A Different Kind of School Year

This school year will be quite different from previous school years. Why? Well because....

We could not be more excited!

However, with the news of a little girl on the way we had a decision about my up coming school year. After much thought my husband and I decided this school year I would take a year off. It was so hard watching all of my teacher friends go back to school this year without me, however I know this is for the best. 

We are excited to see how much this little girl will change our lives. 

So, since I am not in my classroom this year but I wanted to link up with Blog Hoppin' I decided I would show you my previous classrooms. I am not going to lie, it was killing me to not be able to decorate a room. However, it was also nice to not be climbing on tops of desks to hang things up :). 

My 2013-2014 Classroom: 

AR Quiz Line and Math Tubs:

Read to Self Book Bins:

Word Wall:

Classroom Library:

Writing Work Station:

Poetry Station: 

My small group/ desk area:

 

  

Student Work Board:

 

My 2012-2013 Classroom:

Word Wall

Main Stage- Reading Focus Wall/ Meeting Area

Classroom Library:

Poetry Station:

Math Focus Wall/ Calendar Math

Pocket Chart Workstation: 

Celebrity of the Week board:

Materials for small group:

Small Group table:

Student work:

I cannot wait to see what my 2015-2016 classroom will look like. ;)

Thanks for checking out my pictures!

If you would like to link up with Blog Hoppin' too click the picture below. 

Random Updates: Part 1

So here it is... what I have been up to for the months that I have been absent.  I will try to take you through a little journey of classroom and life through pictures! 

Currently this is taking over my life! Small groups! I had bought the light from Wal-Mart and the sign was a Christmas gift from a sweet student. When I realize the light was magnetic I immediately had an idea to through this sign together. I placed it behind my small group table. Therefore, when I am working in a group my kids can easily see the light on. :) 

I kind of love it. 

We have been focusing on Non-Sense words. I wrote lots and lots of them on cute cut outs. Now each time I meet with my group we can practice a new set of words. We have REALLY focused on blending and reading the whole word. I think the cute and colorful cut outs get my kids pretty excited (they like new cute things, like their teacher). 

Also, I recently found Mrs. Wills' Writing Station! I am truly in love with this concept. For January I added her make a list, story, or label it to my station. I put up the I Can list in clear sleeves above the paper bins with hold the appropriate papers. The clear sleeves make it easy so I can change the pear out each month. I also put the black line master behind the I Can List in the clear sleeve in case we need an extra copy. My kids REALLY enjoy going to the writing work station again! PTL. For February I added the "I Can make a Card". Ohmyword. That was the hot item of the week! 

In personal news, life has not slowed down. 

We celebrated my birthday with a full weekend of festivities. 

Started with a Mexican fiesta...

Then, birthday bowling in New Orleans :)

The cake my husband got for me. He knows me well. 

And if you are unaware, the South is in FULL Mardi Gras swing. 

2 balls down, 2 more to go. 

Birthday weekend Mardi Gras Ball...

My husband was a duke this year in his hometown ball and his mother was a past queen. 

Hopefully I will be able to write my part 2 update with lots of holiday activities that were going on this year! 

New look, New year!

I have been patiently waiting to show you my classroom pictures when my blog face lift was complete! Thank you Kerri from Cutest Blog on the Block for the makeover. My blog needed a little 'blogger botox' to perk her up, and I think we definitely accomplished the "fresh" new look!

So without further ado... Welcome to my room!

This year I decided to change it up in my classroom. I was over the neon and Rockstar theme and needed a change. My goal was to go for a more preppy nautical look this year! With a few details missing, I like how it turned out! And I apologize in advance that some of the pictures are blurry, it took me a while to get a hang of the new camera.

Classroom Hand signals:

Student Mailboxes:

Read to Self Book Bins:

Word Wall:

AR Quiz Line and Math Tubs:

Classroom Library:

Writing Work Station:

 

Pocket Chart Station (which is missing a lot):

Student desks:

Listening Station:

Poetry Station (ignore the poems, I just hung something up for the picture):

My small group/ desk area:

 

  

Student Work Board:

 

Behavior chart, rules, and portable work stations for literacy (which after looking at this picture I realized I hated how it looked and needed to make changes):

 

 

So glad this blog post is finally up! Now hopefully I can start posting more often! 

Cheers to the start of a new school year!