Counting down the days . . .

Well, hello there. Long time no blog. Actually, it's not that long since my usual blogging schedule is only about once a month!

So, what has been going on? Well, all kinds of end of year craziness. All over the blog, Facebook, Pinterest world, I keep getting bombarded with reminders that each day, teachers are entering summer vacation, buuuuttttttt, we are not quite there yet. A few more weeks to go still and I am scrambling to get things done.

Math, science, reading. We are trying to cram it in, but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on if you're asking the teachers or the students!), there is so much stuff coming up. Oh, well. I guess that's the end of year teacher life.

If you are like me and seem to be (lacking extra prep time), and need a little help during these weeks, check out my end of year and summer resources. From Daily Language & Math reviews to Word Problems to printables and freebies, there are a ton of no-prep and low-prep options from which to choose:

And if you're finished the school year already (lucky you!), then you might be interested in some of the classroom decor packs I am sllloooowwwly creating. You can check out some of the latest below:

If you're interested in any of the above packs, just click the pics!

Whether you're on summer break or counting down the days, have a great rest of the week!

Summer Vacation . . . I'm almost there!

So, how's your summer vacation? I ask that because it feels like everyone is on break already . . . except my district! It's close though, so close I can taste it!

Even though I 'm not on break, I'm still already thinking about September, so I've been planning and creating. Do teachers ever really take a break and relax?

I've got a few new decor packs ready . . .

Bright Shades of Polka Dot

Black & White Polka Dot D'Nealian

Bright Shades of Chevron

. . . and I've got a freebie to share!

Get a head start on organizing your classroom library with this free set of large A-Z leveled library labels. Print them out on card stock and laminate or print onto sticker printing paper and organize away.

The labels come two per page and are approximately four and a half inches in diameter. I'm hoping to make some smaller ones soon to accommodate different sized bins and buckets. Click {HERE} or the above picture to check out the freebie.

Speaking of classroom libraries, I think I could spend hours on Pinterest pinning away amazing classroom libraries. Here are some of the ones I'm loving lately . . .

Via Kinder-Craze

This amazing library from Maria over at Kinder-Craze is so bright and colourful . . . who wouldn't want to read there?

Via Krazee 4 Kindergarten

I love all the primary colors in this library - perfect for Kindergarten.

Via Keen on Kindergarten

I love the alphabet mat, I just have one question - how is it kept so clean?!

I'm sure I could go on forever. If you ever decide on a classroom decor scheme, DO NOT go back searching on Pinterest - you will change your mind a million times!

My New Favourite Word Wall!

How is it already Sunday? I've slept most of the weekend due to this awful cold. Hopefully I'll start to feel better soon or this will be a looong week!

What are your feelings on word walls? I think they can be a fantastic resource as long they are used. Most classrooms have to make the most of every square inch of space, so to have something up on the walls and not make use of it, I feel is absolutely wasted space.

I also think students have to take responsibility for the word wall too. They have to know that it is a resource that they are to use. Have them put the words up and whenever possible, direct them to the word wall when they need to spell a word.

I was thinking about the word walls I've created and I decided I wanted to do a little update to make sure it was as user-friendly as possible. To the headers, I added colour pictures (great for younger students who are still learning their letter sounds), red vowels and primary dotted lines to show proper word formation.

So far I've updated my black & white chevron, black & white polka, rainbow chevron and rainbow polka dot word walls. Click {HERE} or the pictures to check them out. You can also find the old versions{HERE}.

Let me know what you think!

Creative Bulletin Board Ideas

Well I guess it's creeping closer to that time . . . Back to School Time! I cannot believe I am already saying that. I've had school on my mind all Summer, but to actually be thinking it's coming in just over a month seems way too fast. Where has my time been spent? Oh yeah, sleeping late, reading in the sunshine and eating too much chocolate! Wow, it sure has been nice.

So I've been thinking about bulletin boards. I will probably be starting in a Kindergarten class in the Fall and I am a little worried about all the cutesy craft/art stuff. I love the look of it, but I am just not that creative. Enter Pinterest, the modern teacher's best friend!

This crayon bulletin board looks so fun and perfect for kindergarten, but could I pull of making that crayon box? (I tried to find the source for this pin, but could not. Let me know if you know where it's from).

Love the bright look of this puzzle bulletin board. You could have each student write (and decorate?) their piece and then put their school picture on it. Again, I could not find the link back to where this originated, so if know, please tell me so I can provide proper credit.

These owls (and all the variations I've seen around Pinterest) are too cute!

Rainbows Within Reach has a ton of ideas, not sure just limited to Back to School ideas.

If you're are looking for some classroom decor, I've finally finished and bundled all of my decor packs, click the images if you'd like to check them out:

What does your bulletin board look like at the beginning of the year?

A Little Classroom Decor Addition

I don't know how I missed this before, but I just realized what my classroom decor packs were missing (besides the calendar setup on which I am sllloooowwly working) - a cursive alphabet!

Click the pictures if you're interested!

3 more days . . . 3 more days!

4 More Days . . . and a Little Decor

Well the countdown is officially on now with only four more days of school left, Wahoo!

I've been awfully busy since the last time I blogged, and in particular I have been working on some new decor packs for the classroom. I was going to try and wait till the Summer to think about next year, but I guess there's no better time to start!

So far I have 4 different themes available in my store:

Rainbow Chevron:

Pastel Chevron:

   

Black & White Chevron:

Black & White Polka Dot:

  

Each theme has four packs: Alphabet Posters, Number Posters, Shape & Color Posters and Word Wall Headers & 200 Words.

   

I've got a ton of more decor pack ideas, now I've just got to wait until I have a little more time on my hands. Click {HERE} if you'd like to check out what I have available. If you have any ideas or suggestions of decor packs you'd like to see, please leave them in the comments!

4 more days, 4 more days!