An Apple a Day: Classroom Decor

I am putting Social Studies Sunday on hold for the summer y'all (because all my goods are at school, lol) but I will bring it back in August!  Until then I will be linking up with the super cute Leigh from The Applicious Teacher for An Apple a Day Linky Party. We met yesterday at the Central Florida Blogger Meet Up and I just love her!  And we're neighbors!  So excited :o)

(Kimberly from KG Fonts, Daina from Sticky Notes and Glitter, Tammy from the Resourceful Apple, Leigh from The Applicious Teacher, Me from here, and Tamara from Mrs. Russell's Room)

Okay, back to why I'm posting today!  Leigh is starting her very first linky party and I can't wait to join!  I love this idea!  She calls it the "easiest PD you'll do all summer... and it's from your couch!"  LOVE IT!  Today I am linking up my classroom décor: the good, the bad, and the ugly.  And the hopeful!



Here are some posts of Classroom décor past...

Sports Theme

 

 

Click here for more pictures and posts on my sports theme.

 

Classroom décor present...

 



I'm going for a "Bag of Skittles Threw Up in Here" theme

 

 



Click here for more pictures and posts on this past years theme.

Classroom décor future...

Well besides loving the look of a rainbow explosion in my room, it was also the "Pinterest" room, thanks to last summer's Monday Made It with Tara from 4th Grade Frolics.  I don't have A LOT of money to spend on redecorating and buying more stuff but I know what I WOULD like to take it more into the Polka Dots route.  I know that's probably outdated but I just love dots, what can I say?

Definitely doing this to my table during preplan!  I already have the polka dot bulletin board trimmers from Lakeshore in a multitude of colors (hello rainbow explosion) but I think I'm leaning towards more blues and greens and random pops of color for next year.

I'm not entirely sure how I'm arranging/decorating the room yet for two reasons:

1. I don't know what I'm teaching next year.  I might be just ELA/SS again or be self-contained, I'll keep you updated!

2. This monstrosity that is my front wall.  Now, you might be thinking to yourself, it's burnt orange-ish and you're a huge Longhorn fan.  What could be wrong with that?  Nothing!  I love me some Longhorns but not painted on my classroom wall adjacent to a dusky rose wall of cabinets.  I feel like all my décor is competing with those two walls!?  I know it's not awful, I'm making a bigger stink than necessary and on their own they are nice colors, just not what I would use to compliment all my stuff.  Any advice on how to make it all work?

So there you have it, my classroom décor idea for next year!  Don't forget to link up with Leigh over at The Applicious Teacher and let us know what you plan to do.  I LOVE to see other people's ideas!  Also, don't forget tomorrow is Must Have Monday!  What can you not live without???  Link up tomorrow and let us know :o)

Sports Theme Part Two (2011-2012)

Here is the follow up to my last post.  Last time I showed you pictures from my room two years ago with the sports theme.  Now it is still the sports theme but at a new school, in a new room.  This rose/dusk color was a big shock from my bright white room but it has grown on me (took a whole year but finally got there, lol)!

2011-2012 

Starting outside our hallway we find our reading bulletin boards. The one on the left tracks how many/which Sunshine State Books they've read and the one on the right is "Our Reading Goals." This year I implemented the Book Whisperer's Think 30! and these super cute football incentive charts were great ways for students to track how many books they read. They couldn't wait for their red football, which meant they were on books 16-30.

Our cubbies and Stellar Starburst Chart (our behavior system in 5th grade)

Writing center and Geography Challenge board

Geography Challenge (I'm a BIG fan of interactive bulletin boards)

Close up of the bags on the Geography Challenge board

Reading Dugout (Classroom library)

Word Study Wall (we learn a different prefix/suffix a week and put it up there with the definition and picture to help us remember the meaning)

Close up of the Reading Dugout. My favorite part is the actual letters! I printed them out on white cardstock but then drew on the red stitching so it looks like a baseball.

CAFE board, Spelling, and Vocabulary charts

My desk (that's the cleanest you'll ever see it!), calendar, specials, and Homerun Helpers (jobs)

Front of our room. Another favorite is the letters READ for the quote. I went to Jo-Ann's and got sports textured paper. The "R" is made from football paper, "E" is a soccer ball (had to make that one), "A" is a basketball, and "D" is a tennis ball.

Hall of Fame Work

Sorry that was so picture/caption heavy but I'm a picture gal, what can I say?  It was not too heavy in the sports theme but I brought it in here and there.  Of course, in true me fashion, I'm ready for a change!  So all the hard work I put into creating those letters and job charts and what not will now be going into the closet and new batch will be created.  Thankfully I like to create new things and don't resent myself ;o)  Hope you enjoyed!
Sabra

Good Bye Sports Theme

Sorry it has been a while since my last post but a lot has been happening.  My poor puppy has apparently lost her mind and tried to break out of her cage and in the process lost her tooth and had to get surgery. :o(  She is now feeling better, which means momma is feeling better and ready to blog again!

Now, I still don't know what grade/room I will be in next year (I find out Friday) but I do know that I am changing it up for next year!  No more sports theme!  It has slowly been fading out anyway since the first year I did it and I think I just want to do splashes of color next year.  I will explaing more of that theme over summer (when it all comes together in my head, lol).  Here are pictures of my classrooms from the past:

2010-2011

Team News (calendar, schedule, lunch menu, etc.)

Kid's names on their jersey

Fantasy Wish List for Open House

Coach's Corner (all the info I need to remember placed behind my desk)

Homerun Helpers (jobs)

Homerun Helpers (upclose)

Welcome Penants (supply shelves are empty but in those boxes are crayons and markers galor!) 

Hall of Fame (student's amazing work goes here)

Reading Dugout (The glove says "Catch a good book")

Since this post is very picture heavy I will post the 2011-2012 pictures tomorrow!  Sadly I am not in this room anymore, it was wonderful and LARGE and white and bright and I loved it.  I switched schools this year and love my new team but the color of my new room leaves a lot to be desired, as you will see tomorrow.  Hope you enjoyed my pictures :o)

Sabra