Take a Tour and get a Freebie

I am finally finished! I am so happy to be away from that room for a over a week and not have to think about it while I am laying out! So, here is my class:

Writing Center

Student Resource Center

I am still in love with my milk gallon containers for pencils, erasers and such! Makes life so easy!

A look from the back to the front... and look at that cutie snacking!

And those wires have disappeared... pay no attention :)

I need to put those pillows in a corner somewhere!

My own little version of a READbox! Click here for a FREE download of my READbox goodies. 

I am going to use these little pocket charts for subject specific vocab/word wall. 

Listening Center

Hoping to add one more computer here!

Word Work/Math center space!

These are IKEA magazine holders that I am using to store subject specific teaching books.

AR Books!

I made a bunch of labels for my book baskets that you can download for FREE here! These labels include the labels from my IKEA boxes, my AR books and my chapter/theme books. 

I guess that's all I got for you! Hope you can use some of my freebies! 

word wall makeover

Ok... I'm thinking about... I'm planning for it...

SCHOOL

I don't want to... but my brain just won't stop! How do I get this thing to turn off... it might only happen when waves are nearby (which won't be happening until next month!)

Anyway, I don't know about your school district but mine is adopting a new reading series this year! I am totally excited for it! Last year I created some weekly Treasures resources that were really helpful for my firsties. This year, I don't know if I will be doing the same for this new series. It is Journeys Common Core by Houghton Mifflin. Anybody else doing this? There are a lot of resources already posted on tpt for Journeys. Especially Journeys in my new grade level...

That's right! I am headed up to 2nd grade! I am really excited and I am changing rooms! A little sad to move from my hallway with the sweet teachers that have supported me this year, but excited to try something new! I have heard so many good things about teaching 2nd grade-- so I am gearing up!

So... 2nd grade Journeys? Anybody using this resource this year? There looks to be a lot of online resources for this curriculum on their site and so many people have already started posting packets/units for it on tpt. There are a few things I am particular about that I just have to make for myself. I like to display the sight words and vocabulary that we are emphasizing each week on our focus wall, then move those to the word wall... and I kinda want it all to match! Yeah, I know... I could just write these on index cards or something... 

I need some matching words that are easily located... So, here is my Journeys Word Wall Kit:

Click this pic to go to TPT!

I saw this pin:

It got me thinking... I want to do my word wall like this! I haven't gotten into my new, large, spacious... room but when I do... I am TOTALLY doing this! How about you? I haven't see a few similar ideas to this cruising pinterest- it must be a hit!

Anyway, you might be wondering why this is called a Journeys Word Wall...
So, each week in Journeys they designate about 10 sight words to focus on that week. This packet organizes the sight words in order from Unit 1 Lesson 1 to Unit 6 Lesson 30. In the corner of each card there is a number like 1.1 or 6.30 (simply standing for Unit 1 Lesson 1 or Unit 6 Lesson 30). Get it? Now you know where to file your cards and they all match! Whew... what a relief! lol

I also included color words, days of the week, and months of the year. In addition to all the words there are blank cards that you can simply add text to in adobe.

Also, included in this set--- the word wall letters to organize your word wall!

I am loving this chalkboard theme! It can be paired with almost any color palette (mine is black and turquoise). I am still going with a little mustache theme but not over the top. I am just going to attempt to keep all my colors consistent! 

If you are teaching Journeys next year and would like a free set of this Word Wall kit, just be the one of the first 3 people to comment below with your email and something else you would like to see for sale on tpt in regards to Journeys! I would love to hear your ideas! 

So, while I am linking up with the Applelicious Teacher: 

I have to share another fun idea I am thinking of doing next year. Last year I displayed all my kids work in the hallway, like this:

Each child had their own and I added their silhouettes! They were adorable! 

I am toying with this idea again, but then I thought of something super shabby chic that I really really want to try--- needing to get the hubs involved though- it will be kinda large.

So, I am sure we have all seen something like this on pinterest:

A little frame with some chicken wire. My thought is to make a really large frame out of {it's a secret}. I mean like 3 foot by 6 foot (or maybe longer)- I need to measure my space in the hallway. We would just use the sparkle clothespins to clip work in the hallway. Maybe add a name tag to the clip... Still thinking on the idea but I think it would be really cool! I will reveal my secret ingredient soon... I promise :)

p.s. If you are a journeys teacher and are just starting out with it (like me) you might need this:

Advice Please...

So, I am trying to create my own planning book. I am doing this for two reasons. I took a class this summer about designing your lessons backwards. This is a more long-term way of planning but it is geared toward student understanding. It is time consuming but there are multiple benefits to using it. Because of how time-consuming the "backwards" planning is, I am not attempting it at this point! I do, however, think this is the type of planning that the new evaluation system (in TN) is looking for. I want to make sure I score high on the evaluations but I also want some of the benefit of "backwards design". So, here is my potential planning sheet:

Click here to see a closer look!

Now to the advice part... what do you think?? Will this type of planning give me enough detail for a good (or great) evaluation throughout the school year??

The good part is I can type these plans, print them out, then make notes on them if needed. Last year I just wrote in one of those books. I still have it but if I had it on the computer I might already have my planning done!

Please, please, please help me out with this and let me know what you think and/or any suggestions for making it better! By the way, I plan on printing front and back (tree hugger-ha!) and keeping these lessons in a planning binder-- see here!

Thanks :)