Red Ribbon Week - Ocean Door Decoration

Our school is celebrating Red Ribbon Week with a door decoration contest! I have a fish theme in my classroom, so of course my door decoration goes right along with that theme! Each student decorated a fish (white crayon and watercolors) for our door and we brainstormed 'pearls of wisdom' activities that we would rather do than get involved with drugs and put them in the treasure box.

Under the Sea Classroom Tour

Classroom Reveal Time!!

We will start in my favorite area, the library. My wonderful husband spent a couple hours helping me cut and staple the plastic tablecloth in the shape of waves. I love this so very much and it really ties the whole ocean theme together! Plus, each of my library book bins have an ocean label as well. I have too many books (not a problem at all for any teacher) to fit into the bins, but the collections are housed together.

 

Onto my desk area! Here is the view from my desk and the lantern fish that hang above me. Then a quick pic of my actual desk.

 

 

Writing Area: This area will be added to throughout the year. I will be doing mini-lessons about various writing activities and types of writing. Then, an example of that writing will be added to this bulletin board.

 

 

Hallway outside my classroom: My third graders are Swimming To Success!

 Front of the classroom, guided reading area, calendar area, & birthday fish bowls:

 

Bulletin Boards

     

Classroom Management:

  

Student Resources

 

 

Reading & Guided Reading

Paper Lantern Fish

I'm linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It!

To go along with my fish theme, I made some paper lantern fish to hang above my desk area. I had a heck of a time finding some sphere paper lanterns! But I finally found some cute ones at Michaels on sale (even better!).

Then, I got to work making these lanterns into fish! I used my scotch tape dispenser as a template for the eyes and just free-handed the fish tails. I used rubber cement to attach the eyes and tails to the lanterns. This was probably the hardest part of the project. I didn't want to rip through the paper, so I had to press and hold it on for a while to get it to stick. Let them dry overnight and they are good!

Use some fishing line (ha!) to hang them up and now you have a cute fishie addition to your classroom!

Writing Bulletin Board

I am working on my Writing Bulletin Board. Like many of you, I'm sure, I am adding an "I Can Write..." section to my writing instruction. I have made it into a bulletin board. Miss Maharry has some great materials for my to use on this bulletin board for free. I am excited to have these along with my fish for my students to have examples of what they can write.

The Classroom is getting there!

I have been working about one day a week all summer long to get my classroom ready. Each section of the room is starting to come together!

First up, the front of my room! My desk area and my students' mailbox area. There is still some tidying up that needs to be done of course. I am excited about my blue walls! All the bright colors of my fabric and boarders just pop right off the walls and I love it!!

I have some cute fish on each of my cabinets for labels. I love these fish!

Here is the back wall of my classroom. I will have six bulletin boards: writing, Common Core, Social Studies, Jeopardy (starting with Geography in August/September), Science, & Math. They will look much better after I have finished them.

Classroom Library - Get Hooked On Books!

Here's my first Monday Made It! I'm linky up with 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made it. I know, I know, it's July and I'm just now making something. I am trying to enjoy my summer. Today, I tackled my classroom library decoration! After working on my library organization, now I wanted to make it pretty :)

I found the great idea below for my library inspiration on Pinterest.

I bought two blue plastic table clothes from Hobby Lobby to create the waves along the wall. This is my "before" picture. Or as close as it could be, I forgot to take one before I got started.

After the waves were along the wall, I added fish with book titles on them. It goes well with the large clip art on the opposite wall that says "Get Hooked on Books" with a boy fishing. I hope my students get hooked on the books in my library! I have a couple beach chairs that the students can sit in to read their favorites.