New Year...New Theme!

Another year to create the perfect first grade classroom! This year I have been blessed with a HUGE room! To others it may not look huge, but to me, I am in a palace. My theme this year came about after I received a gift from a student last year when she returned from Disney. I love how it turned out...hope you do too!

These pics show the broad view. See how roomy!! Here are detail pictures. First, my favorite part. I finally have a Word Wall!! And I somewhat organized my library. This was a goal of mine for years :)

Here is my blackboard decoration. Just to jazz that area up a bit. I saw this on Pinterest. Someone had decorated their door to surprise their kiddos about their Disney trip.

This year I am displaying the work that my students themselves are proud of. They can choose what they want to display and how long they want to display it. They can also choose to show any artwork they are proud of!

I made my Birthday chart after talking with my friend Rachel. She started teaching this year!! I tweaked her idea to fit my theme and I was very happy with the results.

Finally, here is my coat/backpack area and little reading nook. I have several pillows that I desperately need to recover, but still are comfy!

Oh! Notice my calendar?? I now have a chalk board up that I can do my calendar time!

This Years Decor!

I finally get to share with you my classroom for this year. My theme was...school. Imagine that! Actually it is suppose to be Old/Vintage School Style. The neat part about this room is that it was converted over from what looks like an utility room that was made into a weight room. Here are the before pictures (after everything was cleared out):

Pretty uninspiring :) Here is what we made it into: Our "one room" school house

My one bulletin board (that's all I have room for). My father-in-law made it for me with palette wood.

Our First grade banner. I did a rough copy of a special lady's HOME banner (thank you Sis Lauren).

My chalkboard wall constructed to hide the air conditioning unit. Thank you Tim, Dakota and Bro Zach. I love it because we have our Calendar center there. Yep...I drew the pig. :)

Birthday/ Class Rules/ Reading Area. I don't have a picture, but that electrical box now has a black curtain over it. I hang their artwork on it. FUNNY STORY...a couple men came in to fix some of the gym lights. First off they couldn't find the light switch because I have it hidden behind the flowers in my flower box by the door, THEN they had to follow the pipes in the ceiling to find the electrical box. Oh well, what a woman and teacher won't do to bring a little beauty into a room. :)

Finally, my desk and filing area. I was lucky to have a little alcove to tuck everything into. The ice machine had to stay but it holds my cursive and job chart well. I do have to squeeze between the ice machine and chalkboard wall on the left to turn the air on and off...BUT I am so happy to have my own temperature control :).

More Classroom Themes

Well I'm trying again to upload my previous years classroom decor pictures. Thankfully it seems a lot easier to come up with ideas and decorate than it seems to load the pictures to this blog! Year Two: Come one come all te the greatest first grade of all! Circus Theme

Year Three: What's Cooking in First Grade

Decor Through the Years

Well look at me...two blogs! One for me to share my home, family and personal entries and now this one to share ALL my first grade creations and activities. I want to start by sharing my classroom decor from the past three years. This year won't be done until next month. Creating your classroom is so exciting! It's like getting a new house every year that you can decorate anyway you want. I love searching online for new and exciting ideas. Sometimes I think my mind has me more creative than what my body actually is...but I do try. I will start with my first year of teaching. The theme idea was actually from the teacher who I was taking over for. Then between my good friend (Sis. Pace) and I we made it come to life. Welcome to Candy Land!

I'm having trouble uploading my other pictures...aargh...stay tuned for year 2: Circus and Year 3: Cooking.