Last week of summer aka fit in as many crafts as possible!

Teachers go back to school on Wednesday. I can't believe the summer went by so quickly! Instead of laying around and relaxing these last few days, I have been busy squeezing in as many crafts and school projects as I can. Here's a preview of some of the things I have been working on.

LSU Toms...

I absolutely cannot wait until football season! Only 27 days!

I already made the decision. I'll do a reveal soon!

Classroom door decoration

I found this cute chevron magnetic board at Hobby Lobby yesterday. 50% off! I couldn't pass it up.

I painted and added the W to personalize it. I am so excited to hang this on my door.

Clock labels

I had a clock last year that never worked. Even when it had new batteries, it would only keep time for about an hour. I got a new clock and printed out the numbers for the minutes made by the amazingly talented Amy Lemons. I made the word labels myself.

Two more days of freedom!

Summer is ending...

I have been SO busy this summer. I thought it would drag on, especially with Daniel gone, but it has gone by really fast. I've been visiting people all summer long...I've spent a lot of time in Houston, went to Dallas to see my oldest friend and her new baby bump, and most recently (yesterday) got back from a trip to California to see my little sister. (More on that when she sends me pictures)

School starts in one week for teachers. The kiddos come back next Friday. Yikes! We had orientation at school tonight. So far, it seems like I am going to have a great group of parents and kids!

Because of my trip last week to see Lindsey and all the time I have spent at my parents, I have not had much time to work in my classroom. It's starting to come together though, so I figured I would share some pictures of what I have done.

My classroom last year had a cowboy theme. I thought about doing the same thing this year, but I got tired of staring at bandanna print everything. So this year it's just bright colors.

Since I just started blogging, I never posted about my classroom last year. Here it is in all it's cowboy glory!

LAST YEAR...

 My room last year

that's a wagon reading center on the far right

work display area

 calendar

 reading center with homemade wagon and fence

once I added the horse shower curtain as a background

 attendance area

bulletin board outside my room

closet doors...behavior and helpers

above my door...this is the only thing that I kept up for the new year

THIS YEAR...(so far)

 this is where we will post pictures of Stanley's adventures

(the map is my parents...its actual a decal for our camper that never got used)

 look who's popping!

I want to emphasize writing more this year. I figure this should help us out!

(I got this from First Grade Fresh who got the idea from Mrs. Phippen...LOVE!)

to go with the board outside my door

"Thank you for popping in!" orientation treat :)

(from Fun in First)

I'll make sure to share the rest of my room when I get it finished!

Flat Stanley and Larry

I have decided to use Flat Stanley in my classroom this year. Stanley is a boy who gets flattened when a bulletin board falls on him and then gets sent on adventures through the mail.

my Flat Stanley

You can find his books here and learn more about the Flat Stanley project here.

I am going to California to visit my sister before school starts and decided to make a Stanley to bring with me. I am excited to share this with my kiddos and think it will be a great way to get them excited about geography and writing and learning about new places.

That's right, that is Stanley with a bird's nest! 

Backstory:
I have a few different plants that grow on my balcony. I normally move them inside if I am going to be gone for an extended amount of time to try to keep them from drying out. I was at my parents' house for about a week and a half and left the plants out on my patio. When I came back, I went outside to water them, and discovered a bird had decided my dying mint would be the perfect place to make a nest!

It's hard to see, but there is a bird in there! (Click to make it bigger)

(Further backstory: I am scared of birds. I have this fear that they will attack me and get tangled in my hair and peck and scratch my face. I know its dumb, but oh well.)


I immediately freaked out and ran back inside. Over the past couple of days, I have gotten (slightly) more comfortable with the bird. I no longer have to wear a sweatshirt with the hood drawn around my face to water my plants. Progress!


I was trying to figure out what kind of bird it is and came across a guy online who said he could identify nests and eggs. I emailed him with some info and included a couple of pictures. Turns out my bird is a morning dove, and the eggs should hatch sometime in the next week. The babies should stay in the nest for about two weeks before they leave. 

The eggs :)

I am calling the bird Larry after the bird man who identified him. (The bird I have seen is a male...apparently the male sits on the nest during the day, and the female at night.)


I am hoping to get some good pictures of the babies when they hatch! I'll be sure to share them if I do :)

Stanley and Larry

I would try to get him closer if I wasn't terrified that Larry will attack me. That's not even me holding Stanley...it's my brave friend Rita :)  

(We ran screaming inside moments after this picture was taken and Larry got scared and flew away which in turn scared us!)

P.S.: If anyone wants to help with the Flat Stanley project, let me know! If you have an iPhone, you can download a free Flat Stanley app that superimposes him on pictures. I can also send you a Stanley to take pictures of. Thanks!!