Summer is half over!

While everyone else is surely gearing up for a long summer ahead of them, mine is half over. I teach at a school that has a continuous year calendar, so we got out right before Memorial Day and the first day of the new school year is July 14th (giving us about 6 weeks of summer!) But don't feel too sorry for me, right around the time everyone else's year is just getting into the swing of things, I have a three week fall break, the perfect time for a vacation! :)

I kind of went into freak out mode this week! Realizing that I only have three weeks left and still so much to do! I have been working on creating a new bigger and better focus wall for my classroom and I am currently working on a social studies unit and a new reading incentive program (more pics and updates to come later). I also am currently in the Capturing Kids Hearts training and finishing up a grad class.

I also decided to take on the HUGE project of sewing 25 chair pockets! I have tables in my room and one big hassle last year was where to store all their STUFF! I haven't sewed since I was 10 and that was when I had my amazing grandmother helping me (she was a great seamstress!) Now its just me and my sewing machine! I competed number ten last night! They don't look too bad, just don't turn them inside out and look at the hems and stitches...I am sure my grandmother is cringing! ;) But they will do the job for my firsties!

One of my favorite things to do as a teacher is to take normal everyday things and adapt them to use in my classroom, it makes me feel extra creative! :)
I found this at Target a couple weeks ago and this purchase made my day! It is this really neat picnic caddy with a ton of different compartments! I have decided to use it as the supply caddy for my small group table! It will be perfect to hold small dry erase boards, pencils, markers, sticky notes and books! Best part...it was under $7!

I can't take the credit for this next idea...I got the idea from a literacy teacher in my building last year, but I loved it, so when I found these at Target, I had to get them! She uses drink stirrers as pointers in her small reading groups. I loved this idea! The kids don't know the difference and they think it's the coolest thing in the world to use them while reading their books to me in small groups!

I hope everyone is enjoying their break no matter how short or long it is and getting some much needed R&R! :)