Labeling Books

 I take a lot of pride in my classroom library.

I have been blessed with several funded {donors choose} projects which have added new books to my classroom.  I've also scoured gift shops, spent a lot of money at Scholastic, and raided my own childhood book collection.  I want my students to have a cozy, literature-rich classroom.

I did have to do some shuffling of books. I looked through my library and removed any books that might not have third grade appropriate content (boy/girl relationships, middle school issues, etc).  Those books are living in my garage.

We use AR testing as part of our Reading Ranger program, so {ar bookfind} has been my best friend.  It's a free website that lets you look up the book level, quiz number, and summary of over one hundred thousand different books.

I record this AR information on sticky labels that I put on the inside cover of my books.

With Reading Rangers, we also have books color coded by level.  These levels are grouped together and we all use the school's assigned dots.  Luckily our school provides the dots for us:

I also have my library organized by grouping similar books together. While I respect the Reading Rangers program (even though it's not perfect because nothing is), I feel it's my job to create real readers.

When I go to the library, I don't go in looking for a 4.1 level fiction book that's worth 2 points.  I might go in wanting a book on animals.  

So that's how my library is organized: bins with themes.  Inside there are books with a wide range of levels to best meet the needs of all my readers.  To help my students remember where the books go, I put sticky labels on the outside of the books that match the book tubs:

I've had conversations with other teachers who love to tell me that my organization system is wrong.  It's not wrong, it's just not what they're doing.  

One of the benefits of working at home means I can do a few books on commercial breaks.  One of the unintended consequences of working from home is help:

I've had a productive week labeling books and these beauties are ready to get into the hands of my students:

Happy reading! Show me your class libraries!

I'm a sucker for sales...

I didn't plan on having such good luck at Joann's, but I'm a sucker for sales:

Both for 70% off (plus 25% off my whole purchase and 10% rebate from Ibotta).  

The pillow will be another addition to my classroom library.  It also goes really well with the other pillows:

I'm going to have a lot of pillows in my classroom.  Some can be used as floor pillows for flexible seating, but for the most part, they'll just be used during reading time.

The basket was an unexpected find near pillows.  I want to make this frame and selfie props for my classroom:

I also want a place to store props (for when they graduate, make growth, etc).  This bucket will be designated for that purpose.

My students love selfies and silly pictures of themselves, so why not bring that into the classroom as a reward?

Run, don't walk!

I was planning on doing some dramatic Instragram reveal about my classroom theme once my bulletin boards are done next month, but I couldn't wait.  These deals were just too good!

I was at Target today (to no one's surprise) buying mosquito repellent for our honeymoon.  Low and behold, I wandered by the outdoor aisle.  There were large bins with outdoor pillows on sale.  

These outdoor pillows happen to perfectly match my classroom decor.  They're quite large and were super on sale.  They also happen to be scotch-guard and rather durable, which works out quite well for third graders.

The large navy pillows were $8.98 (regularly $29.99), the teal one was $14.98 (regularly $29.99), and the octopus one was $9.99 (regularly $19.99).  All of them were at least half off!

Feeling pleased with my classroom finds, I wandered over to Joann's where my luck continued. 

I wandered into their summer section where everything was magically 70% off (because they're getting ready for fall).  There I found three more beautiful outdoor pillows to complete my boho/beachy/nautical/calm ocean vibe.

I also found mesh for my bulletin boards (more info to come) for 70% off.  

Oh, and the entire purchase was an additional 15% off with my teacher discount card. 

Oh, and I scanned the receipt into Ibotta for an additional rebate.

Here are my pillow finds (displayed on our twin guest bed for size reference):

Run, don't walk to Target and Joann's if these interest you!

Creative Breaks

While I'm still digesting the information from Teach Like a Pirate, one of my big take aways was about preventing a professional and creative stalemate.  (For more feelings on being creative, read {here}.)

I've been in a bit of a professional stalemate, which is one of the reasons I'm super excited to move to third grade.  I've never had the desire to be one of those teachers with thirty years experience, but only in one grade level.  I'm looking forward to a new curriculum, getting to know a new team, continuing to mentor, and quite frankly, smaller class sizes (with smaller humans).

One of the things I'm excited to bring back to next year's classroom is pillows for my library.  I had them years ago, but fifth graders got a little inappropriate with them, so I discontinued their use.  Granted, not setting the appropriate boundaries was a rookie mistake (and I was a rookie teacher).  The entire class got punished for a few students' poor choices.  Again, rookie mistake.

So I had my mama turn some old school shirts into pillows for my classroom library:

We used a 16" x 16" pillow form from Joann's (and coupons, a teacher discount, and an {Ibotta rebate}, because I like to save money.  If you're new to Ibotta and would also like 10% back on Joann's in store purchases, sign up with my referral code: uvnspet  and happy savings).  It took her about twenty minutes to transform a clean shirt into a new classroom pillow.

While she was whipping up some pillows, I decided to create a new wreath for her door.

I snagged flowers on sale at Joann's, so the whole project was around $20 (and I still have flowers left over for the next project).

With the help of wire cutters and hot glue, I created this:

I used a {twig oval base} and two bouquets of {fake flowers} (from the heavily discounted spring section!)  Green is her favorite color and pink is mine, so the color selection was easy.

 I cut apart the flowers with wire cutters and used a hot glue gun to attach them right to the base.  Tomorrow I'll use floral wire to secure the flowers to the base to ensure gravity doesn't undo my crafting.

The final product:

Teachers need creative breaks too!

Come on in!

A few days ago, I posted some {classroom pictures}, but I thought I'd add a few more.

Tomorrow marks day one, year seven of teaching fifth grade.  I'm sure I'm in for a restless night, but I've got thirty five ten year olds awaiting me, so I'll put on my game face and make the day amazing.

We were given these updated print outs for our Reading Ranger program.  Instead of just laminating them, I took the extra step to add some polka dot borders:

I think it makes it much cuter!  As an unintended bonus, they remind me of Minnie Mouse and a little Disney never heart anyone.

I also took the print outs of the Reading Ranger level expectations and put them in page protectors.  I bundled the page protectors with a book ring and hung them on a jumbo sized push pin.  They're still accessible to students, easily moveable, and take up much less wall space.  A win for all!

While we're near those signs, here's my reading corner:

Yes, that is an ASU t-shirt pillow you spy!  The yellow text books are the social studies ones that will go inside their desks.  One entire bookshelf is dedicated to Harry Potter, the Series of Unfortunate Events, and various books by Rick Riordan...and I'm not ashamed of it!

Here's an updated shot of our classroom command center:

I moved my diffuser and electronic sharpener to near my desk so they can be closely monitored!  

Our mystery bucket:

I draw a stick and specifically watch that student in line.  This year, instead of adding student/teacher points (because I'm {skipping that} this year), that student (if successful) will earn points in class dojo.  

This is what my students walk into:

There is a large welcome banner and blank desks (minus their water bottles, which are a first day treat.  They say I hope you're thirsty for knowledge.)  There is nothing inside their desks.  We will build our desks together.

Here's the ever-growing stack of agendas I'll pass out:

Along with our 8 math practices:

Here's some of the copies I'll need the first week.  Emphasis is on some.  

I can't wait until my classroom is filled with my students. I've been a bit lonely in there all by myself!

Teacher Favs

Fifth in the Middle and Fancy Free in Fourth are two of fun teacher blogs I follow (and you should too!).  

She just did a post about teacher favorites and (not) surprisingly, ours were quite similar! Great minds must think alike.

Here are some of my favorite teacher things!  Some of them make my classroom run smoother and some of them just make my heart happy.  I wish I'd had all these things on day one, year one of teaching!

I think I must have asked PTA to do a little too much laminating for me because for teacher appreciation week, I "mysteriously" won a free laminator!  I use this beauty to laminate all my {centers and sorts} so they can be reused.

Costco stopped selling laminating sheets in store, so I now purchase them in bulk from Amazon.

I also trained my coworker's daughter to laminate and cut out for me, so she does that as a side job.  She is very involved in extra curricular activities (cheer, church, choir), so this is one of her ways of fundraising.  Plus B is very happy to not have to help!

If it's pink and/or has polka dots, chances are I want it...and office supplies are no exception.

My planner is pink and this year, I'm determined to stay organized! I also picked up several of these pink and gold polka dotted portfolios at Target to use next year.  One will be for writing conferences, one will be for reading conferences, and one will be for meetings.  

I organized by genre and I have coordinating solid and striped colored bins. I've gotten lots of compliments and love my classroom library!  It's inviting for students and fits into our cozy classroom.

What puts a smile on your face? Join the conversation!

The kindness of others

A few days ago, a fellow former TFA-er posted in a teacher Facebook group that she had books she was looking to get rid of.  She accepted a teaching position in Washington and didn't want to haul all of these books up to her classroom since she was switching grade levels anyway.

I posted that I'd love to get my hands on them, especially since they were already AR leveled (HUGE time saver) and were within my students' reading ranges.

She texted and we arranged a time to meet.  She brought them to my house and when I tried to pay her, she refused.  She said she was glad they were going to be well loved in another classroom and didn't want money.

I insisted she take a Jamberry wrap as a thank you, which she happily agreed to.  I'm all about bartering!  I'm so appreciative of her generosity.  

Thank you Ms. T!

Classroom, day 2

I've done a lot of Target trips lately...but my classroom is coming along nicely! I'm trying not to be overwhelmed...

Our book hospital:

Next to it will be my large collection of informational magazines:

There are labels on the book bins:

Here's an overview of the library:

I'll put these cute Harry Potter CAFE signs up as well...

I'm just waiting to go over the components with my students before hanging up the signs.  That way they have ownership over the content as well.

I hung my bathroom log by the door.

I've learned the importance of making sure a writing utensil is nearby.  The twine prevents the pen from walking away.

I finally finished my bulletin board:

I'm happy with how it turned out!

I used washi tape to distinguish certain supplies as mine:

I set up their supply buckets:

I hung my poster about how they're learning:

I like to put it on the board so I can move the magnet to the appropriate spot.

Here's our daily schedule:

I also excited about my board:

I'm excited with how it's coming along!