It's Okay... It's Thursday.

It's okay that I keep some people as my Facebook friends for the entertainment value of their posts. "Entertainment" the way Cops or other trashy reality TV is entertainment.

It's okay that I ate oatmeal and toast for dinner last night.

It's okay that I don't usually get my car washed. By usually I mean I do it maybe 2 or 3 times a year. (Maybe that's not okay. It's kind of gross now that I look at it in writing.)

It's okay that I am bored to death about politics and all the political discussions there are. I get that it is important, and I do have my own opinions, I just don't want to read about it on Facebook or watch anymore dumb commercials.

It's okay that I am really excited for The Voice to start next week. Mostly I am excited to make fun of Christina again.

It's okay that I don't have any weird talents. I was asked that in a team builder activity during our first week back to school, and I couldn't think of anything. It's been bugging me ever since.

It's okay that I am 30 and I LOVE me some Carly Rae. 

What's okay with you??

Pinterest in My Classsroom

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I was a busy bee this summer. I was pinning all kinds of classroom goodies. I thought I would share with you things I am doing (not just pinning!) from Pinterest this school year!

First up, Printables:

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I have the teal/black version

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This is a review game, and she has printable "zap" cards on her blog.

Organization:

Use an old CD holder to organize die-cut letters:

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Use the side of a filing cabinet as a magnet board:

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Post-it note lesson plan book:

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I have never had a lesson plan book. I always use a piece of notebook paper and write out each day of the 6 week grading period, but I think this is a super good idea, and maybe it just might work for me.

Dish rack as a folder-holder:

Pin on the left, mine on the right

Lesson Ideas:

Hula Hoops for a giant Venn Diagram.

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Paper Slide Video- I am already working this in as my performance based assessment for my first major unit of the year. 

3-2-1 Exit Slip- I think this would be great during the first week of a unit.

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There is so much more! Check out my classroom board to see what else I am pinning! 

Do you pin teaching stuff? How many pins have you completed off your boards?

Classroom Tour

For over two decades now (to me at least), Labor Day means one thing: school starts tomorrow. Growing up, school always started on the day after Labor Day, and now as a teacher it means the same thing. Like most teachers, the first day of school is the real New Years Day. Like always, I am hoping for a great year, and I am setting school year resolutions, which I will post about later this week. Today, I thought I would share where I will be spending the majority of my time for the next 9 months. I have never taken pictures of my classroom, but I have loved looking at all the classrooms out there in blog world, so maybe you might want to check out my space. (Ha! Remember myspace?) I also have never "themed" a classroom until this year. But it was fun.

I do a ton of group work, and I number my groups.

This is what I see when I am at my desk. My school is in a not so great area, so that explains the bars on the windows. 

I have seen a lot of teachers in blog land getting rid of their desk space, and all I can think is, how is that even possible? When I have students in my room, its not like I spend a ton of time back there, but I can't imagine not having that space.

This is my week's lesson plans. Each Friday I put in the plans for the next week in each folder. The folder holder is actually a dish drainer.

This is either side of my white board in the front of the room. On the left is where students go to get their make up work after being absent. On the right is where students turn in their exit tickets (by group number) and the score card for our class competition. 

This cabinet will get a post all it's own, but this right by our exit door. The trays are where students turn in work, and the board is where grades are posted. 

The zebra print you see all over the classroom is actually a sheet set from Walmart. I knew I wanted to cover my bulletin boards with fabric this year, and the sheet set was the cheapest way to do it. I used a full flat sheet for the boards, and the pillow cases became the "valences" over my windows. I still have the fitted sheet to do what ever I want. 

If you are a teacher, do you theme your classroom? Is it selfish of my to keep my space in my classroom?

End of Summer Sunday Social

This is it. It's my last weekend before the kiddos come back to school. The itty bitty 6th graders start on Tuesday, and my big ol' 8th graders come through the door on Wednesday. Secret, I'm kind of ready for the school year to start. I am looking forward to my normal routine, getting to know the kids, and to tryout all the cool Pinterest stuff I pinned to my classroom board. :) So, how fitting is it that the Sunday Social is all about looking back at summer!

1. What was your favorite trip/vacation/activity this summer?

Do I have to say it again? Kauai!

2. What was your favorite outfit look of the summer/clothing item?

During the summer, since I don't work, I wear a lot of what I call "comfy" clothes.

summer comfy by casey-amber featuring racer back tank tops

I will miss wearing a very similar outfit to this every. day. 

3. What is one thing you wish you had gotten to do this summer?

This is the second summer that we have not gone camping. Sad. September usually has pretty good weather, so there is a tiny chance we could still get the tent out this year, but probably not. 

4. What was your favorite song of the summer?

Carly Rae. Is this still cool? Because I freaking love Call Me Maybe.

I also can't get enough of Fun. Some Nights.

5. What was your favorite movie/tv show of the summer?

Because I am off during the summer, I get to watch all the day time trash I want. My favorite (and also kind of embarrassing) is Dog the Bounty Hunter on A&E

I also really like So You Think You Can Dance. 

How was your summer??