I didn't.
I managed to take my children to the beach many times. We went to the zoo. We made pottery at Color Me Mine. We read books. We lazed around. We spent time together. And my daughter has proudly exclaimed that this has been "the best summer ever!"
So I am cool with not getting everything done.
But now that school is imminently approaching, I better start making some goals or I will be "up a creek", as my grandmother used to say. Oh, Boy 4th Grade's Currently is the perfect way to get me going. So here we go.....
I have to get my classroom organized in order for me to function as a teacher, so those are my main Back to School Must Haves. I have spent the last four days in my room, so I thought I would show you the minimal progress that I have made.
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| Covered my chair bottoms with felt |
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| Finished my bulletin boards (felt and ribbon) |
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| Covered my small group table with contact paper and white board dots |
That is it. I can not believe how slow I am going this year! Usually, I am all ready to go by this time...now....not so much. I take a lot of breaks I guess ;)
So what are you up to currently?
I was just commenting on this on my blog today-the crazy rush to get things done before it all begins to fall apart. I do like your felt boards. I was working on getting my lessons for shades of meaning and my government project going! Here's a link to what I've been up too: http://classroombestdays.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you've accomplished much this summer, even if the things you accomplished weren't strictly on the to-do list. :)
ReplyDeleteI spent forrrrrever in my room today. All I did was cover my bulletin boards. I'm not sure I want to post anything on them. They look too good and took too long for me to want to cover them just yet!
Hope the rest of your classroom setting up and planning goes smoothly, I'm right there with you!
Christy
Teaching Tales Along the Yellow Brick Road
You have a very good reason to just relax! How are you feeling? I'm basically burned out with all the school prep - and I still have to finish up & then get everything ready for the first week. Oh well...
ReplyDeleteI am feeling....pregnant. ;) I am just older now than I was with my first....and I have two kids running around. It takes a toll. But I am fine in the grand scheme of things. Just need to take more breaks (and it makes putting up my classroom take a LOT longer) ;) ) Thanks for asking!
Delete:) Hope you have a great day!
DeleteHi there. I found you through Currently.
ReplyDeleteI love your small group table. It sounds like you had a great summer with your kids. :)
Tammi
www.thebalancedclassroom.blogspot.com
Does the felt on the chair "feet" work as well as tennis balls on the chair feet? Felt would be easier and cheaper than the tennis balls, but I wonder how long it would last. I'm STILL waiting to get into my room and the kids are coming on the 13th. The powers-that-be at the school decided to take out my carpet (old and falling apart) and replace it with tile, which is terrific - much easier to clean. The tile was finally installed TODAY, and has to be stripped and polished, hopefully tomorrow so I can get in for the first time on Monday. I'm very worried I won't get the room ready in time.
ReplyDeleteJan T.
I honestly don't know if they are going to last any longer...this is my first year doing the felt. However, they HAVE to be better than the constantly falling off and rolling around tennis balls!
DeleteGood luck getting into your room and having it ready on time. I can tell you from 13 years experience in year round, all you really need is the furniture in place and maybe some butcher paper up :)
I did tennis balls on the chair legs and then one year my boys decided to have a tennis ball fight during inside recess. So, I moved to felt. I loved it. There were a few that I had to redo occasionally. I did learn that it worked best to put a cotton ball between the chair leg and felt. That seemed to make it last a little longer.
DeleteI now have carpet and am thrilled not to have to worry about any of that!
Stephanie - Thanks for the reassurance. I heard today that I'll be able to go in on Monday and I'll have help Monday and Wednesday, so the room will at least have the boards done and the furniture mostly in place. I have felt, and like the idea of adding cotton balls.
DeleteHow do you attach the felt? Do you use string? I don't think rubber bands would last, and they'd be an attractive nuisance for those who like to bug others. I used to use tennis balls, and that was OK until they got old. I never had them fall off, and mercifully never had a tennis ball fight. They were totally filthy by the end of the year, though. Black felt would hide the dirt better.
I love the table with the whiteboard dots on it! Such a cool idea!
ReplyDeleteErin
The E-Z Class
Thanks! I hope that it lasts all year...and that it actually works the way I am envisioning. ;)
DeleteI absolutely love the idea of using felt and ribbon for your bulletin board instead of the traditional paper that rips and fades! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteWhat does "B2's Must Haves" mean on your cute little list??
http://mommywifeteachercook.blogspot.com
The Back 2 School Must Haves are my planning stuff. I just need to get ready for the year!!
DeleteI LOVE the small goup table. Did you choose to use that table? We have the super, big, ugly, horrible, kidney tables and I feel like they take up 1/2 of the classroom. I'm going to look into changing mine
ReplyDeleteHave a good year.
Debbie
Flip Flop & Hop
I chose the table by default. My computers were on it. I moved them to two smaller tables and this one was empty. So, I covered it with contact paper and now I have a small group table that is a bit bigger than a regular student desk. I really wanted a kidney table, but we have no more in the school ;)
DeleteThank you soooooo much for the ribbon idea, neighbor!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had an awesome summer! I love the look of your bulletin boards! Mine are going to look the same, except with chevron ribbon (same colors too).
ReplyDeleteSara :)
Smiling In Second Grade
Great choice in colors for your bulletin boards and the ribbon idea is perfect!
ReplyDeleteTeaching 3rd with Mr. G
Follow me on Bloglovin
I love your bulletin boards and contact covered table. That takes a lot of time! I also use the felt on our chair legs. It cuts down classroom noise to much! I still have to do mine.
ReplyDelete✰Becca
Simply 2nd Resources
I'm your newest follower... sort of! I have been reading your blog and LOVING it for a long time and now I finally have my own. I teach 5th and 6th grade math :) Thanks for all the incredible resources and awesome tips... your blog is an inspiration for me! I love the felt bulletin boards- they look fantastic! I just got rid of my desk and will be getting a kidney table- I think the dry-erase circles are going to have to happen!
ReplyDeleteLiz
Floating Through Fifth
You have a very reason to be taking it easy! Congrats on the little one. You work hard so you deserved this break. Have a great school year : )
ReplyDeleteKathleen
The Diary of a Not So Wimpy Teacher
Where did you get the whiteboard dots from? Did you make them or purchase them. Such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteThey came from Office Depot :)
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