bye-bye boring white.

I have a conspiracy theory against spray paint. I don't believe it covers half as much area as it says it does because I have yet to complete a project without running out of color half-way through. Also, sprays at any angle? Ha! True, it may actually come out of the nozzle upside down but the coverage is all different which results in drips and inconsistency. {huff!} Nevertheless I continue to attempt craft projects that involve the stuff. {although after the rubber-bands-on-the-glass-vase fiasco of 2011 that one is forever banned in our household.}

So many of your classrooms have themes that I've been thinking about which I want to incorporate. And to be honest, I just can't land on one. I love Dr. Seuss but don't want him up all year long. I am not all about birds and owls {no offense to my Anthro friends} and - though I love them - I think I'd get sick of seeing pirates, campers or farm animals up all year. The only ones I really love are the super girly pink & zebra themes but all I can envision are boys throwing tantrums and never wanting to come to school.

{disclaimer: that was only my personal opinion so please don't tattle on me to the principal if you chose one of the aforementioned themes.  I'm sure it is darling!}

What seems to work best for me is color. Bright ones.

{interjecting again.  please note: my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are living with us for the summer.  please excuse all of the "stuff" in the background that is generally not there.}

I started with this secondhand bookshelf & decided wood shouldn't be too hard to paint.

Adding the wrapping paper to the top with Modge Podge...a bit trickier.  Start with a piece that hangs over the edges a little more than you need.

I suggest rolling it down a little bit at a time to minimize the air bubbles underneath & keep it smoother.

After sticking the top down, go side to side & stick them down as well.  Once it's dry, use an exacto knife to cut off the excess.

{Another theory, people who smoothly cover things in Modge Podge with no bubbles are not real people. It requires some kind of magical touch to make that happen.}

Since I still had spray paint in multiple colors I decided to go ahead and try updating my sterlite drawers. Not too bad...until I ran out of my 2nd can of Mambo Pink. I chose these 4 colors because they're the colors of my guided reading groups.

I may attempt the cute scrapbook paper lining for the drawers...but I need a few non-crafting days first. ;)

If you have any tips or tricks {and have actually made it to the end of the post despite today's sassy attitude} I would LOVE to hear them.

And I promise to just listen, nod my head & smile.

guided reading notebook.

There are SO many Guided Reading notebooks out there but I can still never find one that I love!  Creating my own was a major thing on my summer to-do list.  Since I start back next week with a 4 day math training {blech} I figured I better go ahead and get it started while I still have a chance.

The first page is for Guided Reading notes.  I have to create a separate weekly plan so this is more for my own sake.  Book titles, skill sets, activities, etc all go in my lesson plan notebook...which I never even look at.  This will stay in a binder on my table so I can make notes as my kids read and use it to plan future lessons.  {anyone else with me on that?!}

Then there are skill mastery checklists for blends, digraphs & dipthongs, vowel patterns, word endings and beginning reading skills like tracking or being able to isolate just the beginning sound of a word.

What's missing?  What's confusing?  What else should I add?  This is a work in progress and will probably be updated as I move through the school year but at least it's a start!  :)  Hope it helps!

schedule picture cards {updated}

In case you missed it the first time around - or you want the updated version - there are 9 more pages {that's 18 extra labels} in the new packet!

A few questions I've received to answer your questions:

*Can you add color to the pictures that are blank?  I can't.  These graphics aren't my own, they're from Lettering Delights and I'm not authorized to edit them.  {ha...nor would I know how!}  In my classroom I've just printed them out & colored them in before laminating.  Word to the wise: do NOT use crayons as they will m-e-l-t in the laminating machine, ie. leak out of the lines.

*Can you add this, that and the other to the file?  Sure!  Let me know what's missing, give me a few days to update and I'll get it back to you.

*How do I add the time to the blank boxes?  A couple of options.  1 - open it in a word processing file that allows you to add a text box over top of the graphic.  Format the text box so the box itself {the line} doesn't show.  Print.  2 - use a photo layering program like picmonkey to add the text.  Upload it like a picture and use the text {P on the left menu} to add your times.  There are various fonts available to choose from!  3 - print your time in whatever font you want from Word, then glue it in the box before laminating.  As long as you cut it down, it shouldn't show at all.  4 - good old fashioned write it in.  ;)

*Are there any other uses?  Always.  :)  Make labels by printing 2 copies.  Hang one in your schedule and the other in the part of the room set aside for that activity.  {drama in Housekeeping, science at your Exploration table, calendar by...well, the calendar, etc}  I did that in my room & my kids were able to easily find the area they were looking for because everything was consistent!  Mix up your regular schedule.  Instead of keeping it hung at the front of the room all day, take each card down as you finish the activity.  Transitions will be easier & you'll get less "What time is _____?" throughout the day!

There you go!  If you download, please leave a comment & become a follower.  Why?  So I can track what you're interested in.  I want to tailor my stuff to what you actually want and receiving feedback helps me to do that.  Why follow?  Honestly, because it's nice & makes me know you're really out there.  :)

30 before 30 {and after}

Today is my 30th birthday. And I have to admit that I've been looking forward to it about as much as Rachel & Joey.

But I took a step back to really look at my life and I have no choice but to humbly say that I have been so blessed. So instead of the traditional 30 before 30 list that would set me up to look at what could have been, here's 30 pretty amazing things I'm super pleased to say I can already cross off:

And since life doesn't end at 30 {it really isn't as old as it seemed!} here are my next 30 things to try:

Would you like to play along?  Share either version.  And I encourage you to print it out & hang it up somewhere as well.  Take a random Saturday to pick something new to work on.  It's so fun crossing things off the list!  :)

{Thanks to Miss Tiina for the cute heart stationery!}

Because shouldn't teaching be fun?!

The funny thing about the social media world we're living in is that we can network WAY past our reach. In fact, it's how I reconnected with an old high school friend of mine. Get this...he's also in the virtual education scene. How random is that?! His name is Mark Luchauer and with a $600 grant from his school district, he left the classroom to create Have Fun Teaching.

Here's my mini-interview with him:

Grades you've taught in the past? 2nd, 3rd & 5th

Favorite grade? 2nd
Favorite thing to teach? science
Favorite creation on Have Fun Teaching? Water Cycle Song
Favorite after school snack? Cocoa Puffs
And in the name of glamour, your favorite thing to wear?? :) Baby blue t-shirt with a narwhal playing a keytar.

{lol...Mark is such a fun guy!!}

Even more important than Mark's amazing resources is his passion for education, the next generation and you...hard working teachers. I believe in his vision completely so I invited him to share about his newest CD & DVD set to teach shapes...how perfect for kindergarten!!

Learning shapes is a fun and exciting time for kids! These Shape Songs and Shape Videos by Have Fun Teaching effectively teach the shapes using a complete audio, visual and kinesthetic experience with high energy, upbeat songs that teach Shape Names, Geometry Skills, Math Vocabulary and Shape Recognition.

The Shape Songs CD includes 12 Shape Songs that teach shapes such as Circle, Square, Triangle, Rectangle, Rhombus, Trapezoid, Parallelogram, Polygon, Pentagon, Hexagon, Octagon, and more! The Shape Songs DVD includes videos for each of the songs! Be sure to check out the Have Fun Teaching Shape Songs and Shape Videos!

There are so many freebies available at Have Fun Teaching: flash cards, phonics lessons, math activities...even SmartBoard files!  But {bonus} if you want to order CDs or DVDs you can use the code HAVEFUN10 to get 10% off this month! Who doesn't love a sale, right?!

Go support Mark & use up all that he's created. And if you're looking for something that you can't find...ask him! You might just see your idea on his blog next.  ;)

easier anchor charts.

So many of you are in love with anchor charts. I see them on your blogs and all OVER Pinterest. But you have not see them on my blog because they are so intimidating!! I am not an artist and my attempts at being one are often thwarted.  You think I'm kidding?  Even in Draw Something I heart my stick people:

For real life. But there are so many amazing anchor charts out there that I have anchor envy!! Look at these...

{First Grade Wow}

{A Cupcake for the Teacher}

{The Inspired Apple}

{The First Grade Parade}

Now, if you're in my art-challenged boat, here are a few tips I've learned to make it somewhat easier: 

{use a transparency}
If you can't free hand, don't waste your time trying. Use a photocopy or print an image from the internet on a transparency. Then blow it up {doc cam, old-school overhead, whatever you have} to trace with a pencil and THEN color it in.

{print, cut, laminate}
Who says anchor charts have to be hand drawn?? Find an image that works, cut it out, laminate it & tape it to the chart.  Then draw & write your student responses around it.  When you're done displaying the chart, take off the image & save it for next year!

{use cutesy easier}
I loved Cara Carroll's readers & writers posters.  {ok, I love her everything.  She is the queen of cute stuff!}  But when I saw that these didn't require drawing, I decided to make an attempt. Mine are slightly different but I was able to make them AND be happy with the end result! Instead of great artistic skills, use lots of colors, little squiggles & an eye-catching shape to draw your kids in instead.

{See?  Huxtable doesn't care that there aren't any graphics!}

{make a poster}
If it's a skill that you really want your kids to grasp or you need it to stay up for a long time, save yourself the wall space & just make a poster. It'll stay on the wall with less tape, you can use super fun fonts & it won't have any mistakes {for you perfectionists out there, not me of course!!} Bonus, then you can share it with all of us! ;)

{Zeeks's Zoo}

{back it on scrapbook paper}

Thanks to Erica's example, I will be backing EVERYTHING on scrapbook paper this year.  Instant cuteness!

{Erica Bohrer}

{glitter it up}
When all else fails, add some sparkle. They won't be able to see the flaws with bling in their eyes! ;)

you know it's summer when...

I love this Linky Party idea from Jeannie at Kindergarten Lifestyle.  How do I know it's summer vacation?  Because I actually get to take one!!  :)

Here's a few pictures from our trip to St. Maarten {The Friendly Island} in the Caribbean!

{Our beautiful resort on Little Bay.}

{Gizmo welcomed us by helping with the luggage.}

{The view from our balcony.}

{I love local, handmade, hand painted items!!}

{Hubs & I getting ready to do a sunset cruise.}

{On the catamaran on the Mediterranean.  Amazing.}

{I found a real live hermit crab in his shell!  Don't worry...I put him back!}

{Me & hubsy}

{At Maho beach watching the planes come in...very close to the ground!!}

{Beautiful sunsets no matter where we were!}