Creating our passes.

This summer a few of my favorite teacher friends and I got together to make some of our Pinterest inspirations a reality. Over the years, I have had my share of hall passes. They often get lost, broken, become a weapon, or are so germy and disgusting that they don't last. I have tried all sorts of different kinds, styles, anf materials. This year I have decided to try clothes pins. I needed something cheap and easy, but also not something the kids would need to hold on to or potentially set down. Also wanted to keep the bathroom germs to a minimum. This seemed like a great and inexpensive option to try out.

We hit Hobby Lobby and bought thin wooden rectangles or circles depending on our taste, repositionable vinyl that we could use in the Cricut, ribbon, spray paint, and fun Washi tape to cover the clothes pins we grabbed at the Dollar General. 

Here they are:

We are 4 days in and so far the clothes pin passes are working great. The Washi tape may not be sticky enough to last, so perhaps we will switch to Duct Tape if needed.

Paint Sample Bookmarks

I spotted some cute bookmarks on Pinterest that were made from paint samples. I decided that this was a perfect idea for my back to school gift to my students. They turned out fabulously and my new batch of 4th graders love them. My classroom is animal print themed, so some stamping, corner cutting, eyelets and curly ribbon... Voilà, bookmarks!

A brand new year.

One year down and the second year has just begun. Last year was amazing. I had a fabulous class, awesome co-workers, and learned so much. Perhaps this year it will be a bit easier to actually keep up a blog. Stay tuned for a few posts about my fun summer Pinterest projects.

Clipboards Galore

At the end of last year my retiring co-teacher gave me a box full of ratty old clipboards. I graciously took them and didn't really think I would use them in my new room. Well, thanks to a Pinterest for the reminder of what fun things I could do to them. I have spent the last few weeks spray painting, attaching scrapbook paper, and clear coating almost 30 clipboards. I also was inspired to personalize some as gifts for a few special co-workers. It was a project, but I love that each of my animal themed pods will have matching clipboards for each students in that group. I am planning to store them in one of the drawers at each group's supply caddy.

Before Beautifying

Here are a few before pictures of my classroom. These are from the last few days of last year. I was lucky enough to get in and snap a few pictures while the previous teacher was still there.

A New Journey Has Begun

I am just beginning to prepare for and set up my 4th grade classroom in a new building.  I have spent the past 7 years teaching 6th-8th Literacy, and now am making the jump to a new building and a whole new grade level.  This summer has been one of patience and projects.  I had to wait almost a month to get into my new room because of summer school, summer cleaning and my beautiful freshly waxed floor.  After much anticipation, I am finally in and beginning the task of organizing and beautifying my new room.  What a mammoth undertaking.  Luckily I started with a pretty blank slate, so after a little cleaning I have started to make it my own.  Stay tuned for pictures.