New Classroom Woes!

So today was my first real day in my new classroom-- for those of you who don't know I am switching schools. I will still be teaching 3rd grade gifted, but now I get to teach at the same school with my best friend {EEEK!} The School Belle. Even though she teaching K and I teach 3rd I am super excited to spend time doing what we both love! In fact, Haley already found the most precious T-shirts for us to wear our first day back!

For those of you who don't remember my old classroom.. it looked a little something like this..

However, these last few days I remember it like this..

I LOVED all the natural light that a whole wall of windows gave. I also loved the white walls, since they match any classroom decor. And don't even get my started on my carpet. I may cry if I think about my beautiful carpet. Also, the storage was AMAZING. I didn't think it was amazing at the time, but now I know.

Anyway, I have started moving in to my new classroom, which will in its dreams be as beautiful as my old classroom-- but it has a LOONNNGGG way to go!

My goal is to reveal my classroom on August 1st, so I have some work to do, but so I can get myself jazzed about this.. were gonna go through the positives.

My entire back/ side wall is made up of these movable panels, which are HUGE! Some are bulletin board (ohhhhh yeeahhhh..) but others are pale yellow and I want to be a primary color but I'm actually not in this shade blue. Also I had about 40 foldable chairs, which the custodian moved for me today :) Don't forget to look at that adorable window. 

I have another huge bulletin board at what is going to be the front of my room and some pretty stellar cubbies that are currently filled, but will not be tomorrow! 

Then there is the storage. Ok, I am exaggerating, I have two of these, so I can make it work, but Ms. Winter is going to NEED to stay super organized this year! 

And finally a panorama (it looks weird because I can not follow that line)! And let me just say this makes my classroom look HUUUUGGEE!

I am up for the challenge to make this place my cozy classroom home! All my instagram followers will be getting sneak peaks as I go through the process, so follow me @mswinterswildwest! 

Teachers Still Be Shoppin'

Ok, so this linky party definitely makes me feel like I am not the only one with an incredibly active bank account. I guess Back to School= Shopping Problem for me! However, I am super excited about some new goodies for this year and to link up to Show you what I bought!

 First things first, I am obsesses with interactive notebooks. I bought one for ELA last year and I was OBSESSED!!! So I have added on science, math and social studies ones to my collection. Luckily for Social Studies I found another Louisiana teacher who had made Interactive Notebooks that correspond with our units! Score! Of course I will have to add to these but I feel like I am at a great starting place :)

  

I also purchased some glyphs for the first day of school! I thought the learning styles glyph would be great for me to learn about my students and fun for them as well!

Last but not least, I bought this scientific method template and prompts packet, which will help me teach this concept to my kiddos! 

Oh and then I picked up these goodies in the Target $3 Spot today!

#shopaholic

Happy Shopping! Don't forget to visit my store :) 

Five for FRIDAY!! :)

Today, I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday! Next Friday I will officially be back in school for Professional Development. I am excited to start but anxious about all I have to do!

This week has been especially exciting because I, like Doodle Bugs, got to debut my new blog design. 

Designs by Tennille did such an amazing job! I love it so so so so much! Big Improvement don't you think! 

I also added a new donors choose project to get my Technology Lovin' Third Graders an iPAD. If you have the opportunity to donate this week with the code INSPIRE, your donation will be matched :)! My kids and I would truly appreciate it.

I also got the chance to work a little in my classroom-- until we were kicked out. Apparently it is a construction zone… whoops! I got started on one bulletin board and put some of my new labels up :). 

I am lovingggggg these mustaches!

On a sad note, my absolute, #1, favorite coffee shop is closing today. What's a girl to do?! I almost had a meltdown today when I saw them painting over the sign. Not only does this place have Ahhh--mazing coffee, the baristas are so awesome as well! I have spent countless Saturdays here planning and creating units! They are looking for a new location and I can NOT wait until then!! 

Perhaps the most exciting of all, I am super excited for this girl's wedding tonight! 

I was fortunate enough to be with her when she met her fiancé… shortly after we had a girl power chat!  I wish them a world of happiness in their new life together!! 

{The girls on Amber's Bachelorette Bash.}

Happy Friday!! 

Tried It Tuesday

Well. after being inspired by Pinkadots Elementary's Made It Monday, I decided to glam up my own paper sorter! I did not spray paint it, however I did add in the inserts so you can't see the paper in the door. I am linking up with Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday.

In order to make the inserts, I measured the drawers and cut my scrapbook paper to the correct length. Then I used KG Wake me up to make white letters with a grey outline. After printing the letters, I cut them out and colored the middle with a black sharpie. Then I glued the letter to the scrapbook paper and laminated. Pinkadots used card stock instead so they didn't laminate, but my paper was kind of flimsy! I then hot glued each of the inserts in the drawer. It is now much cuter than before! Thanks Pinkadots!!! Here is my final product:

I also got word that I will soon be able to get into my classroom! (*huge sigh of relyef*) So I printed, laminated and cut my labels for all my bins. Can't wait to show you the final product!!

Well, hopefully I'll have some classroom pics for tomorrow!

Back to School Prep!

Well after a long night of back to school nightmares, I am now even more motivated to do some back to school prep. I hope this isn't a bad sign for this year, but in my dreams I was teaching some unruly high school aged students and I hadn't prepared anything!! YIKES!

After being locked out of school for the summer, I am trying to get everything I can prepared before I get into my classroom. This leads me to present my latest TpT Product Back to School Classroom Labels!

These 24 Labels cover all the basic school supplies as well as templates to create more and best of all they are only $1.50! Come one come all get your school supply labels! Can't wait to print and laminate these tomorrow!

Happy Prep!
Ms. Winter

Back to School Business

Hello!! 

Well as much as I had hope to pound out a Made It Monday the only thing I made it was home. After a wonderful, relaxing, and somewhat overcast beach weekend I had no time to finish up my math homework packet. It will be up before the start of school-- HOPEFULLY!

 But in my blog browsing, I found a linky party today that I am most definitely ready for. 

I LOVE to shop, and when I can include that as school prep I feel way less guilty about it. I have been searching the Target Dollar Spot and Dollar Tree religiously since I have extra time these days :). Did I mention I love summer?

I found these awesome buckets two summers ago at Target, I wished I had bought more at the time and so I have finally added these to my collection! I put labels on them for things such as pencils, markers, crayons, etc. That way it is each for the kids to pick up the whole set bring it to their desk or center area and clean up is quick and easy too!The Target dollar spot also had some adorable name tags. Most of my students know each other already since I am at a very small school, but I use them to level the playing field for new students and to make myself remember the name and face of anyone I don't know yet. 

And for my last Target purchase, I got this planner that I will be using to help me stay super organized. My main goal this year is to become more of an efficient teacher/ TpT seller/ blogger. I hope this will make my task easier. The best part about this planner is it was about $10 and we all know how expensive a good planner can be! It is also super cute. I love chevron!! 

I also hit up my local school supplies store, School Aids to get some adorable borders, desk name plate holders, and name tags. I also ordered some magnetic border. I guess I am behind the times, but I didn't know that existed! I will show all of these when I reveal my new classroom… hopefully BEFORE school starts. We are currently LOCKED out due to construction. 

Finally I stopped at Office Depot, who is having a teacher appreciation sale through tomorrow 20% for star teachers!! If you aren't a star teacher you can sign up and get the rewards!! I got 10 Notebooks, 20 folders, a huge binder, page protectors, and page protectors with dividers all for around $40. What a steal!! :) 

I hope you are having shopping success!!

Have a wonderful day! 

Ms. Winter

Back to School Made It Monday

Today I had a very productive day back at school! So I have a few "made its" this Monday!

First, I create my "When you enter this room" sign. I didn't have much room so I had to be creative, but I really like the way it came out!

I was unable to use all the ones I wanted because of the size, but with the help of CC Fonts, it turned out so precious! 

With the help of my amazing future teacher friend, Brooke, I was able to get tons done in my classroom! I set up my word wall and I am almost done my library! Once I am done I will upload some pictures, but I don't want to spoil the surprise :)

But for my real Made It Monday, I finally finished my Bubble Multiplication Centers!

 Brooke even helped me cut them out so they will be all ready for the kids! I absolutely love the clipart from Melonheadz!

I am absolutely loving being back in my classroom, especially since it is so clean :)

Happy Teacher Prep!!

Ms. Winter