Too Many Ideas!!!

I got to take a peek at my new classroom last week.  My mind has been going 100 mph trying to figure out how to transform the space into something conducive to a safe, fun, engaging learning environment.  Here's what my classroom looks like now:

The view from the door.

Another view from the door.  I'm so excited to have windows.  I haven't had them in 5 years!

These are not desks that are suitable for 1st graders.  I've asked that we switch them for smaller ones.  We'll see.

Lots of storage space.

2 closets!

I'm wondering how I can utilize the space above the door.  Not sure yet.

I'm loving all of the closets.

More storage space.

Possibly a space for guided reading books?

I won't have to hang my own hooks!  I do have a mailbox thing for students, so I'm not sure what I'll do with 30 cubbies.

Woohoo!

I'm definitely going to touchup that paint back there.

Those are restrooms that we share with the classroom next door.  Not sure how that works, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

3 filing cabinets!  I'm not sure that I'll need them all, but we'll see.

So, the ideas have been piling in and my Pinterest boards are filled to the brim which makes it a little overwhelming.  I've come up with a way to fix that.  I purchased a notebook for my ideas.  As I go through my Organization/Decor Board, I print out the pictures of ideas that I want to use.  I then glue them into the notebook and write my thoughts next to the pictures.  I'll post pictures of that later.  They didn't show up in my Dropbox.

Summer Time and Maternity Leave

It's July 9th and I'm ready to get back into my classroom.  I've been off now since April 18th for maternity leave. I had my sweet baby boy on April 22nd.  We've had a great time getting to know one another, and I LOVE spending time with him every day, but it's time.  I can't stand being cooped up in my house and my other two babies are ready for this summer to be over as well.  My oldest informed me that this is the worst summer ever because we haven't been our normal busy selves due to the baby. 

My 3rd little nugget!

My 2nd little nugget.

My 1st little nugget.

We have seriously done nothing this summer.  We usually do our Summer Bucket List.  Which consists of 2 buckets of fun things for us to do.  We've done ZIP, ZERO, NADA.  And they are not to thrilled about it.  My sweet husband has, however, brought them to the Bounce House and to Toys R Us were the Elsa doll has still not shown her face.  We've been to my sister's house a few times to swim and then we've cleaned the house umpteen times.

When I left my classroom in April, I had scrubbed it down and organized it so well for my sub.  When I returned to pack up the day after the last day of school, I couldn't find anything.  Which is to be expected since someone else was in my room.  So, instead of organizing everything nicely, I pretty much threw everything into boxes and on bookshelves and called it quits.  Plus, they turn off the A/C during the summer and my little man was with us.  I had to strip him down to a diaper and do the best I could to keep him cool.  Summer in S.E. Texas is not too kind to us.

So, now that I've been off for 2 months, it's time to go back.  I can't wait to get in there and do some things a little differently.

My Pinterest boards are overflowing with ideas that I must try.  I've been steadily going through them and writing down the ones I want to try this year.  I'll keep you posted on what I've done to get ready for school.  For now, I'm going to get some shut  eye.  My little man is stirring and like they all say, "Sleep when the baby sleeps."