Dead Words

If you know me well enough you know I love the holidays. Putting up decorations is something that I have enjoyed since I was little. Now that I have my own classroom it was obvious I would have to decorate it too! Before I put anything up I asked the class if they would like a few Halloween decorations and of course they said yes! I added some cute table clothes, we wrote spooky stories and I covered them in spider webs. Lastly,  I put a few pumpkins and rats around the room-- the rats have got to be their favorite. :)
The last touch was something that a co-worker told me about.  When you read the students writing they constantly use the same words... "It was so fun" "My friend is nice" My mom is pretty and she is nice"

After a while it gets to be so annoying. So I decided to put up a "dead word wall." We put up "dead" words that the students can't use in their writing anymore. On top I put... Here lies some great words that were used to death! The kids really loved that part. Then I put the student in groups and they looked up words that they could use instead. It turned out so cute! Here is a picture of the dead word all. I still need to take a picture of the wall with the new words up. Such a cute idea!!!

Crazy Week!

So many exciting things going on in my life! I had a crazy week last week being a juror. I was chosen for a week case.... It was very frustrating being away from school and my kids for a week, but it was actually pretty interesting.

Not to excited to go back to my classroom tomorrow- there is always a disaster after a sub, and after having a sub for a week! Ugh!!

I have so many things that I will be placing in my classroom this week- stay tuned for pics and blogs. :) 

Have a very blessed week!

Bucket List

I was listening to WAYFM on my way to work last week and they were talking about Bucket Lists.. It got me thinking of the movie, The Bucket List and how I  really loved the concept.

First of all I love making lists. Secondly, I love crossing things off my list even more.. :)

Regardless, it got me thinking of what I would have on my list... so why not make one. :) So here goes....

Marriage
Children :)
Win a teaching award
Get a tattoo
Inspire someone...
Take a month vacation..
Visit Alaska
Own a boat
Scuba Dive
Doing all I can to make sure tons of kids have Christmas presents
Being able to donate at least 10,000 to a charity I believe in.
Help out with Extreme Home Makeover
Be a tourist in Central Park

Man, that's really short... I'm super late so I don't think my mind is thinking clearly...
Anyone have anything they think I should add to mine? Or anyone have anything super cool on there's that they would like to share?!

Crafts, crafts, crafts....

Okay- so I'm starving from barely having any food today so I must stop blogging and relax with dinner and Modern Family- new episode comes out tonight! Woohoo!! Before I go I wanted to post a few more of the crafts that I was able to complete this weekend.. Including my very own craft area! Yay :)

A old Lego/ car track storage table my mother gave me. 

 and now....... a storage area with a chalkboard top :)

 an old vase, with glued on pencils.....

 and now......... a pretty vase for flowers that you can put in the classroom. I think the measuring tape around the middle adds a cute touch. It also looked very pretty on my crafting desk :)
Sorry the picture isn't the best! 

 3 old frames from goodwill.....

and now...... two chalkboards and one bulletin board in crafting area. :) I just used chalkboard spray paint and pink spray paint. :)






AND LASTLY!!!!!!!

I will be welcoming a new roomie in October so I needed to get all of my "crap" aka crafting stuff out of her room and I simply had no where to put it. My overly organized self wanted it all together so I decided to make a crafting area!

I moved the storage racks I have in my garage that holds my teaching loot and household items to the right. Took some pink paint that I had around the house. Used the chalkboard paint in the background just for added fun! Then I hung the new items added some extras and hooray!!!! A crafting area :)
I have to say I am very happy with the end results.. I can put all of my items in one area.. Enjoy!!!

Corn and Carrots

I love veggies. Now- fresh veggies are always the best, but most of the time my corn or carrots come from a can. If you look at the can it really is a pretty thing. I've always wanted to use them for something so in my garage I would clean them out and store them. Now don't worry- I'm not a crazy can lady.... I just thought "let me collect a few and try to find a use for them". I also did this with corks- which as you know I have already found a use for! :)
So, I collected a few.. cleaned them, ripped the labels off and decided I would make a pretty pen holder.
Now I was going to use just one- then it hit me.. I could totally put them together!!!

Just your simple cans...

I took some scrapbook paper I had around the house. Cut it to the size and super glued it on the can.

I covered all five in different scrapbook paper- already looks cute!

Then I tried a few different combinations and came up with this one. I did need to eat corn for dinner last night to put the last one on top! :)

ALMOST final product.. I didn't get to take a picture with the last can on top. I decorated in cute "teacher" scrapbook paper. then I loaded it up with pens and other things my students will need in the Writers Workshop area in our classroom. I think it looks super cute and it was so easy to make. Yay! One of my favorite things about this is you can use it on it's side- like in the picture. OR you can put it up right! Double cute!!

 I will post a final picture tomorrow. :)

I wish we had 5 day weekends...

I have sooo many new things to share! It was a very busy weekend full of projects and being sick. Probably to many projects and not enough sleep- hence still being sick! Boo! BUT, I am very excited to share all my new items asap... Must get some sleep tomorrow so I'm ready for school tomorrow.. Promise to write tomorrow- Stay tuned!!


UPDATE: Totally broke my "No spending" rule this weekend... I couldn't help it- I became inspired... but my wallet is probably not happy.. :)