I go back.... To watchin summer fade to fall. (Kenny Chesney)

My new hundreds chart is about 3 times larger than my old one.  A long time ago I had lost a whole role of numbers 41-50 and made my own.  While looking for replacement numbers I learned that you have to buy a new chart :(.  So I held off for as long as I could.  During some of my 100th day activities I've lost a few more numbers.  So I finally replaced it.  I'm excited too because the 5's are in blue and the 10's are in red.  LOVE the pattern.  I take each set of numbers (for example 1-10) and mix the up along the bottom row and then the helping had of the day has to find which one they need for the chart.  This is just set up for orientation so before the first day I will be putting out the numbers.  Almost to the first day!

 

"I drew a line, I drew a line for you, what a thing to do, it was all yellow." (Coldplay)

I've been busy, I swear I feel like I've been working 2 jobs lately.  I was getting my room for our orientation and then at night I was working on my new monster desk for room.  My last post was about how poorly I was doing hanging my colors bulletin board.  I finally got that straightened out.

You know your doing it right when you staple so much you break your stapler!

 

 

When you come crash into me baby, please come crash into me (Dave Matthews)

While working in my classroom today I was doing what I normally do and climbing onto tables and chairs to reach up and work on bulletin boards.  So being oh so graceful and light on my feet, I nearly fell off the chair a few times.  I wondered what would happen if I went crashing to the ground, who would hear?  I blast Pandora while I'm working and the custodians only come down to the end of the day around 4pm.  I just need to be more careful I guess. 

I was hugely frustrated with one of the bulletin boards I had tried out.  I've moved my colors to the front of my room and there are 11 to organize and I cannot get the spacing down.  Plus I can't hang anything straight to save my life.  I walked away from it today and I swear the whole time it was mocking me.  I'm getting the big ladder tomorrow, and hopefully my friend Jen will be around to help me get things straight. 

 

This is my Dr. Seuss Bulletin board for numbers.  I tried to do a scrunchie boarder and it turned out awful.  So I just stuck with what already knew how to do and that's a straight up boarder.  My walls are growing more colorful by the minute. 

 

Hey, Good Looking, whatcha got cooking? (Hank Williams)

I've always had an issue with my old alphabet chart.  It's cute but it just doesn't cut it.  So I went and created my own.  Here is my old one.  It's not bad it's just blah!

 

 

Here's my new one and it's awesome!  I do worry that it's not big enough but I also am creating something for my kiddos at the table.  It looks great and I even hung it straight which is a slight miracle. 

 

It's been such a long time I think I should be goin', yeah (Boston)

I started a project last summer.  I just finished it today, well sort of.  Last year at the end of school our technology room was being renovated an we found all of these chairs just tossed in the hallway.  There were perfectly fine except ugly and uncomfortable.  So I snagged 4, 2 for home and 2 for school. However I was told I would NOT be allowed to bring them back to the building.  I then asked what if they look better? 

So I tore them apart and bought some new fabric and spray painted them.  I added new upholstery too and learned a very important lesson.  DON'T cheap out on the cushion.  I did.  My butt regrets it. 

Here is the one I just finished for my aid who loves tie-dye and peace signs (which you can't see from this picture).  If you compare the below picture to the above you can tell that there is a thicker cushion on the bottom chair.  I got a real deal on high density foam at Joan Fabrics.  Now I'm going to bring mine home and add more cushion as well!

 

 

A change, a change will do you good (Sheryl Crow)

Sometimes you just inherit furniture.  This colorful container holder was passed down to me.  At first I just wanted to toss it.  It's missing some of its buckets but overall it is pretty handy in my room. My room is full of color but the teal just looked odd in my room.  So I tore it apart and sprayed it purple and white, our school colors. It's lightweight and at a great height for kids to use in my room when they needs a new glue stick or pencil or crayon.  I had extra baskets that fit in it too.     

In case you haven't figured it out yet I try to use a song title for all my blog entries.  I figured I should start giving you the artist too!  Been working on monster desk, named for its size, not because I'm turning it into a monster. It will be 10 feet in length when done and covered in a layer of silver glitter over a black base.  More to come! 

Keep holding on 'Cause you know we'll make it through



So, I've been overwhelmed.  VERY overwhelmed.  My classroom's a mess, I have meetings the next few days and won't be able to touch a thing in my room.  There are a lot of changes that are happening in school.  I'm changing a lot of my curriculum to try out the new state modules, which means a lot of reading and prep, and I'm not thrilled with the NYS way of justifying K-2.  One of my closest friends was laid off and it's really depressing not having her in the hallway getting ready for the new year. 

I've been just plain down, emotional, teary down.  Not at all me. 

HOWEVER while today started out pretty sucky....(Hard pouring rain ALL the way to work, parking lot closed for sealant, had to walk up a hill in the rain in flip flops and was late to meeting).  The meeting ended up pretty okay.

To make my day better, I sold my first product on TPT. My only paid product so far because I've been so overwhelmed.  So whoever you are thank you.  You lifted my spirits today! This was what they bought.

D'Nealian Polka Dot Alphabet