chair pockets

I have two big DIY projects this summer: small group seating and chair pockets. I've been looking on Pinterest for ideas on both of these. I think I'll go with the paint buckets for my small group seating. I like the idea of crates but I wonder if they wouldn't be tall enough for my kindergarten kiddos. I'll tackle that later but am going to start working on chair pockets. I didn't have them this year; instead, each table kept their journals, etc. in a tub on our counter. I like my tubs - I found super cute chalkboard labels but bunting that I've put on them but it takes time to move them to the front of the counter when we need them and then kids are tipping them over and ugh, I'm ready for something else! I love the idea of chair pockets but not having to sew them. So, I was beyond excited to find a no sew alternative! I'm going to go thrift store shopping to see if I can find of bunch of pillowcases for this project. I want to possibly find some thick pillowcases that will be sturdy. I'm excited about how easy this is and can't wait to get started!

no sew chair pockets

summer!

Summer is here! I'm ready for the time off and the time to regroup. As teachers, we know we'll still be working this summer. After my room is cleaned, I'll be getting it ready for my next group of kiddos. I love the freshness of a new school year. Everything is clean and new. So what do your summer plans look like? I have a few trainings I'll be going to and will get my room set up and organized. It was my first year in that room so it's pretty much taken me the whole school year to figure out where I want things and to start going through things that I inherited from the previous teacher. I feel much more prepared when my room is organized :) I'm also taking a missions trip - that will actually wrap up my summer. My goal is to have everything ready before then so the last week I have off can just be relaxing! Happy Summer!

tpt sale!

I've been waiting for a Teachers Pay Teachers sale! There are several things on my Wish List I've really wanted to buy but was hoping I could get on sale…and I did! And it's really great because most items are already on sale PLUS you get to add the promo code on top of that PLUS TPT credits if you have some! I found some great CVC stuff and a huge guided reading product! I also bought a story starter bundle…that will grow each month! I was especially excited about that one because I was able to buy it now but have new writing prompts added each month. 

Some of my other purchases:

blends and digraph freebie

I'm making a goal for this year: to blog! Eventually, I want to be one of those extremely creative teachers who make and sell products on Teachers Pay Teachers. Eventually :) But for now, I just want to work on consistently sharing good things I find and what works in my classroom. 

So I'm passing along these great freebies from Mrs. Lemons! I found her original post about two years ago and immediately downloaded the posters. But then this week I couldn't find the file and realize I hadn't pinned it on Pinterest either (what did I do before Pinterest?!). But then after much looking I finally…finally…found what I was looking for!

Not all of my kindergarten kiddos are ready for blends and digraphs but some are. We've talked a little about them off and on but once we get back from Christmas break, I'm going to start talking about them more. I've already backed my posters on teal paper and just need to laminate them. I originally thought about making a cute bunting with them to hang at my small group table but these posters are too big - something to think about for next year though :) Instead, after we talk about a blend/digraph, I'm going to run a string above the bulletin board at my small group table and hang that poster on the string. 

Click here to go to Mrs. Lemons blog and download the posters for yourself :)

~ Amber

to do list

So I found out this past week that I'll be teaching first grade come August! I was a T.A. this past year but taught first grade the year before that. It's a long story but instead of last year being a step back it really wasn't since it's at this school that I was hired! I look at last year as a chance to regroup and be able to watch some great educators as they teach. God works things out - even if we can't see how at the time. So I'm in the midst of starting to make a to do list, preparing to move my stuff to my classroom and getting everything ready! I'm going through my boards on Pinterest, getting lots of inspiration :)

elapsed time freebies

It's been a while but I was looking for some elapsed time ideas to use with my group of second grade kiddos and found these freebies!

task cards

fairy tale writing project

cards

number line

sharing some chevron love

I like patterns - polka dot, mustache and chevron. I came across some super cute chevron freebies I'd like to pass along. Enjoy!

welcome banner

teacher notes

classroom rules 

Here are some more great ideas!