A Decorating Tip, A Trip to Target, & A Linky Party

What a BUSY week this has been!  I started new teacher inservice on Monday. That was also the first day for my boys to go to “school”.  This is the first time they’ve been somewhere structured.  We’ve been blessed with the most amazing in-home caregivers since my oldest was just a baby.  We continue to feel blessed beyond measure because this little place they’re at now feels so much like home…it’s just AMAZING and the boys LOVE it!!!  There are definitely benefits to small town living!! 

I spent LOTS of late nights up at school the last couple of weeks just trying to get everything sorted and ready for the first day {pictures coming soon!!!}.  Real quick, I just wanted so say “thank you” to everyone who left comments telling me how to decorate with cinder block walls.  I told y’all I ordered teacher tape…but I lied {sort of}.  I ordered some online, but I guess I never clicked the “submit” button.  I waited for it to come in the mail and when I looked on my bank statement, I realized there was no charge.  Soooo…I was getting pretty impatient and decided to use hot glue like y’all suggested.  Some of you guys said y’all had a TERRIBLE time getting it off the walls, so I was a little scared.  BUT…I’m excited to tell y’all I found a little trick to make things easier. 

PAINTER’S TAPE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slightly random and I don’t even know why I had painters tape handy, but it works!  Just adhere the painter’s tape to the back of whatever you’re workin' with…butcher paper, border, etc.  Hot glue on top of the painter’s tape and stick it to the wall.  If you’re as anal as I am about the way things look, then you might like to put things up and take them down a million times before it’s *just right*.  With painter’s tape, things pop right off the wall with no damage and no sticky residue left behind!  Now, y’all might know that already, but I didn’t and I’m pretty excited about it.  SO…if you’re new to cinder block decorating like I am, then there’s a little tip you might find useful :) 

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I took a little trip to Target yesterday after I got a text from an old co-worker/friend of mine showing me something she bought for her classroom.  My friend, Jill, is one of my most favorite people in the world.  I love her and all of her fabulous ideas….AND… I love to give credit where credit is due, so this idea is totally hers. 

I bought a class set of these JUMBO, stretchable book covers {just $1.00 each! in the school supply section at Target}

I brought them to the classroom and turned them into CHAIR POCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you hear me screaming right now?!?!?  Is this not the greatest idea ever ?!?!?!?{THANK YOU JILL!!!}  I’ve been eyeing chair pockets for a lifetime now, but I never wanted to spend the money.  I’d love to make a fabric set, but I can’t sew.  And quite frankly, these are just *perfect*.

They’ll come out of the package looking like this…

So you’ll want to turn one of the pockets inside out.

Now just slide the inside-out pocket over the back of the chair and let the other pocket hang.  Voila!  A $1 chair pocket!!!

I don’t really have a space to store book baskets like I did in my previous classroom, so I plan on using my chair pockets as guided reading/book pockets…these would be GREAT for keeping “read to self” books for Daily 5!

 

They had A LOT of precious patterned book covers in all different colors, but I went with solid colors based on Jill’s recommendation.  If you turn the patterned book covers inside out, one side of the fabric isn’t the same as the other and it just looks funky!  So…I went with solids & I love it! 

Head to your nearest Target and get ‘em while you can!  FOR $1, people!!  You can’t beat it!!!!

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In other news, I went {online} shopping the other night and took advantage of the BIG sitewide sale on Teachers Pay Teachers!  I’m linking up with Blog Hoppin’ today to show y’all what I bought!  SO excited! 

First up, Kathleen’s Backpack Boogie back to school packet!!!  LOVE!!

I’ll also be using her calendar bundle to start the year.  Some of y’all have my Calendar Companion and I absolutely LOVE that…especially for first grade and up.   What I love about Kathleen’s calendar packet is that it’s perfect for Kindergarten…and it grows with them as the year progresses!!!!   I’ll use her calendar bundle to start the year along with some of the printables from my little companion and then switch over to my Calendar Companion as they get closer to first grade…or not?!?!! I’m SO excited about this!!!

Here’s a little collaborative writing packet from the brilliant minds of Deedee Wills & Deanna Jump!  Can’t wait to put it to use!

I’m also LOVING this Crazy for Kinders packet from Abby.  So fun!

I really wanted this one to organize myself for a new year!  This is a great resource from Rachelle!

Finally, I really wanted to try something new this year in math!  I fell in LOVE with this fun little packet from the one and only, Sarah Cooley!!  LOVE!

I’m also obsessed with this back to school unit from Mrs. Lee!!!!!  LOVE her stuff!!!!

Whew!  I *think* I’m ready for the new year!!  How about you?!?!  Link up your purchases over at Blog Hoppin!  Just click on the button below to check out some other great products!!! 

Be back soon for a room tour and some new ideas!!