A Cheap Alternative to Dry Erase Boards

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Do you have a class set of dry erase boards?

They are perfect for keeping all your little friends engaged. 

• I like to use them as a whole group and have students record and hold up answers. 
• I like to use them in small group, reader rotations, and math workshop because they are more fun than paper.
• I like to use them as scrap paper to save resources.

But, a class set of dry erase boards can be pricey.

Unless...

You get creative and instead use plastic plates. At this time of year the kind I'm featuring are in abundance at places like Dollar Tree and Walmart. During other seasons Solo plates from party stores work too, but these are sturdier.

They come in a bunch of colors. I bought a set of orange because the markers contrast pretty well with that color and I can see my kiddos' work from afar.

I love how easy they wipe clean. If you have little learners, you'll find the edge of the plate is helpful as it contains the marker on the plate (said the mommy who has little ones who tend to color the paper and onto her table).

I also love how they are light and easy to store. The entire class sets stacks and takes up only a few inches of valuable classroom space which helps to keep the room neat and organized.

What do you use dry erase boards for in your classroom?

Pomp and Circumstance

We're often asked to reflect on our teaching experiences. Yet, never before have I had the chance to reflect like I did yesterday. I spent two hours baking in the sun, thinking about how much impact teachers have on students, how much kids are capable of, and how time passes way too quickly. I thought about all of the changes that have taken place over the past 10 years both personally, professionally, and in the world as a whole. I honestly thought it would simply be a fun experience. Who knew?

Yesterday I went to the high school graduation where I had the honor of watching 14 of my former students receive their diplomas. This wasn't just any class. It was my first class at the school that now feels as much like home as my actual house does. It was the class that I welcomed as itty-bitty first graders and had the privilege of keeping as second graders the following year. In fact, I didn't actually say goodbye to these kids until the summer following 2nd grade when they all came and sang at my wedding.  I finally bid them farewell at the church. Needless to say, they are a very special bunch.

I've seen most of them over the years. They were frequent visitors of my classroom while they remained in elementary school. Later I would bump into them around town. Some have scooped my ice cream, bagged my groceries and even babysat my own kids over the years. I've seen them grow up through Christmas card photos, however, this was the first time I had the opportunity to see them all back in one place (minus three that have moved and one who attended a private high school). 

It was such a great experience. I was surprised by just how much ran through my head during the two hour ceremony. As I said, if ever you want to truly reflect on your teaching, sit through a graduation. 

It was wonderful to see the "end result" of what I started. I loved hearing about their future plans and catching up with their families. Aside from the fact that it made me feel so darn old, it was truly a special experience. 

What is your first class doing these days?

Tips from Other Teachers {Ending the School Year Series: Post 5}

This post wraps up the Packing Up the Classroom miniseries. You can read the other four posts here:

Purging Before Packing
Packing Up the Classroom
Getting the Classroom Ready for the Summer
Getting Ready for the New School Year...Before You Leave

For additional tips on organizing and managing you classroom, check out my Clutter-Free Classroom Guide along with my previous blog series on Setting Up For the New Year.

Today's post is a compilation of ideas that were generously shared by readers through The CFC Facebook Page. I always love reading the responses to the questions over there and am amazed at how different teaching can be in different states and districts.  The tips below were in response to a question about packing and moving a classroom.

• Our district's teacher's union is doing a "free to new teachers" garage sale. They are collecting anything any teacher doesn't want at the end of the year and housing it until early August when they are inviting new teachers to come shop for FREE. I think this is a great idea. -Anne

• A lot of good advice here, but be careful about the students you ask to help and make sure you give them clear instructions or else you'll be REDOING all their work! I have learned this the hard way. - Jennifer

• Get the BIGGEST plastic tubs you can find and label, label, label. Middle school kiddos love to help & LOVE movie gift cards - Mke & Mary
• I had a week to go through floor to ceilings of what a retired teacher left me. Save yourself and label boxes once packing is done. While going through items now, get rid of whatever you won't use. It will save you time in those 3 days. If you can't get through box, store it up high and get to it when you can. - Alana
• Labeling, Colored dots to indicate subject areas, something to indicate whether boxes are priority (teacher's desk, things for back to school), everything that is not used at beginning of year goes home. Everything that you need to sort out goes home. Only 1-2 hard copies of any papers. Do it gradually if possible - I stayed after school 2 hours a night for a month so that I would keep my sanity and stamina. Give yourself rewards for doing this hard work. Use one or two really good helpers. Have lots of tape and lots of sizes of boxes and tubs. Good luck!! - Mary
• After 39 years of teaching I just do my best. Sometimes I have loaded it up and gone through it at home. Not my husbands fav but it saves my sanity! Good luck! - Eileen
• I helped my mentee clean out his room by emptying all his cabinets into piles in the floor by subject. We then sorted trash and give-aways to other grade levels, then put everything away in a place that makes sense. I think it had been at least 10 years since some cabinets had been cleaned out! - Stacy
• I've moved a lot over the yrs too, plus having to pack everything & store it elsewhere while walls were being built in our Pod (finally- a classroom with 4 walls after 16 years!). We did all that was previously mentioned, but there are custodians in our buildings all summer painting and doing repairs, so we can get in if we really need too. She should go to her union... 3 days is not enough time and she's doing it for free, to benefit the kids! They should be able to give her extra days, just ask! - Rebecca
• My administration made lots of changes for the comming year. What we have done is band together and work together and WORK to get all of this done. We have one teacher who refuses to move, though. A small group is moving her, while the rest of us move each other. - Katherine
• I had to move grade levels and buildings within my district last year this time. We had to pack my entire classroom before the end of the school year. I was lucky to have two instructional assistants who literally saved me!! I cannot believe how many boxes we packed by the end of the year. It was a wall of boxes. My kiddos did great with it, we didn't start until the last two weeks of the year. And in the summer I did a lot of the initial unpacking so I could put stuff where I thought I wanted it. But I enlisted help from former students (middle school age) who spent a day unpacking, sorting, labeling things. They were happy to help and enjoyed a pizza lunch on me. I have throw out and purged a lot this year and now I will have to do it again as I clean up and get ready for year two in the new bldg next year - Jennifer
•  I use bins from home depot that are strong and sturdy and can be nested once empty. Also I can zip tie the top so no one can get into it. I love to get curriculum items and then redirect them to the grade level that needs it. - Genevieve
• I sought help from my personal children and school children the last two days of school. My school children really liked helping move books, count textbooks, and sort school supplies. My personal child liked getting to come to school (she was out) and helping organize. All of my school belongings are now packed and ready to move-but I have to wait for floors to be refinished before moving. - Jennifer
• I have to wonder, if she's a 20 year veteran herself, how much of these materials will she actually use? She most certainly has her own stuff, and a way of doing things that works. I started going through every page of materials left by a teacher who died suddenly. It felt disrespectful to get rid of it, but at the end of the day, I have my own things I haven't used in years, and I wasn't going to abandon what I was doing and start using what she left. I kept a few things as memories of her, left things out for a few days for others to take if they wished, and then made lots of trips to the dumpster. - Heather
• I took stuff home  I'm moving classrooms and wanted to organize everything I had... Much more work, but when I return in the fall, all ill have to do is put items back on the shelves- shouldn't take too long to set back up - Courtney
• Plastic bins are king! We have to pack up every last paperclip each year. I would say sort first like items and then toss into bins what you want. Toss what is junk or outdated (there is always some) and then leave what's left and send out an email to everyone to come and get or it's going to goodwill. Or into another classroom that is getting a new teacher as a surprise? - Kim
• The retiring teacher in my building opened up her room and said take what ever we wanted. She cleared a lot of the big things out just by doing that. - Heather
• We have to pack our entire classroom up every year and bring what is ours home. It cannot be left. And we are not allowed to start until the kids leave for summer- then we get 2 days. It can be done just label everything! - Pam
• Our high schoolers need Community Service points. I'd call and enlist a few of them. - Eileen
• Host an open house for new teachers in the district to come in and grab what they want. - Susan
• As a ping pong ball that moved every year. I would get the older kids to help. Paid them with junk food. Also I got teachers kids who were in high school. They will do a lot for 20 bucks. It's movie money - Julie
• Many of the parents in my area do not have money to give a gift for the end of the year. I spoke with our room parent and asked to send out a letter to parents with the option of the end of your gift to me being 2 hours of help after school during that week. I organized myself with a list of tasks I knew would take 2 hours. I setup Netflix and snacks for their kids while we got to work. Several of these parents even take the things home that I want to toss for their own kids. It's a win-win! - Gretchen
• Last year over 70% of our elementary staff were reassigned to different grades or buildings, but we knew on May 11 that we were moving. Students love to pack... Are there any students in the building that can still help. My husband and inlaws helped a lot too. The hardest part was I had to move all my stuff home. Our dining room was filled all summer. Then the fun was moving it back in! Ugh! Having boxes for specific items helped... Professional books, phonics resources, comp resources, office supplies, decor, etc. - Jaclyn
• Gotta be honest, most of that stuff is just that...stuff. Depending upon how long she'd been there, how long at same grade, etc, more than u realize can be purged. Get a GIANT recycle pile/box and get to it. If it's older than 2000 (& that's reaching), its probably too old to use & not in line with best practices with kids. Get rid of it! Most posters, etc, can be remade with kids (& they take more ownership of learning &using it if they help create it). If u can't, keep ONE copy in a labeled file, group together by subject/theme. If u don't use it in a year, get rid of it (donate, recycle, whatever!). I agree with someone else who said take it home, organize, bring back. Purge until the take home pile is feasible. - Barbara
• enlist help. pay for help if need be? graduating seniors that need money for college might be willing to put in a full day's work for forty bucks, maybe? If it is an entire classroom full, it is certainly worth many many times that! Also, PURGE! A classroom full is not worth the clutter if it won't get used. Or box it all up and take it home with you, sort through it at home and have a garage sale for all the stuff you don't want to save. Many new teachers would love to find teaching stuff at a garage sale! - Jessica

Getting the Classroom Ready For the New Year Before You Leave {Ending The School Year Series: Post 4}

This is the 4th of 5 posts with tips and ideas for packing up your classroom at the end of the school year. The first three posts can be found here:

Purging Before Packing

Packing Up the Classroom

Getting the Classroom Ready for Summer

Today we are focusing on Getting the Classroom Ready for the New Year...Before You Leave. 

If you’ll be returning to your same classroom in the fall, there are several steps you can take if you have the time that will make things easier when you come back. 

• Prepare Bulletin Boards: Hang fabric and borders. Having fabric and border will make the classroom look neat and ready.

• Take Measurements: Measure shelves, tables, closets, desks, boards, wall space, etc. Keep these measurements handy (in your purse, on your phone, etc.) so you can use them during the summer. They’ll be useful for planning how you want to set up your room and also for when you are out and about looking to buy containers or make projects.

• Label: If you have a class list before you leave, you can prepare nametags, cubby labels, etc. Even if you don’t hang them it will be nice to have them in the room and ready to go and not cluttering your house all summer.

• Create Files: I always encourage teachers to use a number system instead of student names where appropriate. Obviously you don’t want their cubby reading “Student #19” as that seems extremely impersonal and unwelcoming, but your files, student folders, book bags, parent communication note files, etc, can be set up with numbers. Go ahead and do that now.

• Copy and Prep: If you are allowed to make copies for the upcoming year before this one ends then by all means beat the crowds at the copiers and laminators. Take advantage of parent volunteers who have proven to be competent and helpful at tasks like these and ask them to lend a hand. This is especially useful if you have taught the same grade in the past and know what you’ll be using.

• Enlist Student Help: Have some student volunteers stay after school to help with some off jobs. Kids are great at checking puzzles for lost pieces, organizing craft supplies, testing markers, sharpening pencils, etc. 

To get more ideas I reached out to other teachers through the Clutter-Free Classroom Facebook fan page.  I’ll be featuring their fabulous ideas at the end of the series. You read them over at the FB page today or wait and see them on here on Thursday.

Do you have additional tips or advice to offer? Leave a comment here or respond to yesterday’s question of the day over at the CFC Facebook Page.

Also, be sure to check out my #1 selling product: The Clutter-Free Guide to Organizing and Managing Your Classroom. It's chock full of pictures and ideas to get you and your learning environment in order.

Getting the Classroom Ready for Summer {Ending The School Year Series: Post 3}

This is the 3rd of 5 posts focused on packing up your classroom at the end of the school year. The first two posts can be read here:

Purging Before Packing

Packing Up the Classroom

Today we are focusing on Getting the Classroom Ready for Summer. Those of you who have been teaching for awhile know the feeling. The year is wrapping up. The beach is calling your name. You want to kick off summer as quickly as possible. Once the packing is done you will benefit from taking a few extra steps now that will save you lots of time and hassle at the end of the summer.

• Leave a Map: Avoid having your cleaning crew drag all the furniture into the hall and then just plop it back in anywhere by leaving a map or pictures. They clean lots and lots of rooms and I’m sure to them, they all start to look the same. If you want the furniture returned to your choice location, draw an easy-to-read map and/or leave photos. I’ve seen teachers sketch it out on the white board, but I think taping them to your door is the best place to leave them. 

• Leave Your Photos: One of my tips yesterday was to take photos of your classroom so you can see where everything goes. These pictures can be helpful to the custodial staff as well. Print them and hang them on the door. Don't forget to include a note of gratitude.

• Label: I love labels in any situation, but when it comes to summer at school it is extremely important. Often times everything will be dragged into the hall from several classrooms so they can clean many rooms at once. Increase the likelihood that you’ll get back your own tables, chairs and other furniture by labeling each piece. Painters tape works great for this because it peels off without residue. I recommend labeling it with your name and room number.

• Clean: You’ll need to “reclean” in the fall, but a quick dusting, wipe and shine now will make that easier too. Be sure to remove any food items from the classroom to prevent unwanted pests. This especially applies to lockers, cubbies, desks and any other nooks and crannies of the classroom where your little cherubs may have accidentally left a snack.

• Pull the Shades: If your classroom will not be in use over the summer, pull down your shades to keep the sun from fading materials.

• Store Cords and Cables: The cleaning crew may need to move computers and other technology around. Avoid losing important pieces by removing them and storing them together. You’ll want to store the pens and eraser from your interactive boards with them.

• Move Everything Off of the Floors:  Use counter space to hold baskets and smaller furniture items. Doing so will make the cleaning crew’s job easier and help to keep your belongings from being broken or misplaced.

• Roll Up Rugs: Secure the rolled rug with duct tape so it doesn’t come undone if/when it is moved.

• Team Up With a Friend: Many things are easier moved and prepared with extra hands. Have a colleague work with you in your room and then return the favor in his/her room.

• Protect Student Confidentiality: Make sure student records, reports, notes, tests, etc are all relocated to a safe and secure location. Shred documents that can be shredded. 

• Cover Boards and Open Shelves: Prevent damage and dust by covering open shelving and displays before you leave. Plastic trash bags are a great option to use for this task because they can be reused for their intended purpose after the summer.

To get more ideas I reached out to other teachers through the Clutter-Free Classroom Facebook fan page.  I’ll be featuring their fabulous ideas at the end of the series. You read them over at the FB page today or wait and see them on here on Thursday.

Do you have additional tips or advice to offer? Leave a comment here or respond to yesterday’s question of the day over at the CFC Facebook Page.

Also, be sure to check out my #1 selling product: The Clutter-Free Guide to Organizing and Managing Your Classroom. It's chock full of pictures and ideas to get you and your learning environment in order.

Packing Up the Classroom {Ending The School Year Series: Post 2}

This is the 2nd of 5 posts with tips and ideas for packing up your classroom at the end of the school year. You can read the first post, Purging Before Packing, here. Today we are focused on Packing Up the Classroom. 

Packing up for the summer is one of those topics that I find varies greatly by school. I am fortunate that my classroom remains mostly intact. The summer cleaning crews do remove all the furniture to clean the rugs and floors so I usually move all non-furniture items up onto counters and shelves, but otherwise my stuff can stay put. However, I know many teachers that are required to pack EVERYTHING into boxes that are in storage for the summer. I have even encountered teachers that take it all home.

Therefore this post is a bit challenging to write since the requirements vary greatly by school and district. Hopefully, there is something for everyone...

• Snap Photos: If you are happy with your classroom and intend to set it up the same way in the fall be sure to take pictures before you begin packing things up. Take them from all angles and include where items are placed on shelves. Make life even easier by keeping them on your phone so they are easily accessible when you come back to set up. Do this before you pack a single thing.

• Use Clear Tubs for Take-Home Items: I always recommend packing the items you’ll be taking home for the summer (curriculum to use for lesson plans, personal items, etc) in clear, plastic tubs. It’s easy to see what you have.  They are sturdy. They can be reused. Most importantly, they are much better at keeping moisture away and protect the contents than boxes or open crates. This is important because although you pack it up with intention of getting lots done in the summer, these boxes often find their way into basements and garages and are forgotten until the fall. You want to be extra careful with distritct-owned materials.

• Create a “Need Right Away Box”: Make the box easy to find by using bright paint or paper on it to stand out. Put in only those items you’ll need when you initially walk into your classroom to start setting up in the fall (staples and a stapler for bulletin boards, scissors, things you’ve bought to decorate the classroom, etc). You may want to include cleaning supplies in this box.

• Create a “Personal Box”: Use it to house all of your photos, knick-knacks, etc. Put it somewhere safe and out of reach. 

• Think About How Your Classroom Will Be Used: Will your room be left alone in the summer? Will another teacher be using it for summer school? Is it possible that people will have access to your things? This will determine how much you need to pack away. If you have anything of value you’ll want to find a place to secure it. If you are just concerned about others “borrowing” your things you can simply put them in a box and secure it with duct tape or tie it with string that would need to be cut to access. This will deter unwanted borrowing.

• Take Inventory: Be aware of what you have and what you’ll need more of. I created a FREE resource a couple years ago for my blog readers and TPT store customers titled, The Ultimate Back-To-School Shopping List. Feel free to print it and keep it handy when packing so that you are prepared for the summer sales.

• Keep Like Items Together: When you are trying to get your classroom set up for the new year you want to be efficient. Don’t make your future days more challenging by shoving things into random boxes now. Have a plan. Pack with unpacking in mind. 

• Label / Color Code Your Boxes: When my family moved to our current home, I purchased colored packing tape that was labeled with the words designating their destination (bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, etc). Awesome invention! Use colored tape, paper or paint to mark your boxes. This is especially important if you are moving classrooms or schools. 

• Number Your Boxes: Record a number onto each box and quickly jot down the contents. I recommend using a computer or notes on a tablet or phone so it can be backed up. This will make it easier to prioritize your unpacking.

• Keep Distrcit-Owned Materials in One Location: In the unlikely event that something prevents you from returning to the classroom in the fall (unexpected illness or accident, spousal job transfer, last minute school/classroom change), it will be helpful to have everything that belongs to the school separated from your own materials. This is especially important if you are one of those teachers who needs to pack EVERYTHING before leaving.

To get more ideas I reached out to other teachers through the Clutter-Free Classroom Facebook fan page.  I’ll be featuring their fabulous ideas at the end of the series. You read them over at the FB page today or wait and see them on here on Thursday.

Do you have additional tips or advice to offer? Leave a comment here or respond to yesterday’s question of the day over at the CFC Facebook Page.

Also, be sure to check out my #1 selling product: The Clutter-Free Guide to Organizing and Managing Your Classroom. It's chock full of pictures and ideas to get you and your learning environment in order.

Purging Before Packing {Ending The School Year Series: Post 1}

Summer vacation is so close I can feel it. While many of you already sent your kiddos off with their report cards in hand and closed out the 2012-2013 school year, there are still many teachers in the (unairconditioned) trenches. I still have almost a full month of school left...but who’s counting.

For those of us who still need to wrap things up, I thought it would be a good idea to share some tips and ideas for ending the school year as stress-free as possible. I’m breaking it down into a mini-series.

Day 1: Purging Before Packing

Day 2: Packing Up The Classroom

Day 3: Getting the Classroom Ready for the Summer

Day 4: Preparing Your Classroom for the Fall...before Leaving for the Summer

Day 5: Tips from Other Teachers (see the bottom of this post for details)

Today’s post was inspired by a blog reader who recently left a comment on my blog entry titled, Be a Successful Teacher in the Fall by Planning Ahead Now blog post. She wrote:

HELP!
My favorite teacher and mentor is retiring after 40+ years of teaching. While she is the person I hope to be when I "grow up", I in no way have her knack for making everything look easy. She has generously "willed" her entire classroom to me. Everything is in MINT CONDITION and looks as though it has NEVER been used even though it has. My problem, I have NO IDEA what to do with my belongings (20 years worth) as well as hers. I have read every clutter challenge (some more than once), purchased your binder from Tpt, and sat in the middle of my classroom crying over the disaster. I MUST be packed up by Friday and am not permitted back into my room until 3 days BEFORE school begins!!!!!!!!!!!! Pleeeeeeaaaasssseeee help me get this under control!!!!!

My first thought was YIKES! My second thought was that the time limit is both a blessing and a curse. It certainly makes the task more overwhelming, but I always find that time limits and decluttering/organizing go hand in hand. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and sidetracked, but a deadline will help to move things along quickly. So with no time to waste, let's get started!

• Get a container / containers for the items coming home with you. This would include personal items that you want to keep safe along with curriculum you may want to use for planning over the summer. I recommend clear, plastic tubs because they are sturdy, offer a defined (translation: limited) amount of space and you can see inside easily. Put these items into the designated tubs as you come across them so they don’t get lost in the shuffle.

• Get big, sturdy, trash bags. I like the contractor bags from Home Depot. You may be placing heavy objects inside and you won’t have time for picking up the contents of ripped bags.

• Gather boxes for donations/giveaways. Copy paper boxes work well because they are uniform in size and have lids so they can be stacked.

• Talk to your principal about designating a space for giveaways. At this time of year, many teachers are purging. See if you can set up a table outside your classroom for other teachers to pick from or perhaps even in the teacher’s room or work room. Send an email to the staff letting them know that there will be items available throughout the week.  

• If you can, go back to the classroom to work at night or extra early in the morning. Your mind will be clear and you will have less distractions.

• Enlist the help of a “runner.” This can be a friend, former student, etc. Have that person take the items from you to their new spots (trash, recycle, donate, take home, etc) and scurry back to you for the next item. This will save you lots of valuable time because you’re attention can remain focused on the act of purging while your runner can be in charge of simply moving things along. 

• Pick a starting point and quickly work your way around the room until you get back to the starting point. Be brutal about what you choose to keep. Remember an item is only valuable if it is of use to you and your students. If you come across an item that is a duplicate to another you already own keep only the better one.

• Once you make it all the way around, go around a second time. This time will be faster, but you’ll find that you will want to get rid of things that made the “first cut” after giving it another glance.

• Get the unwanted items out of your space immediately after a box / bag is filled. Again this is where having a runner will save you lots of time. As your space becomes cluttered with boxes/bags you’ll feel more overwhelmed. Keeping the space as clear as possible will help a lot.

• Break the room into zones (one wall, one shelf...whatever works for you) and set time limits. Work to music and challenge yourself to finish before a song ends. Set a timer and “beat the clock.” The need to move fast helps keep the overwhelmed feeling away.

• If you have not taught the grade level you’ll be teaching in the fall before, enlist the help of a veteran to that grade level. He/she can share what you’ll really need and what will essentially become clutter because it most likely won’t be used.

• Remember: The more you get rid of the less you need to manage and organize. This will be especially helpful in the fall when you come in to start the new year. You want to start off recharged and refreshed and not frazzled and overwhelmed.

• Don’t look at the items you have (or in the case of the reader above, have inherited) with “retail value” eyes. Look at them instead as “what value do they have to me?” An item that is free may actually come at a price. The price being your sanity, your space, your time, etc. Even if something is given to you and it is in perfect condition and it seems like a waste to throw it out, it will be a burden if you don’t use it. If you are on the fence about parting with something, consider giving it to a colleague who can use it and borrow it from them if/when you need it. Chances are you won’t ;).

To get more ideas I reached out to other teachers through the Clutter-Free Classroom Facebook fan page.  I’ll be featuring their fabulous ideas at the end of the series. You read them over at the FB page today or wait and see them on here on Thursday.

Do you have additional tips or advice to offer? Leave a comment here or respond to yesterday’s question of the day over at the CFC Facebook Page.

Also, be sure to check out my #1 selling product: The Clutter-Free Guide to Organizing and Managing Your Classroom. It's chock full of pictures and ideas to get you and your learning environment in order.

Clutter-Free Classroom World Headquarters {A Garage Makeover} Post 1

I feel like I've been Missing in Action lately. I've been knee-deep juggling the following (all of which I'll elaborate on in the coming weeks)...

• preparing for Open House at School
• finishing up some major Common Core Math projects (so excited about these)
• getting my ducks in a row for another awesome summer of helping teachers get organized and prepare for the upcoming school year

and

• getting the ball rolling on creating the Official . . .

At least that is what my hubby has dubbed the latest home improvement project. I'm actually super excited about it and looking forward to sharing the process with you all as it comes together.

Our house was built in the 60s. It is a Cape Cod-style house with a garage underneath. The garage was designed for a 1960s car.

Translation: Not enough clearance for SUVs. 

Which means we had no use for it as a garage.

But, it's a decent-sized space with some natural light. It's cool in the summer and heated in the winter. We used it mainly as storage. 

Until now.

We're transforming the space into an area dedicated to all of the different aspects of my little hobby turned business. We're creating an "office area" for blogging, bookkeeping, filing, etc. There will be a "studio space" for all of the crafty-type projects that go with being a teacher...or at least a teacher obsessed with cricuting, spraypainting, modge-podging, etc all things classroom-related. 

The part I'm most giddy about though is "The Learning Lab!" One of my dreams has been to develop an After-School / Summer Enrichment program that will provide an opportunity for kids to explore math and science topics and creative projects that we struggle to fit in during the normal school hours. Therefore the biggest section of the space will be designed with that in mind...a mini-classroom right in my own home. My elementary-aged self would be so jealous since I spent the better part of childhood "playing school" in my playroom and shed.

We've been busy designing the space and picking out all kinds of things to go into it. Yesterday we spent FOUR HOURS wandering Ikea and decided on the following items from there:

I know. It's A LOT of white, right?

While there is a small window in the back and a strip of small windows in the front that let in natural light, it is still a fairly dark space overall. The white furniture and shelving seemed like a perfect choice to brighten the space and allow for the addition of lots of color in other ways.

Like paint.

Below are the colors we picked out.

They are bold. And colorful. And fun. 

And since they have become Clutter-Free Classroom's "signature colors" they seemed to be the perfect choice.

I'll also be adding in lots of color through bulletin boards and framed, kid-made projects and artwork.

Did I mention that I am so excited about this!!! Hubby will be home the next few days priming and painting the space and we plan to order and assemble all of the furniture and shelving next week.

In the meantime I'll be back to getting ready for open house, putting the finishing touches on the Common Core materials, projecting, photographing, and getting ready to kick off another summer of daily blogging on June 1st! (I'm hoping to be around online between now and then, but time will tell).

Happy Memorial Day to all and a special thanks to the men and women who have served our country.

If you are still in school and looking to do something Patriotic or with a focus on Veterans this week, I have two freebies available that may be useful. Click on either image to access and download them.

FREE Guide to End the School Year Stress-Free

 Have you started your countdown?

Be honest...did you start it in January?

Despite the fact that I still have SEVEN weeks left, I am aware that many of you are getting close to single-digits. I think we all are thinking about wrapping up this year and thinking about how we will get organized and set up our rooms for next year I thought this would be a great time to highlight a FREE resource I put together to last year to help you end the year on a positive note and be ready to trade in your teacher shoes for flip flops as soon as the final school bell rings.

{Click to access and download this free resource}

Please feel free to pin, share, and email it to anyone you think would benefit from it. 

How many days do you have left?

keywords: elementary school teacher classroom organization management end of year tips resources printables ideas get ready for summer first year teachers to do list 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th kindergarten preschool pictures lists

Classroom Themes on a Budget: Tips & Ideas

It's that time of year. I'm getting excited for summer. I'm getting nostalgic about the current year. And my mind is spinning with how I will set up and decorate my classroom for the new school year. I kind of love a classroom theme. For years I painstakingly changed it up every. single. year. 

I started with a beach theme. 

It made me happy. 

Especially in the winter. 

After that I did camping, western, jungle/safari, detective/mystery and Hollywood themes. I was the first to create classroom theme packets on Teachers Pay Teachers and have blogged about a wide variety of featured themes for several years now. 

{Be sure to check out my classroom themes page for ideas and photos for just about every theme you can think of.}

While I often get the itch to do another theme (I know my 3rd graders would love a sports or rock and roll theme), I am loving being more focused on color schemes and patterns in the classroom. My current classroom uses the printables from the Blackline Design Bundle printed onto bright cardstock.

InLinkz.com

However, since I'm still a bit of a theme addict, I like to live vicariously through others. I know a lot of people are hesitant to take on a theme because of the cost. Admittedly, it can be a very expensive process. BUT, it absolutely doesn't need to be.

While I was at Dollar Tree yesterday I came across so many things that could be used to turn a classroom into a themed environment. I wanted to post a few today to give you some ideas.

Pick a theme that is easy to gather "artifacts" for. 

When I did my camping theme I brought in coolers that I would normally need to store in my garage for the winter to use as seating in my group area and placed flashlights, lanterns, and sleeping bags around the room. I also used lots of sticks, rocks and other free bits of nature in my decor.

My friend Jill once did a board game theme. So cute! Old games and puzzles make great decor for this theme and are readily found at yard sales during the summer.  Think creatively!

Pick a theme that offers "Seasonal Clearance."

Gardening supplies, beach things and camping gear all get discounted at the end of the summer...you know, right around the time you will be setting up your classroom.

Share with a friend.

Do you have friends that teach in other districts or at other schools? Box up all your borders and decor at the end of the year and make a trade.

Ask for donations.

Tell people what you are planning to do and see if anyone wants to donate to the cause. I'm sure there are lots of Pinterest-loving Crafty moms who would love nothing more than to create something for your room.