Pinterest Project Thursday! Organizing My Classroom Library

Don't tell me I'm the only one that made a "Things to do from Pinterest" B2S list!! I mean- there are just so many pins and so little time! Well, lately in Pin-land and blogger land I have been seeing all of these SUPER organized classroom bookshelves, and I think to myself - "Who are you and what kind of time do you have?!". Well.......the more I looked at those beautiful baskets with labels, the more I wanted them in my room. I stalked looked at about a million blogs and pins, and even looked at some labels on TpT, but couldn't find anything that was just quite right! Then, I kept looking at my shelf, and it just didn't seem organized enough. You can kind of see from this photo - there were just baskets of books. Some authors were together, but not all - and the kids were getting everything all mixed up when they try to put up their books. The more I looked at the shelf, the more my left eye started to twitch!!

Some authors were together, but not all - and the kids were getting everything all mixed up when they try to put up their books. The more I looked at the shelf, the more my left eye started to twitch!! 

I found the CUTEST chevron labels for FREE from this label blog (I just did a Google Search!) I didn't like the size, so I played around in publisher and did 4 per page. Then, throughout the day today as I was walking around monitoring students,  and after school for about an hour - I resorted my books. It actually a nice way to do inventory of my books. I used to have about 20 A to Z Mysteries- I'm down to 5!!! I also sent my 5th and 6th grade books down the hall to a friend -- I haven't been in 5th grade in a few years, and I  really like 3rd and want to stay here. She also hasn't been teaching as long, and was SUPER grateful for the books. I kept some of my books I just couldn't part with, and I organized what was left. (Still hundreds of books!!) 

Much better!! The top shelf are my Newberry Winners that I read to my reading group - and some of my advanced books are closer to the top- at the beginning of 3rd grade, I only let a few students pick those. 

Is anyone else obsessed with Beverly Cleary?! Timeless classics - I think I have every book she's ever written! I read them all as a child. 

I grouped together similar genres, such as Percy Jackson and the Guardians of Ga'Hoole -- both being fantasy and a similar reading level. 

I had a lot of books that didn't really fit into other categories- and I started looking. I bought these books because of the awesome characters -- so I created this category! 

Books about sports and books about animals always appeal to my boys - what could be better than reading about football!! 

On another note - today my students went on a "noun hunt" around the school. They had so much fun!!! It really made the activity come alive, and they were scrambling to finish their list. 

The students walked through the cafeteria as lunch was being fixed - they were impressed with the hustle and bustle they usually do not see! 

I told you I had a great group! Look at those kiddos working!! 

I was SUPER excited when I got home because my new Thirty One catalogs came (along with the goodies I ordered for my GIVEAWAY -- check out yesterday's blog to enter!! - None of these items are in the giveaway-because they're not even available yet! ) 

I am in LOVE with this new tablet case-- WANT ONE NOW! 

Check out the new option on the Lil' expressions!! I WANT IT ALL

LOVING the owl lunchbox!

Seriously-- are these not the cutest!?! If you want any of these bags- email my personal email - I'm a Thirty One consultant, and I can get you what you need! 

shmilybub@yahoo.com 

Hope everyone is having a great week back - whether with kiddos, in meetings and work days  or still in full swing summer! 

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday! Linky Party

Today I'm Linking up with Covered in Glitter and Glue for What I'm Loving Wednesday! 

To see more What I'm Loving Wednesday's - go on over to her blog: 

So, what am I loving this week??

1. I was allowed back in my classroom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is not a product - but I'm SO incredibly happy to be in my classroom setting up! 

2. CONTACT PAPER -- Seriously - this stuff has given my classroom a whole new look! I picked mine up at the Dollar General for $2.75 a roll! I love the black and white -- it really makes the colors in my room POP! 

Book Case Before!

Book Case After! 

Small Group Table Before

 

Group Table After

3. Black and White! Continuing on the black and white pattern - I just love the elegance of B&W! Check out this "Welcome" letter I wrote on this B&W Chevron template. 

Are you totally loving the look?? (That's just a picture of it on my screen -- if you want it, go to Danielle's TpT store HERE and get it! It was FREE!) 

4. Felt. Say Whaaaaaaat? Did that crazy woman just say felt? Yes - yes I did. See -- for YEARS we have had tennis balls on the bottom of our desks to help them move on the floor without scratching the floors up. Yes, they are expensive, but one of our teacher's husband is a Tennis Pro - so he donates them to us! So, we used what we had. They didn't allow the desk to form groups though because the tennis balls created a gap! Soooo frustrating. One day I was cruising on Pinterest, and I saw this post. (Go look). It said to use felt on the chairs.....why not desk I thought?! So, I put it on my Pinterest to do list - and thought I'd never have the time to do it. By myself, I wouldn't have! Thank Goodness Tierra, a high schooler who works for me during the summer who is an aspiring teacher, donated her day to me to help in my room!!! 

Complete!!! I couldn't have done it without her. She even helped my BFF Candice with hers! 

5. Computer Play Time -- 

I L-O-V-E all things Technology. Really! I know I haven't been blogging as long as some others - but I run 3 weeks of technology programs for my district every summer. It's kind of my thing! I don't get much "play time" though -- it's all work flow! So, I was very happy to get to spend some time playing around, and even created this sheet for my morning math: 

Do you love it? Go to the previous post to download it for FREE! 

6. My Family 

I am loving my time this summer that I got to spend with my hubby and my fur babies. I have had lunch with my hubby at least 3 days a week for the whole summer! 

Here they are tonight relaxing after dinner ready to snuggle up for a movie! Both of my fur babies are rescues - and they are rotten! I love being home with them more. (I did work all summer, but I went in later, and left earlier - leaving me more time with my poochies! ) 

7. New followers -- My tiny baby blog is growing!! I have more than 10 followers! (I count bloglovin' and blogger!) I am so flattered that many people would want to read my writings! So, THANK YOU for reading :) 

Hope you all have a fabulous Hump Day! What are you Loving this Wednesday? 

Monday Made It!! Teacher Toolbox

If you are a teacher, and you're on Pinterest, chances are you have seen "The Teacher's Toolbox". I have had this on my "To Do" list since last May! However, since I teach in Virginia, May is the "Land of Standardized Testing" -- so no toolbox was made! It has been on my summer list for several weeks now, but my summer work at the Technology Office has consumed all of my time. As you can imagine, I was SO excited to have an excuse to go to Lowe's this week to pick up the box for this! I wasn't sure if I wanted a tall toolbox, or a wide toolbox, and spent the better part of 15 minutes in the aisle trying to decide! My friend Valerie over at http://asking4seconds.blogspot.com made a really cute red one that was tall. I am jealous of all of her drawers, but I really liked the look of the shorter version. The dark blue also went well with my decor- but I may spray paint it black later. I picked this up at Lowe's for about $16. 

Here's a close up of the label - you can even order them on Amazon: 

So, I was left with 8 large drawers and 14 small drawers to decide what to name. While I poured over Pinerest post of others trying to decide what drawers I needed, I started cutting scrap book paper to cover the drawers. I made a template for both the small and large drawer front, and then chose 3 different prints from my scrapbook paper pack that I purchased from the local Wal-Mart for $5. (This pack has 50 pages of paper - at 10 cents a page, that will last a while! It only took about three half sheets. I could have probably just used one, but who wants every drawer to look the same?!) 

I used double sided tape on the inside of the front of each drawer, then just pressed the cut paper down. It stays flush, and I know that I don't have to worry about tape coming off the corners! I could have printed off labels to tape in - but I thought I may want to change some of the drawers once I start filling them up! I wrote on the outside of each plastic drawer with a black Sharpie. A neat trick you may not know about, is that a little rubbing alcohol takes permanent marker right off plastic! I even changed one or two as I was working. You can see one of my first drawers here: 

I did have some assistance with the project -- Angel watched over my every move, smelling every scrap of paper along the way! 

To keep some kind of pattern, I tried to do 3 large drawers, and 4 small drawers in the same paper. I did this for my first and second paper patterns. For the third, I only did 2 big drawers, but 6 small drawers. 

This didn't take much time at all - I actually worked on this while watching a movie, and things always take extra time with my special helpers! As you can see - they were a big help! 

 Here's the final finished project! I decided my labels would be:

 Big Drawers: pencils, index cards, pens, sharpies, tape, Post-It's, markers, highlighters 

Little Drawers: pins, flash drives, binder clips, Lottos (a reward system our school uses), small Post Its, staples, glue, rubber bands, brads, white out, rings, Band-Aids, paper clips (s), and paper clips (L)

Some other great ideas for drawers were erasers, hair ties, sanitizer, ribbon, magnets....the list goes on and on! Like I said, I can always take a little rubbing alcohol, wipe off an old label and add a new! 

Thanks for taking time to read my blog! 

Pinterest Project!!!

Pinterest Project Success!

 

So I'm sure you've been seeing these 3 drawer organizers ALL over Pinterest. They're about as popular as the "Teacher Toolboxes" (which by the way is on my "to do" list), and for good reason! They're TOTALLY AWESOME! What a great way to stay organized! Part of my goal this year is to redecorate my classroom. It's been so hard to do in the past because I have moved EVERY year to a different room. That means I spend most of my time MOVING instead of organizing and decorating. (We aren't allowed to go in early-- CRINGE!) 

Anyway- I knew this project was one I could complete in just a few minutes, and that would save me from clutter piling up on my desk. 

I started with a 3 drawer organizer, with the drawers that are 81/2X11 in size. I found mine at Wal-Mart for around $8.00. Our local Roses and Dollar General had the same thing for about $9.00-$10.00.

 I found some super cute scrapbook paper while I was in Wal-Mart too. I was excited because our Wal-Mart seriously downgraded their arts and craft section a few years ago, and I was worried at what I would find. Instead, I spend the better part of half an hour going back and forth between the packs. I wanted them all, but I told myself I could only buy one! I purchased a Colorbok Pattern Pack - it comes with 50 sheets, 25 patterns- two of each. I also bought a 3 pack of scrapbooking letters, and some double stick tape. I always leave all my office supplies at school over the summer!! 

I trimmed the width of the paper first, then used my nail to crease down the paper at the correct height. I could have been really anal about this and measured everything, but I just kind of measured as I went. I then cut the three papers, and stuck on the letters. I used double side tape to stick it to the inside of the drawers, and viola! Finished project! I had to finish quickly - my four legged fur babies were going crazy for me to play with them!

 

A lot of the examples I saw said, "Grade, Copy, Return". I decided I'm pretty good about returning the papers, it's just refiling my own I have a problem with.

 

Next week (I hope) I will make my version of "The Teacher's Toolbox" that is floating aorund Pinterest! That is - unless I make it to Lowes or Home Depot this weekend for a Make It Monday! 

Thanks for checking out my post!