to this board, I just don't have them laminated and cut out yet.
I just adore my SitSpots. No more dirty carpet or carpet squares for my students to destroy.

Here is a view of my "still a work in progress" teacher area/ guided reading/ small group table.

If you read regularly you know this board is one of my Monday Made It crafts. It has been traveling around my room for some time because I couldn't mount it where I wanted it, but I finally just decided to use it for my mini guided reading strategies posters. It sits behind my table to I can reference it during small group time.

Again I use one set for my kinder kids and the other for my firties.

On the other side of my desk I have a small shelf that is my class library. It is a hot mess because I decided to cover it in contact paper instead of painting. :/ Still working on getting it all covered.

On the flip side of my room...

That pumpkin orange wall, well it is a work in progress. I have some elements I am still waiting to add to it.

I adore this bright line up sign because it matches my SitSpots so well.

Love using a jewelry hanger for my passes.

Our little crab is always moving because it is forever falling off the door. I think some hot glue is in order. My door is also where I post my line order, and student number system.

Meanwhile outside my door you can find my "Word Shark".

Inspired by Jennifer White's door, I made mine for a place to post 

Last is my work display wall.

I teach two grade levels so I decided to have two different icons for the clips.

Here are some of our displays.

I've hoped you have enjoyed my 2014 classroom tour.

So here is some big news...

Monday is my birthday, but also my blogs birthday too!

I have some fun planned for this week.

Please come back on Monday to enter my Birthday Bash Giveaway!

The many uses of a Dollar Spot Bucket/ Pail

I promised I'd be back and while it took me 2 and a half weeks I kept my promise. :)

Back in June, while I was unpacking, I posted a picture on Instagram of just half of the Dollar Spot mini buckets I own. This isn't even half of them.

I mean there is really no reason to have THAT many mini buckets. What is even crazier is that I got rid of none, and have purchased many more since this pic. #ObssessedTeacher I think every time I walk into Target I leave with mini buckets.

I got lots of question about what I do with all the buckets. If I am honest, half or more of them are in a cabinet. They went with my old theme, but I hesitate to throw them away because they can come in handy in a pinch. Plus I still love them.

HOWEVER, that got me thinking, what DO I do with them?

Here is what I came up with.

1. Pencils

This is the obvious one.

Erasers too! 

Easy way for students to get to them.

I have different sharp pencil buckets around the room for workstations too. All the dull go into the same bucket so I can sharpen them.

2. Crayons

This year I decided to do away with my glad container, that the students could never close, and always made a mess of the crayons, and use these mini buckets. 

They are the perfect size. The students take the bucket out, use their crayons, and then put it back when the activity is over. Super clean, just the way I like it.

They would work great for makers and color pencils too.

3. Math Manipulatives

I don't teach math so I don't have a pic. Whomp whomp. However, you can use your imagination. All those little pieces that are always all over the place would go nicely in these little buckets.

4. Letter or word sorts

Again, no pic, BUT with my kinder kids I have them sort capital magnetic letters in one bucket and lowercase in the other. For my Firsties, I have them sort by vowel pairs, digraphs, long and short vowels, you name it.

5. Gifts

They make great gift bags.

6. Birthdays
They are great for birthday snack, or cutlery.

 

I know lots of teachers have a little treat for their students birthday. 

7. Student Name Sticks and Clips

You know those popsicle sticks or clothes pins that you write your students name on, they fit perfectly in the mini pails.
8. Table Arrangements
Ok, this one is not really classroom related, but I thought it was nice. Maybe you could do something for the teachers lounge.

9. Craft Supplies.
This person put them on a Lazy Susan for easy access to all her craft supplies.

I think you get the point.
I don't think there is a bad way to use the pails/ mini buckets.
Do you have any other ways YOU use the mini pails/buckets.

September Currently

Honestly I can't believe it has been a whole month. It is sad that the last time I posted was for the August Currently. The good news is that I have a list of ideas to post. I'll tell more later, but for now the September Currently.

Listening:

I am watching the Outlander series on Starz. I haven't read the books, but I am so seriously hooked on this series. If you have the Starz network I highly recommend it. 

Loving:

So if you have read any of my posts from last May or over this summer, you know I moved rooms. I took this opportunity to create a new theme in my class. I went with a navy, white, and turquoise Nautical theme, with touches of coral. The result is I absolutely love it. Everyone that comes into my room says how calming and soothing it is. Can't wait to get the pictures up for you all to see too. If you want some sneak peaks head on over to my Instagram feed. 

Thinking:

Seriously I am having pangs of guilt over this. I've been in school for 3 weeks now, and well I am still feeling so overwhelmed. However, I think I can make some time soon. :)

Wanting:

Like I mentioned, I am feeling a bit behind and overwhelmed. I think part of my problem is that I am still figuring out where I want everything to be. Don't misunderstand, I am completely unpacked, it is just still trial and error as to where all my centers and whatnot will find their permanent homes. I feel like I am constantly setting up.

Needing:

I said I was still working out the best place for all of my workstations. The room has a slightly different arrangement, and it is smaller. Class has been going for 3 weeks now and the kids have been begging me for their workstation time. At the moment I am struggling with where to put my pocket chart. It used to live behind my bookshelf, but I downsized and well it doesn't work anymore. Tomorrow I am going to try placing it on the closet door.
HOWEVER, what I am really needing is this awful cold, I got last Friday (just in time to ruin the long weekend) to go away. At the moment it has dropped to my chest and is making me cough so much. :(

3 Trips:
Hawaii and New Zealand: I mean it is paradise. I want to feel the sun, learn to surf, and just generally relax on the beach.
Victoria, Canada: I've heard it is gorgeous, just want to take a peek and visit the Pacific.
Truth is the place I'd love to return to is Scotland, but couldn't choose it cause I've already been there.

With all that said, I make a promise to post more than once this month. I hope to be back soon with a tour, some tips and tricks. Hope you have a great rest of your short week!

For all of my blogger friends that just went back to work, hugs, you only have 3 more days until the weekend.

Oh! Before I forget, please go over to Farley's blog and check out the other 380+ bloggers who linked up this month. I was hoping to be number 400 but I don't think I have that much patience. 

Farley, the Linky rockstar.