Art Gallery

Our library currently has LOTS of white walls. I abhor the color white. That being said, I don't want to just throw junk on the wall. Luckily my mother  is full of amazing ideas and reminded me I had some inspirational quotes and paintings I made at paint parties that were already on canvases and waiting.

As I talked to another teacher she offered a painting of hers, and so the library art gallery was born. I asked other teachers if they would add art to the wall and several agreed. We have paintings, weavings, mixed medium, and photographs for our new gallery. One wall is quickly filling up. My hope is that we continue adding, changing out pieces, and even creating some new ones in class.

How do you decorate your classroom or library that makes it special or meaningful to you or your kids?

Out of this World Summer School

This will be my third year doing summer school and this year they don't have a specific theme. That means I get free reign. Oh you know how happy that makes me. We are also rotating. We have three third grade rooms and I will have all those shining faces in my room at some point during the day. Teaching the same thing 3 times? I can do this.

I decided to go with space as my personal unit. I wanted my kids to get excited early so I started with door decorations. I'm definitely thinking my next room theme might need to be aliens/outer space. 

Yes I do know it's crooked and could use some help but I was opting for fast and easy because it will only be there for a few weeks.  

Sneak Peek

Here is a quick peek at what I've been doing the past few days. It's a whole new theme next year for my room. My kids are so mad I didn't do it this year. 

Give a Teacher a Hot Glue Gun and She'll Ask For...

Last week my family helped me get my new shelves put together.  This week third grade hallway got decorated.  Give us a hot glue gun and we can do just about anything.

Staining Shelves

So I am incredibly lucky that my Dad has been nice enough to build me wonderful shelves for my classroom. When I started my first year I just had two or three shelves that were hand me downs from the last room. It wasn't a big deal because my back wall had shelves that were almost five feet tall and went across most of the wall. Then I moved to my current classroom and I had a small shelf that ran the length of my back wall. I enlisted my Dad's help and he built me four shelves that spanned my back wall. Of course, a teacher can never have enough storage so this summer I wanted more shelves to put at the front of my room. This is where I plan on putting my students' individual boxes with manipulatives, books or personal task cards. It may also end up housing some of my centers.

I'm also very lucky that my Mom volunteered to help me paint the shelves. I decided to stain the shelves and I have to say they turned out great. 

In Process:

First Coat Complete:

DONE: