Classroom 101

It's getting to be that time...I went into my classroom Tuesday for the first time. I brought Dan with me so he could help move furniture, there is no way I could have done it alone. Here are some "before" shots.

Lauren had called me Monday to "break it to me gently" that all of our bulletin boards, border and lettering that we were told we could leave up over the summer had been torn down removed from the walls. I had been contemplating a new theme so here's my chance!

I'm not thrilled that everything was taken down without us being given a chance to take it down ourselves. I would have liked to organize my lettering instead of seeing it all in a pile on my counter top. Luckily, nothing of mine was ruined...other teachers suffered the loss of expensive fadeless butcher paper and we will all be logging in extra hours to restore our classrooms to their former glory. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind starting over and I am extremely lucky that I am not one of the teachers who had to pack up their classrooms and move rooms or schools. I'm only bothered by the unnecessary reorganization that will need to take place, I would have taken everything down if I was given the chance :(

Lauren and I went in yesterday to arrange her furniture and come up with a plan. First we needed Starbucks and a trip to Lakeshore. $$$$$$$$$ and a couple of hours later, her room looks great and I'm so excited for her now that she is teaching Kinder (although we will really miss her in 1st!) She also helped me tweak my set up and hang two bulletin boards.

This will be my carpet area and word wall. I got a new to me easel on wheels, I'm so excited! I'm in the market for a new rocking chair pillow. The theme of the word wall is "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and it's hard to tell in the pic, but the border is Eric Carle. I'll be testing my artistic skills when I attempt to make a caterpillar to adorn the board.

This is my math/calendar board. The border is green and white polka dots and I got the idea for the banner from Abby at The Inspired Apple, check out her tutorial! The theme is...Chicka Chicka 1,2,3. I plan to create the coconut tree and add the numbers, arrange the second banner and put up my calendar activities.

You may be wondering how Chicka Chicka and The Very Hungry Caterpillar fit together in a theme but you'll have to stay tuned for the writing wall, reading library and phonics focus wall before it all comes together.

I plan to savor the last and final week of summer before I "officially" report back next Friday. This is the plan unless the daunting task of a caterpillar and coconut tree keeps me awake at night...