Back to School fun and a freebie!

So I'm fully back in the swing of school, I've been to school about 4 days now (3 days this week) and I have sooo much to do! I mean I should show you a picture of what my classroom looks like but I'm super embarrassed about it's present state. There is stuff everywhere, the floors are covered as are my desk and reading table. I don't have any student desks or table yet, I'm still hoping to get tables for my first graders (fingers crossed!). {the freebie is down at the bottom, but keep reading ;)}

So aside from my classroom I've been busy working on documents and stuff for back-to-school including my teacher binder and a whole year of reading calendars.

I made 2 types of calendar a 2-page and 1 page version

I think my student info page is quite cute.

 I will print the student info sheet and put this parent communication form on the back to keep myself organized!

 I created 2 covers and coordinating dividers pages, but I can't decide which I like best :( What do you think, I really like them both!

Check out my teacher binder at my TpT store (both covers/dividers coordinate with my classroom decor pack too!

Chevron & Bright Bunting Teacher Binder

NOW for a freebie! So this summer I spent some time with some other first grade teachers and we were discussing homework and reading.  We had all tried different things in the past but I loved the idea of a reading calendar.  In our area, our first grade students are given "reading buddies", a stuffed animal puppy, that they keep at school and read to every day.  It's totally awesome and the kids just love their little puppies. As a way to increase reading at home, the first graders have a reading calendar with a goal to reach each month and when the calendar is turned in they earn "prizes" to go with their puppy.  Well since I can't get every one in america puppies for their first graders I thought I would at least share my reading calendar that I made! Aren't they cute!

If you would like to change the minutes goal just white it out and write in your goal, a calendar for each month Sept-June! Click the link!

Reading Calendar! Please leave a comment for me below and tell me what you think! Thanks

Ok well I'm going to take a break from computing now but I'll be back at it tomorrow. Enjoy the freebie!

UPDATE 7/13/16-I've made Reading Calendars for every year the past few years and you can get the NEWEST CALENDARS for the 2016-2017 School Year!! Get them here!

Erika

New Classroom Decor!

I've been hard at work designing my own classroom decor this summer...little did I know that it was going to be SUPER difficult to upload/reduce/compress the file.  It took me over a week of trying different things but finally I just broke down and split my files into two separate purchases. That 100mb limit is a bit frustrating, but all in all my new product looks great! I'm super excited to go to school and get it put up and organize my room.  This past week I moved homes! Very exciting but I hate moving it's sooo much work! I'm living much closer to the action of downtown and can pretty much walk everywhere I would want to go! Even the lake!

Here's a preview of my my classroom decor pack, what do you think? Click on the first picture to go to my TpT store!

 This is my welcome sign and bunting pack! It would look so cute in your class too! Click the picture to go to my TpT store!

Ok well I have some more unpacking/vacuuming to do...I'd rather eat ice cream...or something fun! Anyway, happy Monday only 6 weeks til school starts!

Erika

How's your summer? Wanna Freebie?!

Well It's hard to believe that it's the middle of summer already! I think I have about 6 weeks till I have to go back to school (but I'm super excited) I have a lot to do in my classroom though! I've been hard at work designing some classroom decor, buying book baskets and other things to organize my classroom. I've been working this past week on some thrift store book shelves that I found for CHEAP!!! I got six pieces for under $60! They're in the process of being painted white.  I hopefully will finish them this next week.

 Five of the six pieces that I bought are laminate furniture (you know the cheapy fake wood stuff?!) Well if you've ever tried to paint it...it doesn't work! I found a great tutorial via PINTEREST of course on a blog called Live Love DIY, you can check it out here.

I've also been working on classroom decor, I started it in May and I finally finished it this week! 

Here are my Daily Five Poster! Click the link on the bottom to get them for free!

Daily 5 Freebie

Until next time!

Erika

Fourth of July and a birthday sale!

I'm on vacation! Oh summer how I love thee! It's hard to believe it's already the 4th of July nearly and my birthday on the 6th.  I'll be turning the big 2-9 :(  But that's alright, I'll have a fun 4th and a fun 6th!  

How I've been spending my summer...

I moved into the building from a portable switching from third to first, I'm super excited but super overwhelmed with all my stuff!  Aside from the stuff that was already in the portable I brought in about 8 bins, 2 rolling organizers, 22 books bins and 30 student baskets that were in my basement.  (I have no idea that I had this much stuff!)  I'm not really sure where to start on this organizing project... Thankfully it's not August yet! LOL!

anyway moving on... SALE TIME!

Click on the picture to go to my TpT Store and check out my products!

Oh and follow me on Bloglovin!

Erika

Making the switch!

ga3f4mandxr

I have exciting news....!!!!!!

Well as stated in my profile, my journey to teaching has been long, rough, frustrating and at some points, only hopelessness, but all of my hard work has continued to pay off and I'm more than excited and proud to say that I need one of these! (See below)

I'm officially a FIRST GRADE teacher, FULL TIME no sharing, not that sharing was bad ;)

I found out on Tuesday that my transfer went through and all my hard work has TRULY paid off! Today we had a staff meeting and it was announced to everyone that I would be moving to first grade and the whole staff clapped and cheered.  Everyone congratulated me all day, such a great feeling!

This year has been my first year and I have been working part-time teaching third grade.  I really loved third grade and who knows I could be back there someday.  I'm kinda over the moon right now about the whole thing, it's crazy to know right where I'll be and that I don't have to worry about it at all. Now I'm just ready to get into my *new* classroom and start planning and of course decorating! But I'm seriously gonna buy that t-shirt.  

I know that it will be a challenge with the little ones, not being as independent as I'm used to but I have a wonderful and supportive team that I get to be a part of.  I only have 9 days left! WOOHOO!!!

Any advice, ideas or whatever would be greatly appreciated!

thank a teacher

This time of year, especially this year,  I have so many thank yous for all of my teachers and the teachers who are a constant inspiration to me.  I would have never grown up to be a successful adult if not for my teachers. I really do believe there isn't a better job in the world even with all the hard stuff that comes with it.  I truly love it and I'm so happy to be a teacher.  So in honor of that... it's a Teacher Appreciation Sale!!!!

 My store will be on sale May 7th and 8th at 20% off! AND bonus!!! Enter this code and get of 28% off!!! Code: TAD13 Thanks to Zip-a-dee-doo-dah Designs for this awesome graphic!

Erika (only 24 days left!)