Back to School: Teacher's In Sign

I was looking at some other music blogs recently and I came across a brilliant idea on Miscellaneous Me.  Cara created a "Teacher's In" sign for her door.  I love this!

From my desk, I cannot see the main entrance to my room.  This can be kind of a pain since I eat lunch in my room.  There are times when I am up and down several times to answer the door.  This sign, I hope, will relieve some of that.  It's also going to be great for planning time or when I'm not in my room.

I started with this purple foam sign from the dollar store.  They also had them in pink.  It did have a flimsy ribbon handle to hang the sign with but I cut that off.

I decided that I wanted a border and some cute flowers like Cara's, so I used some ribbon I had around the house.  I cut the ribbon to about the length of each side.  There are many tutorials out there on how to make flowers out of fabric and ribbon, mine was a bit of luck.  If you could see the mess of thread on the back of it you would laugh!  Since I am no expert, Google it, you will most certainly have better luck.  :)

Using double sided tape, I attached the ribbon to the edge of the sign.

I trimmed the corners to match the rounded edge of the sign.

Used double sided tape to attach the flower.

Then added my name using some silver glitter adhesive letters from Michaels ($5.99 before a coupon).

The letters stick okay to the foam.  Any suggestions on how to keep them on?

I'm not completely done yet, I still have to create signs for in/out/busy to stick on during the day.  I'll take pictures of it during my classroom tour!

Happy School Year to You!

I'm heading back to work tomorrow and I have a week to get ready before my kiddos start.  For some of you, this will be your first time in your very own classroom!  Try not to worry too much.  This is a wonderful, exciting and scary time.  You will get through it; everything will be fine!  :)

Happy School Year to all of you!  :)

Back to School: Stickers

Look what I bought at Target this week!

Aren't they cute?  They were around $3.00 (a bit pricey for the number of stickers).  You can find them with the school supplies.  There were other packs with peace signs, so you may need to dig through the rack to find these.  You may even be able to wait a few weeks and get them on clearance!

Mrs. Q's Resources: First Grade Rhythm Pack

I have another resource up in my store; a first grade rhythm pack.  There are 20 cards in the pack containing patterns with quarter notes/rests and beamed eighth notes.  The pack is regularly priced at $4.00 but if you click the link below, you can purchase it for $1.00 off!  There are a limited number of coupons, so don't wait too long.  More rhythm packs coming soon.

http://gum.co/zkZi/25fgrp

Mrs. Q's Resources: And the winners are.....

Using random.org, I have chosen a number of winners for my Word Wall Pack Giveaway.  Drum roll please....

 50% off Word Wall Pack:

Susan Henderson

Abby Nyhof

Laura Pope

Tonya Paul

Cassandra Butler

Jason Hart

Leonie Brien

Stephanie Poulin

Rebeka Rice

Beth Davey

Free Word Wall Pack:

Sandra Rush

I have already contacted winners with directions on collecting your prize.

If you didn't win, not to worry!  Below is a link for 25% off of my Word Wall Pack.   Hurry!  There are only 25 copies for this discounted price.

http://gum.co/mJgl/25offWWP

Back to School: Strategy for Getting Ready

Here is where I'm starting from...

Isn't it depressing looking?  And a bit overwhelming?  Do you feel the anxiety building?  I feel this way every year for about the first hour of being back in my classroom.  It usually goes a bit like this.

Move the desk.  Oh, I should get posters out.  Move the desk some more.  Do I have tape?  Move the desk again.  Let's hang this poster up.  Move the desk.  Stand in the middle of the room not knowing what to do.  Look through posters.  Move the desk.

By the end of that first hour I'm soooooo annoyed with myself.  This year I'm hoping to avoid this problem and I'm going in with a plan.

Back to School Strategy:

1.  Move furniture into place.  

Our custodians clean the carpet during summer break, so all of my furniture ends up pushed to one side of the room.  Moving the furniture into place has to happen before anything else can.  Once the furniture placement is right I can fill shelves, hang posters, and get materials out that I need for the first week.  Plus, if I get anything else out before I move the furniture, it ends up in the way!

2.  My space

This seems a bit self centered but it's hard to get things done or make lists when I don't have access to my supplies.  So the first area to organize is my desk.

3.  Sort Posters

Pull out posters and decide what/what not to hang and where they are going.

4.  Hang Posters

Starting from one corner of the room hang posters.  Most years I skip around the room hanging one thing here and one thing there.  It drives me nuts.  I'm going to try my best to work one section at a time until everything is hung.

5.  Fill in Shelves

This is second to last because if some instruments or supplies don't make it out for the first day it's okay!  I probably won't need Jingle Bells the first week!  :)

6.  Hallway

Not sure if this will be step 5 or 6 yet.  If I'm in my room for Meet the Teacher then this will be my last concern but if I'm not going to be in my room, then it will move up to step 5.  I want to make sure there is a musical presence during Meet the Teacher, so I'll have to wait and see on this part.

My goal is to remember that not EVERYTHING has to get done before the first day.  Last year I had my Recorder Karate graphs up knowing that I wasn't probably going to need them until October!

How do you try and stay organized while you set your classroom?