Classroom Poster Storage

I got really tired of having my posters curl up in that all too familiar green and purple box. 

Besides posters curling, the box would get bent and crushed so easily. 

I had a divine revelation about how to store my posters. All you need is, some wall space or space on the side of a cabinet, a hole punch, a few binder ring clips, and a few 3M hooks. 

I have my posters organized by subject, and I have anywhere between 5-15 posters in a set. 

The 2lb 3M hooks hold up nicely (I hope)

The finished product. It takes up essentially no space at all, I can see all my posters, and they stay flat. I'm hoping it will be very useful this school year! 

Waffles.... Fall waffles

I am going to attempt to make these pumpkin buttermilk waffles

http://lifemadesweeter.com/?p=3662

The day I've been waiting for.

In roughly 12 hours, I will be opening the door to greet my first set of students. I'm nervous, overwhelmed and excited all at the same time. I have so much planning to do before then! I've been working with my dad on building student mailboxes with a file drawer underneath. It's not ready for tomorrow, but I should be able to bring it in later in the week. Post with pictures to come. Right now I need to focus on my first day in my class! Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who gives me strength.

Classroom theme in progress

With a group of 3rd graders, I was trying to think of a theme that would but cute and fun for both boys and girls. I wanted to do a jungle theme, but Teacher's Plus didn't have that theme. They had monkeys. Over the summer, a friend who taught 4th grade gave me a little packet of paper monkeys. I took it, not knowing what I was going to do with it. Picked up some monkeys and banana cutouts at the Teacher's store. It sat on my desk for a few days, as I contemplated my theme.
A coworker was laminating her cutouts for her classroom. When I felt the fragile monkey/banana cutouts, I knew I needed to laminate them so that they would last more than a year. Picked up a $15 laminator at Costco that came with several sheets. Figured it's cheap, and if it ever breaks, I can easily return it. (Costco has the best return policies). Started to work on my bulletin board and was very pleased with the end product.

Bulletin Board

Today I finished my banana tree and discipline chart. 

I'm not sure what else I can do without over doing it with the primates. Still need to do a Welcome sign for the door. Any ideas on how else I can spruce up my classroom? Seven days left until school and I'm not even close to being ready. Lesson plans, parent letter, homework packet, routines... so much to do!! 

Planbook

 I was asking a friend about lesson planning apps she used. She suggested Planbook, an ipad and computer application. The ipad app is $5.99 and the computer (mac or pc, up to 4 computers) version is $30. There is a 30 day trial for the computer version. Both ipad and computer sync easily with a dropbox account.


I tinkered around and started planning my lessons on my ipad. It was very easy navigation and setup.

In "week" view, you can color code the classes and easily see the layout of Teacher information, homework, materials needed, and in class assignments.

In "day" view, you see a simplified layout of your classes for the day.


I decided to purchase the PC/Mac version because I have a PC at work and a Mac at home. Typing on an ipad can be slow sometimes, even with a keyboard.

The computer version has alot of the same features, however the layout is a bit smaller and you can not see all the information under each subject. However, my laptop screen is rather small, so I wonder if a bigger screen would reveal more information. On the right hand column you have two tabs that show the Teacher information, homework, materials needed, and in class assignments. Shown above, I have listed the teacher manual pages, and homework for that spelling lesson. 

The computer version also has a "day" view that is bright and colorful, but again, does not show all the information needed. In order to view it all, you must either double click on the subject, or look at the column on the right. 

Overall, this application has provided me with much ease of planning lessons. I may do a walkthrough of planning a lesson in the future. 

About me

Hi! This is Bree, welcome to my blog. This is my first year of teaching, and I'm excited to learn many new things about myself as a teacher. God blessed me with a 3rd grade position at a small Christian school. This position was an answer to prayer.

I am a teacher first and foremost, however, I am always learning from my students and those around me. I love new ideas and want to share some of those ideas with you throughout the year. Hopefully you will join me in my adventure.

Proverbs 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.