The Three R's: Resources, Registration and Rediculous Heat

Resources.....

Two wonderful teachers have created a page with a wonderful resource - a page full of 2nd grade blogs!!!!!! They just started it up and plan on offering a place for all the teachers to share and collaborate. Head on over and check it out!!

Registration.....

Today is registration and I am SO excited!! The sight of those kiddos coming in, getting all excited about coming to school!! I get to go in and 'work' this afternoon and I can't wait. :) We have always done it at our school in our gym. However, who wants to come into a gym that is 90 degrees??? Not this girl! They always have the doors open and the fans on but no matter what, you get discusting! (none of our buildings have air except the jr.high/district office) So, this year we are changing it up. Registration for all 7 schools (3 K-2, 3 3-5 & Jr. High) is all going to be at the Jr. High! I am excited about being in the air but I am a little curious about how organized this is going to be and how its going to go.

Rediculous Heat....

Okay, I know other people have said this but it is HOT!!! Don't get me wrong, I love summer, I love heat and I hate being cold. But when I have to bring my dog in after five minutes to prevent heat stroke and I am already drenched in sweat, its just rediculous! I feel like I've spent 90% of my summer inside. :(

On that note.... I am going to finish cutting up my laminate stuff, shower and probably head to school. My classroom is almost ready and we start on the 18th! What am I going to do?? Probably blog stalk and possibly create some things from Pinterest.... who knows!

Sweat, Organization and Weirdness

I don't know what is wrong with me.... I was at school yesterday and today probably a total of 4 hours and.... I GOT A LOT DONE!! It's so weird. I am not an organized person and I am not productive. I think all this inspiration from you Bloggy people is helping me to be motivated and inspired! I can finally feel comfortable posting pictures of my room - although its not ready. Notice I am not in ANY of them because it is about 95 degrees in my room!! (NO AIR! - and no plans in the near future to get it) If it is this hot in August I might die... we all will!

I am in the same room but I completely reorganized the layout and organized all of my stuff. My goal for this year is not only to be organized myself but to teach my students organization - something they did NOT have last year. So, without further delay....



My great find from the Dollar Store... Not sure what I am using them for yet but they are color coded! :) One of my mini trashcans is missing a lid so I am going to have to go back and complain! The big 'trash cans' will definately be used for art. I always have scrap paper all over the floor or they get up every five seconds to throw their scraps away. Each group will get a trash can in the middle of their desks then at the end of art it will all get dumped! :) Yay for saving me stress!!



My library getting started... See below for more done.

My cubbies/storage with EVERYTHING in them... This was a big task!

Starting to look at lot better....

I've organized my math manipulatives so I can FIND things! :)

My book baskets - I made new labels but ran out of ink so... thats a different project.

Full library with cushions and my big shelf that I got at Menards - $40!!



The start of my writing center




In front of my desk - A few bulletin boards, a table I use for centers and my behavior managment system (green, blue, yellow, orange and red cards)



Another part of my library. That chart has my library card checkout system. I took a picture of it after I made it with my phone then later realized I didn't have a picture on my camera. That will be the topic of a later blog...

This is how my desks were when i came in. I'm okay with that because it makes it easier to move around while I'm still getting organized... When thats all done I'll set up the desks! :)

My sign in/check out table - not done yet. I have mailboxes (on the floor) which I use to pass out graded papers and flyers that I don't need back. I may not keep it on the floor but I want it by this table and it doesn't fit on it or under it... I have the pink and green things for homework and the big pink bin will be for their take-home folders after they turn in their homework. The fishbowls on the board are for attendance. Each bowl has a number. When the students come in they grab a fish (with velcro on the back) and stick it on their bowl. It takes a quick glance to see who is not here!

My desk! It is mostly organized.

More of my desk area... That crate is full of stuff I need to do... so is that black thing on the shelf by my desk...

The shelf behind my desk... my hubby made it for me! This holds my resource books, binders, my daily papers, etc.

My new mini chalkboard that I stole (borrowed) from my in-laws. The other side has a whiteboard which is facing my carpet/library. It also has a role of paper on the bottom so I can pull up and write about it. It was just sitting in their garage... what a waste! I am VERY excited!!

Well, thats most of my classroom! I am very proud of what I have accomplished in the last few days. I only have a few things to sort through and my hallway bulletin board, and focus wall to put up. Other than that I need my class list so I can start labeling things! With that said, I brought home some Mailbox magazines and a book on guided reading (which I am going to try to implement). I guess I have some planning and reading to do!!!

Stressed out Newbie

So I thought i was fairly "techie" but I can't figure out how to post a comment! I feel really silly. I have tried a few different times and I don't know what I am doing wrong. I type my comment and it asks what to post it as. I click on google account, sign in (even though I am automatically signed in) then I click post and it wants me to sign in again. It is an endless circle so I give up.

In other news. I went to school on Monday and I got a lot organized/accomplished. I also went to the dollar store and got some AWESOME organizing bins - 4 different colors for different centers or groups or something. I don't know yet. I will post pictures when I have time but as of now i am playing the waiting game. I am painting our whole upstairs (which consists of bedroom and bathroom) and I am between coats.

Hopefully someone can help me so I can start contributing to the blog world!

Thanks!!!

My First Post

Hello!! I have spent the last two or three days drooling over I don't know how many ideas on who knows how many blogs. I am amazed at how many creative, wonderful minds there are out there!  After all that time spent on my laptop I decided I had to keep up with all these wonderful people and what better way than to create my own!  So here I am.... hoping I can learn and grow and possibly even share. I have a LOT to learn but I have no worries as I have found lots of people who know SO much!

We start school on the 18th and I know that is a month away but I have school on my brain. I think I get really bored during the summer - maybe that will change with kids - but I am excited and going to school tomorrow to work, work, work! I'm sure my coworkers will think I'm crazy but its good to know there are other people out there who share my enthusiasm. Here's to learning!!