Classroom Decorating: Day Twelve...Behavior Plan

My behavior plan is always one of the last things I create. I've always done the cards system, where each student has their own set of cards and they pull a card if they misbehave. Last year, my class decided that we should have something to earn if we behave really well, so we added frog sticks if you were caught doing something good. This worked VERY well...my sweeties were always changing to earn a frog! But I still didn't like using the cards. I wanted something that the kids to visually see, so I made this system. 

Please look over the clothespins that do not match. This bothers me TERRIBLY and I even brought them home so I can attach names to cover them up rather than just writing on them! 

Okay, here's the explanation for this system. I saw something sort of like this on Pinterest, where the colors were put in a line and I like that idea. We start out on purple. If you're caught doing something really good, you get to move up to Fabulous Pink (Ms. Leslie Ann's favorite color, of course!) Blue is an informal warning...nothing is sent home, but the child has to move their pin. I added this last year when I still did the cards and it helped out a ton! Before, I had way too many kids pulling to yellow for little things. After the informal warning, they move to yellow (straight face is sent home with a note explaining why), then red (sad face is sent home with note explaining why AND time is taken away at free centers on Fridays). Each color sheet has a message on it, which we will go over the first day.

Hopefully this will work better! I have high hopes!! :)

I told myself that I wouldn't go out to the classroom today since it's my last day of vacation, but I was in a working mood so I went out for just a little bit. I relabeled my book bins in the cubbies using the green polka dotted name plates.

And I made the sign for out my door. It kept having a glare on the laminated paper when I tried taking a pic, so I had to turn off the hall light, which made for an odd picture quality...  :)

It's back to work tomorrow! 

Classroom Decorating: Day Eleven

Back to school time is in the air! I can tell this because I spent a Monday night aka Bachelorette Night in my classroom. Ashley and JP (I'm a JP fan, not Ben F, who up until last week, I couldn't tell apart from Constantine) kept me company while I organized my desk. I didn't accomplish too much tonight, so there's not a lot to blog about but here it is :)

Accomplished: My desk....organized and neat!

I really wanted a new desk, but decided to make do with this...not ideal, but it works!

Accomplished: The first week's math skills displayed on the Math Focus Board. I may change the way I display these, but here's how I'm going to try it at first

Accomplished: The board behind the door. Haven't decided what to put on this yet.

No, those bulletin board paper rolls are not staying there. When I get the final board up either tomorrow or Wednesday these rolls will find their home in the cabinet.

That's all I got tonight! Tomorrow is my *last* day of summer vacation. I'll be spending it being lazy and soaking up the last rays of summer sun. I'll be back Wednesday with some center ideas I've been working on! :)

Classroom Decorating: Day Ten

A few last minute touches. I'd love to say I'm ready for our first inservice day Wednesday, but sadly, I'm not. There are still several things that need to be done, but nothing major. So I'm almost there. Enough rambling though. Here's today's update!

Accomplished: Snagging this **adorable** desk! Is this not the cutest thing EVER???

This belonged to my friend across the hall. She used it as her desk last year, but got a beautiful L-shaped desk this year, so I took this off her hands! She painted the drawers...aren't they cute?? I'm using it as a writing center for one student. Haven't decided how I'm going to decide which student goes each center rotation yet, but I'm going to make it work! The desk is just too cute not to be used, right?? 

***Please note that the top of the desk will soon be covered with pretty containers for pencils and other writer's tools. And maybe a cozy lamp??

Accomplished: Reader's Workshop Charts 

I found these charts somewhere online, but can't remember where?? 

Accomplished: Another entire corner...for those of you keeping up, this means the ENTIRE back of the room is complete! 

Accomplished: My "How to find 'Just Right' Books" Chart

I found this on an old computer, so I have no idea where the idea for the  chart originally came from, but I thought it was great! It's in my meeting area, which also doubles as my buddy reading center during center rotations.

Accomplished: Added names to my bees. The font is Doodle Tipsy for anybody wondering. One of my favs!

Accomplished: Outside Student Work Display

A week from tonight I'll be preparing for the first day of school. Bittersweet. It's been a good summer but I'm ready to meet my little boys and girls! :)

Classroom Decorating: Day Nine

It's almost done! Just a few finishing touches and all will be complete! Here's what was accomplished today:

Accomplished: Student work display over cubbies

***I've been wanting to have these adorable bees by Sarah Cooley in my classroom since I first saw them. Are they not the cutest things ever??? 

***Couple of things to note. 1. I ran out of bees. I was two short, so that's why the right side is lacking and 2. I still need to add names to each paper

Accomplished: Most of the door...I'm wayyyyy ahead of schedule! I was doing my door the day of parent night last year! 

I saw this door at the school we went to Wednesday for the NEAECC. I still need to put the letters up. It will say "Ms. Leslie Ann's Class is Something to Tweet About"

I also moved my 'mailbox' to the side of the door (instead of on it) and added my name.

I'm loving the name plates I found this year! I love the green polka dots. Here's how they look on the students' desk:

There isn't a whole lot left to do which makes me so happy! :) 

Classroom Decorating: Day Eight...Job Chart Complete!

Day Eight actually took place yesterday, but I haven't had a chance to post until today. It was a day dedicated to labeling books, workbooks, folders, etc. But I did finish my job chart. I've been thinking and thinking about how I wanted to do my jobs this year and inspiration struck on the way to the mall of all places! I saw a "Merry Maids" sign and that got me thinking. I didn't want to call my jobs 'maids' since that sounded like child labor to me HAHA! So, Happy Helpers was invented:

The kids' names are on cards that are in the blue envelope to the side. Each day I pull a card and place it next to each happy helper. :)

I hope to finish my student work display this afternoon. I dread this board more than any because it's above the cubbies, which makes it incredibly difficult to reach! More to come this afternoon...Happy Friday! :) 

Classroom Decorating: Day Seven

Here's a tip for everyone working in your classrooms, getting ready for Back to School: Eat before you leave the house, or bring a snack! I woke up this morning not hungry at all so silly me didn't even think about preparing for later on. A couple of hours later, I am beyond hungry. Sooo day seven was a short working day. Here's what was accomplished before I called it a day (morning?) and headed to the nearest fast food restaurant :) 

Accomplished: My sounds board

I like having a place in the room to add sounds as we learn them each week. For example, our first sound is short /a/, so when we cover that sound, we'll add it to the board and add some words that have that same sound. 

Accomplished: Names attached to Mailboxes...how cute are they??

Accomplished: One corner of the classroom *entirely* finished! 

I can't wait to show y'all how I'm displaying my anchor charts. It's really cute in my mind so hopefully it will turn out that way... fingers crossed! I also have a really cute idea for behind my cubbies, but it's still a work in progress. 

***Reading Street Teachers! Join the linky party and share your favorite SFRS ideas!! :)

Classroom Decorating: Day Six- Meet Schema Susie!

I'm at the point now where I am needing to make things for last minute boards and thank goodness I can now concentrate on center activities, organize paperwork, and prepare for Parent Night. Last summer I wasn't as far as I am now, so I'm feeling good! :) Today, I ran up to my classroom to bring a couple of things back home to work on, so I only have one pic. I created Schema Susie yesterday and she completes my schema board. It's now ready to display graphic organizers and charts! :)

Classroom decorating: Day Five

Whew! Y'all, I'm tired! I worked for about 4 hours in my classroom today and got soooo much done! By the time I left, everything was put up and desks were cleared. HUGE accomplishment for the day! I still have a couple of boards left to put up and some more organization to do, not to mention the massive number of wires to untangle and reattach to my computers, but all in all I'd say I'm making progress! 

Accomplished: Math Focus Board

I'm hoping this works as well as my reading focus board. We use Saxon Math so everyday there's a new skill. I plan to type up all the skills so they'll be ready to be displayed weekly. I think this will be good because now the kids will know what the new skill is and what the week holds. It'll also let them know when a test in coming up (the program gives a test every 5 lessons). We don't do a lesson on Fridays, but it didn't look right with just the 4 days of the week to me. :) We do free math centers on Fridays, so I can put that on the Friday section. 

Accomplished: The title of my Schema Board

Accomplished: My favorite little color crayons displayed!

I bought these my first year teaching and they are still my favorite thing ever! I just love these! :)

Accomplished: Drumroll, please!......the tops of the student desks CLEARED!!!

It's almost looking like it's ready for students! Almost.

See the messy, ugly, black wires?? I absolutely HATE wires! But the front of the room is coming together, little by little.

Classroom decorating: Day Four

Slowly but surely, it's coming together. There's still a ton left to do, but I'm starting to see a teeny tiny bit of progress. Here's what's accomplished by day 4:

Accomplished: the new focus board...I'm so happy with the way it turned out...love it!

***Please look over the messy small group table. That, sadly, has not been completed.

Accomplished: Concept Question Map Board

Is that not the cutest alligator you've ever seen?? I used my Cricut to do the animals. For all you fellow Cricuters out there I used the Create A Critter Cartridge. Favorite cartridge ever. 

Accomplished: A little bit more of the writing center

For those of you who have a writing center, do you wait to put up the word lists and examples of writings until you introduce it to the students? Everything I read says that you should and I'm trying to be good, but it really bothers me to have a part of the wall blank for parent night and the first day of school...

Accomplished: The Dr. Seuss Number Cards above the math board

Disregard the posters on the board. They aren't all saying there..I'm just playing around with what I want. :) Math centers are on the cabinet in the blue bins. 

Accomplished: Paper lanterns hung

Aren't these cute? I found them at Pier One Imports and they were 20% off. This might not sound like a lot, but I NEVER find a bargain, so to me it was a deal! And they light up!

Exhibit A:

Love them!

I've gotten several requests to do a post about my word wall, which has a loonnggg story behind it, so that's coming soon! :) I also wanted to say thank you to my new followers...I have just over 500 now. WOW! Super excited about that. I think it calls for a giveway, don't y'all?? :) :)