Classroom Picture Update

I promised updated pictures of my room a while back and finally had time to straighten things up and take some pictures on Friday. Enjoy!

Word Wall with Math Strategies above. Book boxes and school supply boxes (all from Target) in the cubbies below. 

Next to the word wall is the rest of our math wall and where the kiddos hang up their backpacks and jackets. On the adjoining wall is an area for student work that desperately needs to be switched up. Those foldables have been up for an embarrassingly long time.

Next to the student work display is a dry erase board and then my small group table and teacher area.

Opposite the word wall is the main focus board with our calendar & materials, hundreds chart, money posters, and our birthdays by month. Then we have our library with our daily 5 posters, various anchor charts (fancy words, peer-edit comments, reader's workshop), and our CAFE area. (Don't mind the huge shape in blue tape on the floor - we are starting area this week.)

And that brings us to our Science and Word Family areas. This will soon be transformed to an aquarium like area for our Ocean Unit that is on display for Open House.

I created two new items this week that took me quite a while. The first is a schema board that I am using during our classroom discussions when we start a new unit. The second is a Nonfiction Text Features anchor chart with pictures that briefly explain what each feature is used for. Since we're starting our ocean unit, both have been greatly used the past week. My kids will be selecting an ocean animal to research so the nonfiction chart will be referenced every day until Spring Break. (which is only 19 school days away!!!!)

 

That's all I've got, how'd you like that? Shout out to Kelli Raspberry!

Wedding Inspiration

While at the grocery store last week, the cover of Weddings magazine caught my eye. I just had to snap a picture! How adorable is this cake???

I am sure that it would be really expensive to duplicate but it will definitely serve as some inspiration when I finally get to this bullet point on my incredibly long list. Have I shared that with everyone yet? Here, have a look!

• Catering - Tasting scheduled for Spring Break
• Bridesmaid's Dresses
• Decor 
• Table Centerpieces
• Entry Table
• Aisle 
• Bar Top 
• Building Entry and/or Elevator Area

• Bridal Accessories
• Flowers
• Bridal & Bridesmaid Bouquets
• Boutinnieres
• Corsages 
• Flower Girl
• Aisle
• Centerpieces?
• Cake
• Groom/Groomsmen Attire
• Attendee Gifts

These are at least the "big" items on my list right now. I really need to get on the ball. Make some decisions. & I need to do it quick! I mean, it's already the middle of February. This school year will be over with before I know and then we'll be dealing with moving and getting settled in a new place as well as preparing for the next school year. Pinterest finds that are piquing my interest include:

Simple hair and a gorgeous, big bouquet!

Found here.

Really like the aisle with just flower petals and candles lining the edges.

Lantern centerpieces with smaller flower arrangements on some of the tables. Would be easy to add some color into this as well.

Found here

Cute sign to have out so you can see your guest's pictures. Love Instagram! 

Found here

Is there anything better than Pinterest? I don't know how people planned a weddings before it existed.

Life: Surprise Trip to Phoenix

As you could guess, I've been a bit busy and unable to blog as often as I have wanted to lately. Last week, I came down with a stomach bug and was out of school for two days. I did feel better on Friday but was so weak from not eating the day before that I couldn't even stand up long enough to take a shower. This really couldn't have come at a worse time because A) a sub didn't pick up the job on Friday so my class had to be split between the other two monolingual first grade teachers, and B) I'd planned a surprise trip to Phoenix to attend my little sister's baby shower. So, after sleeping pretty much all day Friday and with Pepto in hand, we (Lana, Newly, and I) boarded our plane at midnight on Friday and headed to Phoenix.

It rained the entire time we were there but the surprise was successful and it was so nice to get to spend some time with my mom, little sister & brother, and step-dad. We didn't really do much - dinner, played Fun Run (anybody else?), and watched movies - but it was just what the doctor ordered. Our flight home was delayed by an hour so we took off at 3am on Sunday morning and landed in DFW at 6am. Needless to say, Sunday was a very lazy day and we were real tired on Monday. If anybody needs some cheap flights, we used Spirit Airlines and only paid $117 round-trip. I am sure the departure and arrival times had something to do with the cheap price but it was worth it for us.