back in the swing....

I don't know how all you bloggers out there do it!

I have been super exhausted since school started! Thank God for TPT and all the fabulous resources out there....My energy level seems so depleted, and I feel like my creativity has gone down the tube!

I have been back in school for 4 weeks and I am finally finishing up my hallway display that I had been putting off since I envisioned it.

Here is my inspiration:



I am in love with this chicken wire idea and it seemed pretty inexpensive...

My plan was to buy some yardsticks and connect them to make a huge 10' x 3' frame (that just happens to be how big the roll chicken wire is!).

My first problem was: how do I connect these yardsticks? The guy at home depot helped me out and we decided I should use paint stirrers glued to the back at the connecting spots. It added a little bit of stability.

I wanted to paint the yardsticks with glitter paint (who doesn't love some glitter paint?!). Then I used my staple gun to glue down the chicken wire.

All in all, constructing the frame and adding the chicken wire took 3 afternoons (after school).

Then, I hung it in the hall with some of those command hangers.

I was UNDERwhelmed. Ever have one of those pinterest projects that goes wrong? A few others told me they really liked it, but it wasn't fitting into my vision! I didn't even take a picture of it (that is how much I didn't like it!)

Then, I decided to cover the yardsticks with some border.... Now.... I LOVE it! It isn't exactly as I envisioned but it is adorable and so useful! I still get to use some glitter by using glitter clothespins to attach my kids' work.

You might notice that I hung some informational posters about dog breeds this week! Last week our story in Journeys was an informational text about "Dogs". The kids loved reading that story and we decided to do our first research project of the year! I paired my kids and each pair chose a dog breed to research. Our breed choices were initially came from Pebblego.com.

**Sidenote: If you have never used pebblego...Check it out! I think our district subscribes to it, and it is fabulous! If you go to the site and look into I believe there is a free trial on the site.

This site provides A LOT of information on a never-ending list of topics! From animals (which are broken down into groups!) to presidents and first ladies. This site is a must-use for research projects!!!! How to use Pebblego:

We started off our research by learning how to use the site. I did an example project about the bulldog (I couldn't find any corresponding books on bulldogs so that worked out well!) Each group picked a dog that they could read about in a book and on pebblego.

We ran into a little trouble though... 2 groups ended up choosing books about dogs that weren't on pebblego, so we did a little Internet exploring during their computer time! (Animal Planet's website is awesome!!)

Each group had reading time and computer time to find information about their animal.
I made a graphic organizer for the kids to guide their research. Then, the kids transferred their info to a big poster display.

The kids worked super hard for 3 days, then on Friday we invited another second grade class in to ours to be our audience. Instead of doing a whole-group presentation we put 4 kids from my class and 3-4 from the other class together.

The other class prepared interview questions before coming in to ask about our dogs after the presentations. It was awesome! The kids were excited about the presentations and about the topic! I can't wait to do it again!!!

This project could still be done without pebblego! The graphic organizer and the headers for the posters are located at this dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1uk566dopqyzql2/dogproject.pdf

Now, I am thinking of a way to make things interesting for this short week too... but, first I think I will take some time to relax!! I hope you do too!

Ten Math Pins

Linking up again with Ashley from Just Reed for ten of my favorite math pins!

Check out the linky party to see a ton more helpful pins! I'm on my way there right now :)

Classroom Management Ten Pins

I am linking up with Ashley at Just Reed again this week to share some my favorite classroom management pins. I am usually really organized and ready to go... last year I felt behind ALL year! I moved to my school literally 3 days before school started and never felt like I was fully able to catch up. I had to put a lot of things just on shelves and cabinets and a lot of it I never got organized quite like I like it. If you are a neat freak, you know how I was feeling! I am actually really excited to be moving rooms this year so I can get everything just right!

I went up to school today... I know... {gasp}. I needed to get a few more things from my "old" room before the new teacher got in there and thought I left it for her. A good friend of mine came and helped me move my furniture {minus desks} into the positions that make sense. Now, I am left with organizing!

Of course classroom management is not just about having your stuff organized.. it's more about having your students organized. So, here are my favorite pins (which I will totally be implementing this year-- or may have already implemented!)

I love how this idea gives the students ownership over the rules. Will totally be doing something like this!

Love this for writing journals, math journals... ok... all journals!

Instead of the "No Name" display I am gonna put this guy next to the turn in basket and it will be a constant reminder that you must write your name on your paper! Love it!

I didn't have a huge problem with this last year but I might start the year with this chart to make sure I don't have another huge problem... :)

I blogged about this a while back. If you are into mustaches, this is available in my mustache classroom decor set. I love how this way of showing who and how they are going home is so easy to change if needed for each day. I hung it and will hang it right by my door for easy access. Love it!

This pin is actually for pointers while reading to help your little ones follow along. I am going to use this for my pick sticks though. Write the name on one end and put the gem on the other. Then after you've called on that person you can flip the stick over so you only pick the ones with gems. Love it!

I am new to the clip chart system, but plan on implementing this year. I love how this gives you a place to put those worn out clips that have gotten so many gems! Totally doing this!

I don't know about you but sometimes a lot of times when we are creating gooey things we have to spread all of it out around the room for drying time... I run out of places to put things to dry! I love this system... and I know I can make it look beautiful! :) Wondering if a pizza place will give those for free... hmmm...

This is one of those... Why didn't I think of that?! moments! I am planning on putting my whole sub binder in picture format.. That way there is no guessing! I can put pics of kids, pics of where things are located, etc. {This might help me remember where I put things too!} lol

Who loves when all your kids who need help come up and surround you? It is my biggest pet peeve-- I almost feel clostrophobic! I can't take it!!! I am in love with this pin... Making it....like NOW!!!

So, that's about it...I mean... there are A TON more pins out there that will be utilized but these are my top 10 that I will for sure be using and geting started! Also, check out my freebies section for a classroom rewards freebie that is sure to keep them making good choices in and OUT of the room!

p.s. I have hooked up with BlogLovin'. You can start following me there :)

Late to the pin party!

I am late... late for a very fun pin party!

Ashley at Just Reed is having a very fun pinning party! I am a pinterest junky-- so this is right up my ally!

After much consideration...Here are my top 10 pins for Classroom Decor:

I am loving this board.. especially for the first couple weeks of school as we get to know each other:

These little guys are so cute! I have the perfect space to put them!

I am hoping to implement this type of framed work in the hallway for a class display...

I blogged about this pin the other day! I am loving the way this word wall is set up... I will be doing this with my chalkboard themed word wall and some bright ribbon!

So, it turns out there isn't as much "magnetic" space in my new room! Looks like an oil pan could be useful...

I love these fabric covered cork boards! This is a perfect way to make your desk space {or any space for that matter} cute!

We didn't fill buckets this year... I am thinking we will stick with the peacemakers/peace breakers. I love how this pinner uses peace signs! Adorable!

I am in love with this painting! This could be another first couple weeks of school project!

I am loving the pegboard look. I actually want to use pegboards in 2 different areas.

I really really want to make this little bench with some crates! I can't get enough of crates!

I will for sure try to link up on-time this week with my classroom management pins! If you haven't linked up... go do it! I want to see your pins!

Monday Made It Fun

It is here! I have been waiting ALL weekend for this fun bloggy day! You think I am joking but I am soooo excited to share with you this absolutely fabulous craftivity that I made this weekend!





So, last week I found this pin....

I mean wow! How cute are those balloons! As soon as I saw this picture I couldn't stop thinking about how darn cute these things are. They kind of led me to the inspiration of my classroom decor for next year... HOT AIR BALLOONS! So, you guessed it... I turned this pin into my pinspiration of hot air balloons! Watch and see how I turned that to this:

You will need a few other things but we will get to those in a moment.

Here is what you do:

1. Put paper towels or newspaper down in the area you are working... this is messy!
2. Make a Tupperware container or a bowl of liquid starch. The pin said glue and water mixture but this seemed easier. You can buy this bottle of Sta-Flo for $3 at Walmart. 
3. Blow up balloons. I only did 4. It would be fun to do some big and small. Mine aren't all the same but they are similarly sized. 
4. Dip thread in liquid starch and start wrapping around the balloon. When you think you have wrapped enough, wrap a little more...looks can be deceiving! When I finished wrapping, I used a paint brush to put a little bit more starch on the whole thing. 
5. Hang to dry. (They will drip so hang somewhere that it won't matter or lay newspaper underneath). I waited over 24 hours.

 

6. Pop balloons and scrape off any extra dried starch. I hung mine outside; b/c of the weather the balloons shrunk by themselves, all I had to do was pull out of string.

They didn't all turn out perfect. I think the balloon in my pink one started deflating before the starch was completely dry b/c there are some lumpy parts on one side. The others look awesome though!

At this point you can stop if all you want are the balloons. If you want hot air balloons, keep going...


7. Now you need a few more supplies.

Brown paper to make origami box

Scissors

Some kind of string or twine

Hole punch

Orange ribbon

8. Click here to go to some awesome origami instructions to make the paper basket. You have to scroll down b/c there are instructions for a top to the box too (you just want the bottom). I found some adorable scrapbook paper on sale at Michael's that I used for this (it looked like a burlap sack). 

9. After making the box, hole punch one hole on each side of the box near the top. String with short pieces of twine or string. 

10. This was the time consuming part. You have to find the perfect places to tie the string to the balloon so it doesn't look so lopsided. 

11. Add a small orange bow to the bottom of the balloon (you know, the fire!)

You have completed an adorable hot air balloon! 

This poor balloon looks deflated! It will work though :)

Now you can see my hot air balloon pinspirations! In addition to this craft, I created a whole classroom decor set for hot air balloons. It includes almost everything you could possibly need to the get the year off started right! 

Click the picture to see all that is included in my TPT store!

I am already heading to Joann's and Hobby Lobby for cloud fabric for some new curtains! I would love to hear your thoughts about something fun I can add to my room with this theme...