classroom

Hello and happy Tuesday!

Yesterday was a really productive day at school, my new classroom is ready to go, and I have the first few days planned.

I’ve put a lot of time, effort (and money!) into my new classroom, but I know it will be worth it in the end. The good news is that for the next few years, I will be in this classroom, so I won’t have to do as much next year.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a few things I’d purchased for my room, and today, I’m giving a little tour of my space.

Here’s a peek at a few of my favorite things in my new classroom.

This little purple stand came from one of my trips to Five Below. I will have a few meetings on Zoom, so I can prop my computer on it, but for now, I’m using it for my phone which then gave me a little bit of space underneath for pens and pencils.

Behind my desk, I have some shelves, and I’ve made the most of them. I have a few decorative items, things students have given me through the years, as well as trays for the papers I need to pass back and binders with my unit plans in them. This space is a mix of cute and functionality.

Earlier in the summer, I shared that Hadley helped me put up the bulletin board paper and border and that “August me” would thank “June me” for doing that task. Well, it’s true! It was nice to have the paper and border up, and Hadley helped me with the parts of speech and writing posters a couple of weeks ago. This is a colorful corner for sure.

Hadley also helped me put up my magnet border, and these white board magnets also make my white boards more colorful. Now, I need to actually write the date, learning target and success criteria for tomorrow. (I honestly loathe writing the LT and SC…the kids don’t look at it…it’s all for show!)

I’ve had these “how to pass” and “how to flunk” posters my entire teaching career, so of course they had to go with me to my new room. The banner brightens up this wall, and I outlined the posters with border.

Every year, some student looks at these and says, “Oh…it’s easier to pass than to fail?” #myworkhereisdone !

Under those posters, I put a cute lamp from Home Goods and new trays for papers. My old ones are the traditional plastic ones that I’ve had for years, so I did purchase these new wire ones in a fun purple color.

A few weeks ago, Hadley helped me with my faux bulletin board. When I show it to people who stop by, they think it’s an actual bulletin board. haha

I’ve had the “what good readers do” criteria for many years, so I thought this was a fun way to display that info.

My new rolling podium is for sure a fave!

This little calendar was an impulse buy at Michaels. It makes me feel like an elementary teacher because I feel like many of them have the flip calendars on their white boards. I love how colorful this one is.

I’m going to put a few school related items on this white board, but the clock is a fun touch, and then I added two baskets for papers I will need for class.

You know I love a lamp!! So, I picked up another cordless lamp from Walmart for my desk.

Lastly, this little note pad has come in handy the past week. I picked it up at Michael’s (I think?), and it’s helped me stay organized lately.

The school bell officially rings tomorrow! The thing about having to go back over a week before students start means that I’m definitely ready for the kids to come to school and for classes to start.

Hello and happy Tuesday!

I hope your week is off to a great start. Well, this time next week, I will be at an all day professional development with my fellow high school teachers. To say that I’m clinging to summer would be an understatement. That being said, there are a few things I that I actually look forward to when going back to school…buying my new lesson planner and desk calendar as well as setting up my classroom.

This year, I moved rooms! Moving rooms is a headache, but I was able to get a much bigger classroom after a fellow co-worker retired. So, setting up my classroom has meant a bit more than in years past…by a bit more, I mean what used to take about an hour has now totaled about seven hours of classroom set up…so far!

I’m not sure how many educators read my blog, but you might find other uses for my purchases too. Today, I’m sharing some of my recent classroom purchases.

This wall clock is something that I’ve had saved on one of my Amazon lists, and decided this was the year to buy it on Prime Days! I have it all set up, and I love the fun colors.

My new room has a few bookshelves on the wall, and these clear book ends have worked well for my teaching resources.

I saw this game and thought it might be a fun bellringer idea. I haven’t even read the rules…haha!..but the cards have random ideas…anything from pickles to Harry Potter to public speaking. Anyway, I think this would be a great way to get my students thinking…pick five topics, then rank them first to worst and tell me their reasoning. We’ll see how it goes.

I bought these binders last year, and they worked out perfectly for the four English 1 units that I taught. So, I bought the same four pack for my English 2 classes this year. (I have English 1 and English 2 this year)

With the binders, I bought another pack of dividers. I don’t need a full set per binder…just a few tabs.

I was so excited about the next two items…both magnets.

How cute is this magnetic border? I bought two packs, and Hadley helped me and put it around my white board.

Then, I decided to order this pack of colorful whiteboard magnets. Yes, I can erase the whiteboard every day, but some magnets will stay put all year (like the date, agenda, etc), but I can move around the colorful magnets for classes and activities.

Not the best lighting, but here’s my board:

…and magnets:

I have a “comfy” corner with a chair and a lamp. This rug was a good fit for the space.

Thanks to chrome books, we need lots of extension cords and plugs for charging, so I bought this 5 foot power strip…

…as well as this 10 foot one. In my new room, only two of four walls have outlets which means I’m using lots of extension cords and power strips.

I also purchased this magnetic dry erase marker holder. I have two white boards put together, so I figured these would be good at each end of the boards.

This pencil holder was too cute to pass up.

Lastly, I’m cheating on “Happy Planner” with this Hadley Designs planner. I’ve purchased other Hadley Designs things like lunch box notes when the kids were in elementary school, so I knew this would be a good option. My school is moving to the traditional A day/B day block schedule, and the layout of this one seems like what I need.

I also purchased these Hadley Designs parts of speech/writing posters to use to finish up my last bulletin board.

During Prime Days, I also bought the rolling adjustable podium that I’ve had on my list, and Trav just put it together for me. It’s perfect for the front of my classroom. It seems to go in and out of stock, but this is the one that my friend has and it seems the same as what I purchased.

The same friend has these light covers too. How cute! Classroom lighting can be harsh, y’all! I haven’t purchased them yet, but I just might in the future.

Besides Amazon, I picked up a few organizational things at Target and replenished some school supplies at Walmart.

I know this may seem like a lot, but most days, I’m at school more than I’m at home. I like for my room to feel organized, cozy, and a spot that students will enjoy. Also, next year I definitely won’t have to buy as much because I will mostly have what I need for this classroom.

If you are an educator (former or current), I’d love to hear what you teach/taught and how many years you have been/were in the classroom.

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Tag: classroom

Teacher Talk Tuesday

Teacher Talk Tuesday