Classroom Redesign with Creative Teaching Press

Hi friends! I know a lot of y'all are still in school, but my first official day of summer 2015 was this past Friday and here it is, the first week of summer and I'm already thinking about my classroom decor for next year! I've never really had a classroom theme. I've just always done bright colors, and while I still love having pretty, bright colors in my classroom, I've decided it's time for a change! This next year, I'm going to incorporate a lot of Black and White into my classroom and move away from my signature brights. This past year, I've started loving how black bulletin board paper looks and I think having a entire Black and White theme classroom will be a welcome change. So when I determined that this is the direction I wanted to go in for my 2015 classroom, I immediately headed to Creative Teaching Press to browse their fabulous selection of classroom decor. 

I LOVE their BW collection! From the borders to the letters, everything is perfection! While I love to make a lot of my own pieces, I always start out with the basics (like borders and accent pieces) and add in my own personal touches.

Be sure to click on each image to check it out further! :)

I'm loving these borders:

These nameplates will go perfectly with the BW theme. 

Okay, I know this next item isn't technically a decor piece, but how cute is this pen?? It's always good to match your classroom when you grade papers, right? ;)

I was tickled pink (or tickled black and white!) when I discovered these notecards. I always send a notecard to my kids over the summer and I love that the cards will give them a preview of our classroom. 

There are several different letter styles to choose from in the BW collection, but my favorites are the Dot to Dot styles, upper and lower case. 

I've just highlighted my favorites from the collection, but be sure to check out the entire BW collection for even more fabulousness! 

I'm also excited to pair some of the decor pieces from CTP's Painted Palette Collection like these months of the year:

And these pennants:

And these chart cards:

You can check out the entire Painted Palette Collection and discover your favorites!

I've shown you my plans for my classroom design, but be sure to check out Lindsey's plans too over at Miss Johnston's Journey! Hint: it involves the adorable Painted Palette! 

Now for the FUN part! In honor of Creative Teaching Press's 50th Anniversary, you can win a $50 gift card to spend on their fabulous site! It's the perfect time to stock up on new decor for the upcoming school year! Enter below to win! Giveaway will run thru Sunday, June 7th at 8pm EST. 

In order to enter this giveaway, you must do the following:

Follow Creative Teaching Press on Facebook

Follow Creative Teaching Press on Instagram

Follow my blog on Facebook

Follow me on Instagram 

Good Luck!!

                                                              a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summer Reads

Hi friends! I promise I'll be back with the weekly book recommendations series in a little bit, but for now, I'm diving into summer beach reads. I just finished Luckiest Girl Alive and I'm reviewing it over on my Life + Style blog Southern Belle Inspired. Come read my thoughts on it and then go grab your copy. Seriously...sooooo good! 

Real Talk: Summer is ALMOST here!!

Hi y'all! Normally I use this blog to share happenings in my classroom and give ideas to other teachers out there, but y'all I have 2 DAYS LEFT before summer begins and I. am. tired. 

I've got nothing left. No ideas. No fun activities to pass the time. I'm in survival mode and once Friday arrives, I don't want to think about anything school related for a looooong time. But I did want to talk with y'all today! So I thought I'd share what I'm looking forward to doing this summer :)

I'm looking forward to spending time with the sweetest dog in the world!

I'm looking forward to sitting outside in the afternoons and enjoying the pretty weather.

I'm looking forward to enjoying my back porch. Hopefully it will be fenced in soon so Reese can enjoy being leash free! 

I'll be sharing more pictures of my back porch over on my life+style blog, Southern Belle Inspired. Be sure you follow it on Blog Lovin'!

I'm looking forward to actually blogging more on Southern Belle Inspired :)

I'm looking forward to reading, reading, reading! You can follow me on Good Reads to see everything I'm reading. I've started keeping up with how many books I've read this year by creating a 2015 list on the site. It's fun to look back and remember the different stories. :) 

The Good Girl 

This one is being compared to Gone Girl. I was not a fan of Gone Girl. I LOVED the movie, but could not get through the book. The Good Girl, however, was wonderful! Love, love, love!

The Girl on the Train 

 Another book that is suppose to be like Gone Girl. This one was great and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. I normally would not have picked this book up, but after repeatedly seeing it on the best seller lists, I decided to try it out. Sooo good!

99 Days 

 I LOVE the young adult genre and this one was a quick and fun read. I like books that keep me guessing which character the main character will end up with and this book did exactly that!

Big Little Lies 

 I haven't read this one yet, but after Reese Witherspoon instagrammed it, I ordered it. If Reese liked it, I'll like it! :) While I haven't read this book, I have read What Alice Forgot by the same author and I loved it!!! 

The Selection is my favorite series of all time (except Harry Potter, of course!), so when The Heir came out, I preordered it in order to have it the day it was released. It was nowhere near as good as the first three in the series, but I expected that since this one follows the main characters' daughter and is set 20 years in the future. With that said, I would still repurchase and read again. It wasn't great, but it still captured my attention and so I'll be preordering when the next one is released! :)

When do you get out for summer? What are you looking forward to? :)

A Modern Teacher Planner GIVEAWAY!!

Have I got a treat for y'all today! I'm sure y'all have heard of April from A Modern Teacher. Her blog is one of my favorite reads. She always has the BEST pictures! They make me happy just looking at them. If you aren't aware of her absolutely adorable planners, do yourself a favor and go check them out now! They are the cutest planners around and are packed full of useful pages that will help you become organized and stay organized. 

I've tried many planners, but when I received April's, I knew I had finally found one that I loved. The one I was currently using was too small so I never carried it. I like a planner that is more the size of a notebook so that it's easier to write in and April's is a much better fit! 

I have the Rainbow Chalkboard style, which is almost sold out! As of Friday (5/15), there are currently 4 left in stock! But don't worry! April has graciously agreed to giveaway one to a fabulous Life in Fifth and First Grade reader! Check out the end of this post to enter!

Isn't it fabulous? You can grab one of the 4 left here or enter to win a blue gingham one (so pretty!) below! Giveaway ends a week from today (5/24) and I'll announce the winner Monday, May 25. Good Luck!!!

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