July 30, 2012

Made It Back to the Classroom Monday 7/30

My Made It Mondays projects are sadly coming to an end since teachers must report back this Thursday.  So I thought I'd share all the great things I've been making to prepare for Meet the Teacher and setting up a cute classroom.


#1 "Sea" What to Expect in 4th Grade - Hallway Bulletin Board with Clothespin Tacks
I used black fabric and black&white polka dot trim to setup the board.  I just hate when flourescent lights fade butcher paper, so I did fabric in the hallway too this year!! Then I used my HobbyLobby pre-dyed black clothespins hot glued to thumbnail tacks from Michael's to hang student advice/artwork on the wall.  Hopefully this is an eyecatcher as students enter/leave my classroom on Meet the Teacher night.

#2 You're o-FISH-ally in the 4th grade {student gifts}
Well I invested a whopping dollar into my rectangular 3x4 plastic craft bags from the Dollar Tree to put my snack into.  Bought BabyGoldfish on sale at the grocery store.  Stuffed bags about 3/4 full with fish.  Printed labels and stuck onto folded digital scrapbook paper of choice - mine was chevron.  Staple & admire!

#3 Not Your Generic Corkboard:

Last year I seem to have loved posting important emails or calendars on the wall behind my desk up with pushpins.  This created WAAYY TOO many holes in my wall and it could have been much cuter.  I had some extra black fabric lying around but if I didn't cover a corkboard or an existing display board I would end up with scattered remnants of powdery white paint and drywall ALL OVER my beautiful black fabric.  Visited BigLots & bought a generic corkboard for $6.50, painted the frame white, stapled my fabric, and hot-glued fabric ribbon as trim to hide my mistakes.  Then, I used sandpaper to give the frame a distressed shabby chic look to make it pop against an already white wall.   Finally, I added some rhinestone-embellished clothespin tacks to hold notes/important papers (5 - for the five days of the school week?!?)  My goal is to go through this every Friday after the kids are gone so I still have room to post new & important info.

#4: Dry-Erase Countdown Until .... sign
Classroom Freebies Manic MondayThis was definitely something I knew I wanted in my classroom as soon as I saw it on pinterest.  I changed the clipart color from green to blue to match my color scheme and just decided to countdown until students' first day back-to-school since it is now in the single digits!!  I love how versatile this sign is, we can countdown until important tests, assemblies, field trips, holidays, birthdays, etc.  The possibilities are really endless!  If you'd like the blue candystriped template for your project, I'm sharing it as a free download here.


Thanks for visiting and I hope you are able to leave me a comment below - I just love hearing what other creative minds have to say.

Also, I can't wait to visit other blogs through the Made It Monday linky hosted by Tara at 4th Grade Frolics and see what you've been creating lately.  :)




17 comments:

  1. I like that this can be used for any event!

    Shanyn
    Coffee, Kids and Compulsive Lists

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  2. All your projects look great! I love the dry-erase countdown sign. I always did a countdown during calendar with my firsties. I might do something like this with my 5th graders this year...:) Thanks for sharing!

    Vicky
    Keep Calm & Imagine

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  3. Your corkboard is so much fun and I love the idea of the countdown! Students love seeing how many days there are until whatever the big events may be! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to sharing more ideas!

    -Krista
    The Second Grade Superkids

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  4. Everything looks great! I love your back to school gift (pinned it ).

    Elizabeth

    Fun in Room 4B

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  5. Your corkboard idea is awesome! I never thought about putting one up by my desk.. that would probably take care of a lot of the clutter!

    Ashley @ Fierce in Fourth

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  6. Thanks so much for the countdown sign. It will be much cuter than doing it on the whiteboard like I have in years past! All of your projects look great! Have a fantastic start to the school year!

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  7. Love all your projects! Especially that countdown sign and the bulletin board! Gosh you are super creative! Thank you for stopping by my blog - I'm now following yours!

    Sara
    Miss V's Busy Bees
    I'm having a 2-0-0 follower giveaway - come on by!

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  8. Love the countdown sign....so many uses! Thanks for sharing!

    Brandi
    Success in Second Grade

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  9. I love your countdown board! What a fun idea!

    Kara
    Spedventures

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  10. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I am a new follower and love your design. Your projects look great. I love the countdown board.

    Krista
    stellar-students

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  11. I love your corkboard! Last year, I just taped things to the wall and then after the week-end, retaped them back up! I like the look of the fabric, it certainly adds class! I'm your newest follower.

    Mary
    Teaching Special Kids

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  12. I love it all! Fabulous job! I hope you have a great school year. :)

    ~Sarah
    writeonfourthgrade.blogspot.com

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  13. I love the idea of the countdown sign. =)

    Your other projects are great too. =)

    http://heathersfirstgradeheart.blogspot.com/2012/07/is-your-heart-in-your-room.html

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  14. I am loving your student gifts. I have just started to make mine. While looking for ideas, I have found a lot of corny things that teachers do. Yours is simply cute.
    I'm your newest follower!
    Mrs. Bi-Polar Pirate

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  15. Love the countdown... I will have to use it as a count-up for 100th day of school! I am TERRIBLE at doing it when I have to hang something! This will be an easy student job and we might actually make it to 100 instead of running and asking my teacher friends every year in February! Thanks for the inspiration!
    - Michele
    MULTIAGE MOMENTS

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  16. I head back Thursday (tomorrow) too. I love your "sea" what to expect in fourth grade. The kids artwork with tips are so cute.

    Heather
    room 4 imagination

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  17. Love the countdown sign!!! Thank you so much for sharing!
    Sherri

    Books, Blocks and baskets

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