Happy New School Year 2015

Ok .... here I sit. I had big dreams of being an amazing and inspiring blogger about a year ago. Let's just face it. A new grade, new school, new district, new state, and blogging didn't make its way into my life as easily as I thought.

I have a new dream this year. A big, giant, aspiring dream. Want to know what it is? I am going to see how it goes. That's my big dream. I will blog as often as I can. I'm not making any big promises to myself that I may not be able to keep again and feel {guilty}!!! That is not a fun feeling.

So, today ... Happy New School Year 2015! The funny thing is that today is actually day 6 at my school, and I'm just now telling you Happy New School Year. But, it's ok. I don't feel guilty at all because I didn't promise anyone very much in the beginning.

Currently, my sixth graders are completing a reading screener on Odyssey Learning, reviewing the different types of figurative language and beginning the book "7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" during our class time. Nothing majorly exciting has happened ... yet ... but it's going to. Just wait and see! This group seems to be motivated, self starters and desire to learn. I can't wait to see the places that we are going to go together as a team.

I hope that you are having a great start to your school year, and I look forward to many great blog posts in the future.

Before you go ... take a look at my new room this year. It's sooooo much bigger than my classroom last year!!! I kind love it here!

My teacher area

Everyone talks about the "movie theater" look of my Promethean.
It was not planned to look like a theater. I had to do that for my own sanity.
Whoever installed my board, mounted it on an existing board in a not centered kinda way.
That's just to appease my OCD eye, and it works!!!

I discovered this old school blackboard hidden behind a marker board in my room.
I took the marker board down and was ecstatic to discover that it is MAGNETIC also!!!! 

Classroom Reveal

School started last week so I might as well have my classroom reveal!!!! I knew that I wanted a bright and whimsical design keeping in mind the need for balance between leaving elementary and the first year in middle school. I am definitely pleased with my final result. I chose a boho bird theme with a touch of rustic mixed with paisleys.


First, the shell that was my starting point! Now, this is after my OCD brain tried to figure out how to symmetrically have my desks placed in the room. I have moved classrooms 8 times in 15 years and this is the first time I have started with a clean, blank slate. It was awesome!!!! I have so much respect for the previous teacher being responsible and leaving the room that way. It's just no fun spending an entire day (or more) cleaning out someone else's junk, is it?

  
And, why not go ahead and see the after ....




There is no storage in my room, but I am grateful for the two shelving units that with an added curtain, give a boost of color to the place.

The teacher area is my favorite! I covered my old school desk with fabric, ribbon and flowers. My name banner gives even more color to the space. I totally love my note area behind my desk. I had one of these in my old room and used it every day! It's just pieces of scrapbook paper laminated, attached together and added paper clips to the top of each page to hold all of the important notes. My awesome Thirty-One organizer hangs on the door ready to put to work. I have one of these at home too and I absolutely adore it!!







There are no bulletin boards in the room (which I am ok with) and there are two long empty walls that just happen to be magnetic. Yay!!! I have chart paper frames on each wall to hold my anchor chart or class brainstorm activities. This works perfect since there is no place for a chart stand in here. These magnetic walls are perfect for holding all of the small anchor charts for the week that I can quickly grab and use wherever I need to.

 

I may be in middle school, but I still love those whole brain teaching rules. My kids learn the signs and chants and it makes classroom management easily attainable. Since our school has a 1:1 technology initiative this year in which every child has an iPad, we have something great to use as consequences when these rules are not followed. Of course, I had to throw a touch of Thirty-One in my room with my all time favorite Lots a Dots pattern and a few rosettes!



The Mr. and a friend built this awesome podium and the bookshelf behind it for my classroom. I needed some place to keep my teaching materials and this is perfect! So thankful for a handy hubby!!

This is an awesome picture of how my church family loves on my school crew. My church is an adopt-a-school sponsor for my school. This is a precious prayer warrior walking down and touching lockers on a Sunday night praying over the students that would be coming into my school the next day. Our church members had the opportunity to walk into every area of our school and prayer walk. Love!!!

And, my reveal is not complete without the amazing group of educators that I have the privilege of working with this year. These ladies are a hard working, dedicated team!!! I'm not exactly happy with them for picking to do an impromptu photo on the one day I wore my school shirt and khakis while everyone else is looking absolutely adorable!!!




Just for fun - a before and after view ...

Thanks for stopping by and taking a tour of my classroom!