Packing It Up! {w/ Mrs. Decatur's Little Gators}

Hey y'all! I seriously am in total denial that the summer is coming in HOT!

 My room is barely taken down or packed up, which is so unlike me! I like to take pretty much everything down each year even though this will be four years in the same room, same subjects, and same grade for me! I just like to start fresh each year while building on previous years do's and don'ts. You can tell by this pictures its the end of the year, stuff is falling off the walls and I am not bothering to put it back up! 

My holy grail summer tip is to make a "Summer Look Out" List in my phone because lord knows I will not be carrying around my planner/notebook/28 differ list pads while I am bopping around town all summer! 

Before I really get started packing up, I just walk around my room 'surveying' the goods! Each year is different. Some years I have a full prize box in May, some years, like now...it is running super low! So I add "student prizes" to my look out list. So when I am at big lots on July 12th, I can double check to see if I really do need  those 12 packs of smelly highlighters!

 I don't like to over buy during the summer or purchase things I won't end up needing. This especially relates to craft supplies, which are not provided by my school (think googley eyes, glitter, paint, chenille sticks). Sometimes I use it all up and some years I have plenty but I will not remember in the middle of the summer. 

I also like to add things that need to be replaced each year but are not your "standard" teacher supplies like dry erase or bulletin borders. Things like my birthday pencils, or calendar numbers.. some how I lost the "1st" and the "3rd" this year?!? So I will be on the lookout for a new set! 

{Five for Friday}- July 17, 2015

How did we get half way into July, y'all?! I have been having SO MUCH fun! This summer is still in full swing, but it is flying by! I'm still so excited to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday again this week! 

I had the most fun at the Teachers Pay Teachers conference in Las Vegas! I got to hang out with some Houston blogger friends as well as make new friends too! I learned so much & am so motivated to keep working! 

I got to meet & talk to my favorite blogging teacher, Cara Carroll! I totally went fan girl when we met & the best part was she is super sweet in person! #texasteachers 

I have already been working in my room, with the help of my MIL I covered a huge corner of my room in fadeless paper and my room looks so much bigger! I can't wait to finish it up and start lesson planning! I can never make  myself wait until professional development starts up to work in my room! I would much rather go early and do the time consuming decorating & organizing tasks that I know will keep me happy and efficient throughout the school year, than wait and stress myself out!

One of the things I worked on in my classroom already is organizing my work area. I really like having my desk near my small group area. In past years, I have had it on opposite sides of the room, I feel like I waste time when I have that set up, so this year, I am using a small desk {that I covered in black contact paper & duct tape, it was super ugly brown} up against the wall and my small group table is facing the door! 

I have been having lots of fun with my pup Halle this summer! She LOVES to be outside & in the water! Here she is at the doggy park playing in this little tiny pool! 

We made some homemade whipcream & mango for dessert & someone got to lick the whisk! The best part was her using her little paws to wipe her chin off and then licking the whip cream off her paws. I was cracking up, it was too cute! 

How are you spending your last few weeks of summer?

July Currently

I always love reading everyone's currently to see what everyone is up to. During the summer its even more fun to see goals & travels. I have so much going on this month, but it is all super fun! 

Listening: I am watching "The Tomorrow People" on Netflix. It is a pretty silly show, but its good background noise for computer work and planning! I am always looking for a show to keep on in the background while I work, study, or clean! Recommendations? 

Loving: I have been reading "Unshakable" and I really like how 'real' it is and actually applicable. Each idea seems achievable in my classroom and the positive approach to everyday teaching is a great rejuvenation for the new school year coming up {and something I truly needed}. There is a wonderful book study starting on Facebook July 15. I will be in Cabo San Lucas, but hopefully I will be able to join in from abroad.

Thinking: I am thinking about what on earth I need to pack for Vegas, I have read a ton of blog & IG posts about what to take. I have my labels made, buttons ordered, & name tags printed! One of my lovely roommates is helping my print & bind my handouts! She even made a special cover for the front, how sweet is ELAeveryday?! 

Wanting: Vegas! Simple enough right? I have never been to Las Vegas and I could not be more excited. I have the best three suitemates and I just know we are going to have so much fun! I cannot wait to learn and grow as a teacher and TPTer! 

Needing: To start checking things off my todo list. I have so many lists, one for back to school, Vegas conference, my Cabo vacation, first grade team meeting, and my beautiful sister's bridal shower! So many lists, so much fun, so little time! 

All star: I am choosing organizing, I love to arrange things & get organized, which is lucky because I have a lot going on this month! 

Head over and link up with Farley for July! 

Garage Sale Gorgeousness!

 I had the most fun this morning with Stephanie from Mrs. D's Corner, my bloggy friend and now my friend in RL too! We went all over in search of some second hand finds for our classrooms! 

 

The first sale we went to (of course Steph had an app for the sales) was a teacher retiring from 20 years in second and 3 years in first grade! To say the least we hit the JACKPOT! 

This was our combined haul in the trunk! All for $30!

I got this UNUSED Lakeshore game! It has been opened, but the pieces have not been used! I have the CVC and the CVCe game, so this will be a great addition to my word work materials. 

My second awesome find was this set of easy reader biographies. I have quite a few biographies and books on historical figures in my classroom already. But I very excited to add these to my collection and my firsties will actually be able to read and learn from these since they are on level. 

I have a genre library and a leveled library in my classroom. Read more about my classroom library here. I got these to add to some of the most beloved series in my classroom. My girls last year adored Amelia, hopefully next year they will too! 

These books are on tape, I have mostly switched over to books on CD at my listening center,  but some of these were just such great titles, I couldn't pass them up! Read more about my listening center here. Plus, I don't want the kids to forget what a 'tape' is! HA. 

Here is my entire haul....all for $10! If you find any second hand classroom finds make sure to use the #thriftyteacherfinds and link up with Mrs. D's Corner on Instagram!

What are you looking for at second hand stores and yard sales this summer?

{Dare to Dream} #TPTSellerChallenge-Week 2

Its week two of the TPT Seller Challenge with PeppyZestyTeacherista, Sparkling in Second, Teach Create Motivate, & Third in Hollywood. This week the challenge is to think about our goals for our business! I spend a lot of time working on my blog and TPT store, today, I am sharing why!

1. I love seeing new places & meeting new people. I would choose to have "an experience" over "something" any day of the week! I would rather keep my paid off car & have an extra week long vacation! Traveling with my husband is just the best, he always manages to find the coolest spots and things to do! 

2. I try and save a lot of the money I make on TPT for a rainy day when we may need it! I'd like to keep this fund growing! 

3. As of yesterday, I am officially HALF way done with my graduate program. WHOOOO! I have one more face to face class meeting on Thursday, and then Friday will be when my summer really gets going! I don't start back to classes until the first week of "kids at school" in August! 

Be sure to read the hosts blogs & check out what some of our colleagues on TPT are dreamin' about! 

{Five for Friday}- June 19, 2015

Hey, everyone! I'm so excited to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday again this week! Its so fun to read everyone's Five for Friday's during the summer because so much is going on! 

My husband  & I recently purchased new bedroom furniture, with all of the last week of school crazy, summer traveling, and grad school..I just had time to get my vanity all organized. Since this is the place where I start my days, I like to have it look inviting and organized! The top drawers are very very shallow {it is supposed to be a desk} so I was struggling to find makeup trays to fit. THEN I found these $1, Dollar Tree serving trays & they worked like a charm! 

So since we got new furniture, I am looking for the perfect lighting to hang above our sitting area! We have two, VERY ugly fans in our bedroom, we will be replacing the one above our bed with a prettier fan & the one above the seating are with something like this! The best part is that I told my MIL I liked this one and 30 minutes later, she texts me a photo of almost the same thing for sell at HEB!? What...haha who knew HEB had chandeliers!? 

I ordered new glasses, I have been wearing the same pair since 10th grade! I wear contacts 96% of the time, so I don't normally need glasses, but it was time! I got the glasses in the picture above for less than $30! WHOOP.

I am so glad that I join in {I almost didn't, but FOMO} the #TPTSellerChallenge. I hadn't created or refreshed any product since September of this last school year. The challenge got me back into the groove & I ended up making over about half of my products & I deleted some altogether! 

I was even inspired to create my logo banner & make my 'quote' a picture ad! I love the end results, but I think I need to try again on the quote! 

I saw so many wonderful lists of summer reading, I really had to be honest with myself, I KNOW I will not finish 8 PD books this summer. So I tried to choose the ones that I really thought I could read and internalize before August. I just got these last night & I already read 3 chapters of "Unshakable". It is so real and motivating at the same time. It doesn't pretend that every teacher is happy everyday and is always prepared. It helps you see your 'authentic self' and offers small improvements for your daily mindset. If you are looking for a PD book this summer, I highly recommend it! 

What are your summer PD must reads?