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.
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. I’m excited to tell y’all I found a little trick to make things easier. 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 :) 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 ?!?!?!?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. 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! I went with solids & I love it! Head to your nearest Target and get ‘em while you can! You can’t beat it!!!! 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! First up, Kathleen’s Backpack Boogie back to school packet!!! 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. 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!! I’m also obsessed with this back to school unit from Mrs. Lee!!!!! I *think* I’m ready for the new year!! 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!!Lindcraft Directors' Chair Script Pocket Pouch Black Director's chair script pockets Latches onto the arm of a director's chair 3 outside pencil/pen pockets 4 small outside accessory pockets Made of heavy canvas
for more pictures and details. ========================================I have four styles of expandable pocket chair covers available. /listing/254380181/premium-teacher-classroom-chair-pockets?ref=shop_home_active_7========================================This custom chair cover feature highest quality fabric and materials. Features include:* Reinforced top pocket with "collar tape" for shape and stability* Pocket expands up to 3 inches* Reinforced / Triple stitched seams * Professionally finished edges with a bias tape outer layer for extra protection* Durable, medium duty, machine washable fabric* Full chair back that reaches down to the seat for added stability. (Other brands only partially cover the back of the chair in a "hook" style. The "hook" style is easily knocked off the chair.)If these chair covers get dirty, simply throw them in the washer and lay flat to dry!Or, if you would rather, simply spray covers with Scotch Guard or similar spray and spot clean as needed...============================================I designed my original kindergarten chair covers for my son's teacher a few years ago.
Her chair pockets were straight pieces of fabric folded up at the end for a pocket. They were falling apart at the seams, and the fabric was ripping on the sides. The classroom was small and space was a premium. I borrowed a chair for sizing and created my first expandable pocket chair cover. That replacement cover turned into an entire classroom of new chair pocket covers!==============================================FABRIC: Select from 21 different IN STOCK fabrics*. My chair covers are available in two types of printed duck cloth: 7 ounce duck cloth or 8 ounce "slub" duck cloth.Standard duck cloth is a tightly woven, durable fabric. "Slub" duck cloth fabric is slightly thicker, gives the appearance of linen, and usually shows lines or striations in the pattern.All fabrics are premium quality, medium duty fabrics. These fabrics feature a special screen print technique on 100% cotton fabric and is made by Premier Prints™. These are the same fabrics that many name brand designers use on upholstery products and in pillows.
Choose from 16 different Zig Zag Chevron Prints or 5 different Willow Prints.===============================================Not sure which colors to select? Order my sampler ($5.00 plus shipping) and receive a $5.00 credit back on your order. /listing/227442881/16-chevron-fabric-samples-for-delightful?ref=shop_home_active_10=================================================SIZE INFORMATIONSelect from 12, 14, 16, or 18 inch TW (total Width) chair covers. Need something in between? Select: Custom SizeWhich one do I choose? Here is how to get the TW (total width):Measure the width (W) of your chair back at the widest part. Measure the thickness (TH) of the chair back. Add these two numbers together to get the total width that you need for your cover. If in doubt or the number is close, choose the larger size.(TW) = (W) + (TH)========================================How tall are these covers? The standard heights that I use are:12 inches wide are 12 inches tall (Preschool)14 -16 inches wide are 14 inches tall (Kindergarten, First and Second Grade)18 inches wide are 16 inches tall (3rd Grade through High School)**Please note: these measurements are based upon average chair sizes used in many schools.