Wacky Wednesday-Fridge Redo and Teacher Week Link

It's my last day of summer vacation. This post will probably be all over the place. 

First. yesterday I shared my fail for my refrigerator and the mod podge idea. Not sure if I mentioned that the process was over an hour and a huge MESS! 

I decided to use duct tape. My classroom theme is polka dots, but I also have to incorporate my college per my principal. So, I decided to duct tape it maroon. I'm a Texas A&M Aggie... WHOOP! 

My idea is to add white polka dots or A&M symbols. 

It looks pretty good, way better than the paper. I have my classroom phone and an Aggie picture frame on the top. (yes, I will get a recent picture in the frame) I am satisfied. Oh, and I should mention it was ten times easier, not messy, but it did take an hour. 

Then, I went to a three hour leadership meeting and found out that our district has decided we can no longer have refrigerators, microwaves, coffee pots, warmers, etc... in our classrooms. 

WHAT??!!! 

I just spent over two hours making that thing cute and NOW you tell me!!! I am so bummed. 

I have decided to just unplug it and use it to keep my phone and photo on top. I do not have a place to keep that in my house. 

Not to mention I am ticked that I can't keep my lunch cold and cold water in my classroom. But, apparently it is a non-negotiable. 

Yesterday for teacher week it was classroom reveals.I was not ready to share anything yesterday,  and I didn't want to post old ones. 

I do have a few to share today. Nothing is 100% done though. 

My behavior management plan 

Desk are labeled. Important for the first day activities. 

Test Taking Strategies Board. (Still needs border) 

Love this saying, so I had to incorporate it.

I  think it is very powerful! 

  

Today's teacher week is to share organizational tips for teaching materials. 

Again, I don't feel ready for that either.

But, I have a few things.

First, my "While You Were Out" board. When a student is absent, I write their name on the paper and stick it in their period folder. Found out after this was done that I am teaching 1st period, not 4th. UGH... But then again, glad not to have first period off! (oh, and this still needs border too)

This year I have two preps; Advanced Math and Regular Math. These will have Monday- Friday hanging folders and the papers I need for each day. 

 This file will have things like "to copy", "to laminate", my reward tickets, important stuff like that.

The other important organization I am creating the longer I teach sixth grade is keeping materials together.

I have boxes for the games I create. 

I have a file for each unit and things we do as well. 

Sorry, no picture of my files. 

As far as organizing my most important tool, my interactive notebook. I keep everything in here! 

Be sure to join up with this fun linky with Erica over at Blog Hoppin'

 

Monday Made It and Teacher Week Blog Hop

Monday Made It started posting on Sunday! Hmm... this is when I was working on my projects. Yes, I procrastinated this week, kind of. I did make paper stuff last week. I made a few free products and a paid product for my TpT store.

The craft stuff: 

These are my ticket buckets from last year.

 They needed an update to match my polka dot theme.

I found these for my pencils. They were ugly brass color, so I painted them and made labels. 

I had this ugly file container. I used the awesome peanut butter trick to take the yuck off and painted it as well. Now it is acceptable and I will attach a front cover later. 

Before 

After peanut butter trick to get sticky off. 

After: It's ready for a label.

I finally made my teacher gifts for my department. This idea came from Joanne over at Head Over Heels for Teaching. 

My two youngest did a craft this week too. They have watched me all summer make stuff and finally were able to get in on the action. 

I have to admit, we have had these lockers for years. They were a gift for my two older boys when my third was born. He is 7 1/2 now! Can't believe we have hung onto them this long.

Thanks again to Tara for hosting this awesome linky and keeping us all crafty! It is now going to once a month, the 2nd Monday now. I look forward to this linky every month! 

And now I am off to  my classroom. I have two and a half days left until I actually "report" to work. And of course, I am spending it in my room getting ready! 

And because I am procrastinating again...

Today's topic is:

I love talking about me, so here goes!

1. I am about to begin my 20th year of teaching. I am not sure how that happened though, I am much too young to have been teaching this many years. 

2. I live in a house full of boys... five to be exact. One is my husband. The other four are 21, 16, 7 and 3. My life is never boring!

3. I bleed maroon. My high school colors were maroon and white and my college was too. I am a die hard TEXAS AGGIE!!! 

4. We are a divided house though. My husband is a Texas Longhorn. It keeps it interesting for sure.  (For you non- Texas folk, they are the state rivals. Even now that they are in different conferences, its still a rivalry in this house) 

5. I love to dance. I think I am pretty good at it. But, in reality I am not. Mostly, I just try and do my Zumba moves. At 42, I am just having fun! 

6. I have run two half marathons because I am only half crazy! 

7. I loathe washing dishes. 

8. My classroom is always cleaner than my house. 

9. I love, love, love to sleep and can sleep anywhere at anytime. 

10. I love spicy food. 

Could I have been more random? 

Now, I really must get to my classroom and get to work!