Robot Classroom Theme

So I have to start back at the beginning...where I left off seven years ago--mainly because I feel my entire style of Classroom décor has evolved.  This school year I went with a robot/science type of theme.  As always, I drew from tons of different brands and resources to put my theme together.  Unfortunately, most of these décor packs are no longer carried by their main suppliers, however, a quick search shows plenty of gear/robot inspired items still out their!  Most of my bulletin board pieces came from:  Robot Talkers by Carson Dellosa, Riveting Robots by Creative Teaching Press, Dollar Tree Décor packs, Oriental Trading, Pacon Bordette and things I carry in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  This theme was so fun to put together.  I would really like to revisit it now incorporating more of STEM/STEAM angle.  It is definitely still relevant today!

These were SO fun to make!  I used a silicone robot mold and melted old crayons down into new, fabulous robot crayons!

The nametags and bookmarks are from my TPT store.

I wish I had a link to the giant robot bulletin board corner huggers because I ADORED them, however, they were from the Dollar Tree.

Just a quick Sneak Peek...a bit of a Classroom Reveal

It has been almost a month...I know...no excuse other than I felt I had to cut back on my computer time...so my blog was the one to go.  But I just HAD to share how my classroom is shaping up!  I'm not done...at all. I have a million things I still want to finish...but here's a look at some of the beginning work.  These pictures show it in varying stages of completion!

One of my first jobs--covering my bulletin boards with paper...covered that bookshelf with contact and duck tape...put up vinyl owl clings around the room...and made my deco-mesh wreath.

Next I put up my alphabet line--this is from my TPT store.  I hole punched them and connected them with mini colored brads.

I also covered my cardboard divider with black butcher paper and chevron duck tape.  I use this divider to make the computers NOT visible--otherwise they are too distracting.

I hung up my behavior clip chart, and made tiny clothespins for each student...

I made the magnets for my lunch/milk count boards.

I added the multi-colored background paper to my LONG bulletin board...though I still have not put words on it!

I started (but never finished) my calendar board...

Even though I spent WEEKS making my owl schedule cards...I ended up using my same ones from last year out of pure laziness...My schedule hasn't been made yet, so these are just stuck on here...also notice my owls by my clock!

I started my bulletin boards--I've done my birthday board, job board, and library/prayer board...close ups to come another day!

Notice I put my name tags on the FRONT of my desks--saves on the life of them!

You can't totally see it, but I jazzed up my mailboxes with some neon colored duck tape--my daughter's are in love with it!

And finally...

My door--these little owls took me two whole days--not going to lie.  I used my Tiny Hoots clip art to make an outline template...that printed, cut, and glued all the pars together!  My background paper is a special wrapping paper I found at TJ Maxx...and I am HOOKED!   This will be my door paper until eternity if I can continue to find it!  It was the perfect size--no trimming the edges, and it was paperless paper...made of stone.  It feels, cuts, and lays AMAZINGLY!

When I finish, I will take more detailed shots, these are just my hubby-pics.  Whenever I am at school working, I snap pics of what I worked on so I can show him when I get home!  :)

Classroom Craziness...

So, as I mentioned, I had BIG plans to head back to Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and the Dollar Tree yesterday with my bestie, Jenni.  Both teachers, we had one thing on our minds...CLASSROOM SHOPPING!  It was great fun, and we found TONS of great stuff!

Big tin standing owl--SO cute...Michaels for like $5.40 or something!  Tiny standing owl came from Hobby Lobby...Owl Cutouts from Dollar Tree...Vinyl Wall Clings from Joann's Dollar bins, two more butterfly swatters from Dollar Tree--now I have all 4 of my colors!  Paper packs of cardstock were also on sale at Michaels.

Owl die--hope he is compatible with our cutter...tissue paper fans from the Dollar Tree, only I won't be attatching the flower in the center, but my own Black & White & Bright circle centers.  Mini paper bags for my birthday board, and borders--green one's on clearance at Michaels for $1.99, and the others were $3.99, but buy 2, get 1 free!

He will be hopefully stuck in a big plant for my room!

Ribbon...was 1 dollar at Michaels...not sure where it will go!

So CUTE.

And...my very FIRST washi tape rolls!  YAY!  Not sure what I'll use them for, but I'm sure I'll find something!

I also got some classroom things for my "robot" theme that I am doing NEXT year...so I keep stockpiling it!  Remember how I said I have my daughter, Payton, in my class this year?  Well, next year I have my son, Carter!  So for him I have picked a robot theme...so I grab everything I can for that whenever I see it.  Claire, my youngest, will be the year after him...and she keeps asking me what HER theme will be...and whoosh...that's just way to far ahead, considering I get bored every five minutes.

One last thing before I go...I realize I have been SUPER negligent on throwing the love and freebies around lately...I PROMISE there will be big, wonderful things on the horizon...I just have to find the time!

Happy Birthday, America!

Well, as a birthday tribute to our great nation...I have assembled a Birthday Balloon Decor Pack--free for you to download through the 4th only--so don't wait!  Last year I went with the Birthday Balloons from http://onceuponafirstgradeadventure.blogspot.com/.  You can see them in one of my earlier posts HERE.  And I loved them.  I made them up before school started, and never had to think about it again!  Who doesn't like simple?!

Well, I wanted to make new ones this year to match my decor...so I started designing a bunch of different ones...hence this pack!  My plan for this year...is to find a place in my classroom to do the gift bags I've been seeing on Pinterest...like these:

or smaller bags like this: 

Then I will put the smaller labels that I made for this pack on each bag.  I will use the large label on a cup/can/container that I will place all the Birthday Balloons in.  THEN...at our Open House, I will have each student choose the Birthday Balloon they want, and they will place it in the proper gift bag--so it is all ready for them when their birthday rolls around!  Birthdays made simple! 

Here are some pics of the Birthday Balloon sets included in this pack:

This pack will only be free through the end of July 4th--so don't wait to download it!  Click any of the preview pics above to download!  Please share the love and drop me a comment at TPT when you download--we teachers need to support each other!  :)  Happy Fourth Everyone!

Shopping Success!

Have I mentioned that I love summer?  I love sleeping in or staying up late...not having to be anywhere at any certain time.  However, I'm not going to lie...I have barely taken a minute off as far as planning for next year! I watch TV--I'm on my laptop working on school stuff...(I may even have taken my laptop with me out to the pool yesterday...)  I go shopping--I'm looking for fun stuff for my classroom.  Oooo...speaking of that, I forget to share a few other fun things I got during the Hobby Lobby excursion!  Here's something I was VERY excited about (though my picture is not the best):

It is a BIG owl wire...THINGY?  FOUR DOLLARS!!  I'm very excited...I am going to hang it up in my classroom and use it to hang student notes/messages on it using these:

I have had these tiny clothespins for YEARS...I bought them because they were tiny and cute, and I FINALLY found an actual purpose for them--GO ME!

And finally, I went to Walmart and stocked up on some cute flyswatters for my classroom.  I know I have come across lots of activities for flyswatters in the classroom, and it is one of those things where I often think to myself...that is SO easy and fun...why aren't I doing it? 

If anyone has any super fun flyswatter activities, please drop me a comment or a link--I would LOVE to hear your ideas!

Okay, folks, that was short and sweet, but the truth is...I got an email that Vistaprint is having a sale...and I have been wanting to order the custom designed stampers that all the teachers in cyberspace are blogging about...so this may be my chance...therefore I must go check it out!

Introducing..."Feathered Friends"...

So, a quick post before I head to bed...I've been working on a couple of different projects right now, and one of them is my new "Feather Friends" Classroom Decor pack.  This pack has super-sweet clip art of owls, birds, and tulips, and its color scheme is turquoise, coral, yellow, and pink.  I started out with deskplates and then moved on to Bible verse posters.  I realize these won't be for everyone, but as a Catholic school teacher, I am always looking for cute decor that shares the faith.  After they were done and I printed them out, I actually decided I'm going to frame a few and hang them in Payton's new room when big-sister Rachel leaves for college!  Here's a quick glimpse at what I have so far--keep checking my store for other additions--there will be more for both public school teachers, as well as us private school teachers!

Click on any of the pictures to see them in my TPT store!  My 20% off sale is still going on if you hurry!

Ten Pin Linky

I have been meaning to do this for days now...but so goes life!  I'm joining Just Reed's Ten Pin Linky Party on Classroom Decor...because what teacher is not combing through Pinterest for such ideas?

This is what I chose:

I just LOVE this poster and sentiment!

I love everything about this job board--the look, the velcro names, the  ribbon!  Awesome!

I am so ready for a change from my bathroom passes.  I think these boy/girl plates are too cute and would look great by my door!

I have wanted to do this awning since last summer...and I swear one of these days, I will!

In my classroom, my bookcases are old, beat up, and non-matching.  I think this would be the perfect way to camouflage and unify them...but do you think lamination would be enough to keep them from getting bent up?

I am also someone who gets cluttered shelves...I think adding curtains on tension rods would be a great solution!

I LOVE Ladybug's Teacher Files Alphabets--they are SO modern and cute--will be buying before fall!

Using the back of a shelf and file folders for extension activities is an awesome idea!

I wish I could find a good rocker at Good Will so I could personalize it like this...super cute.

And finally...

I know this is mine, but this is the angle I really want to go this year...black and neon--I love this look!  I'm trying to rid myself of red this year, as I had TONS of red in my classroom last year...moving on to pink.

Thanks again to Just Reed for hosting the party!