The year is off and running...

The first few weeks have flown by and the school year is in full swing!

I am really enjoying my kiddos this year! So many fun personalities and it already feels like a family, which I love about being in the classroom.

This past week we wrapped up our unit on properties of matter.  We talked about relative density while testing which fruits and vegetables would sink or float.  I wish I had taken pictures! The kiddos are always so shocked when the blueberry sinks and the watermelon floats! They ooooh and ahhh, it is so fun.

We began to focus on the properties of water, specifically at which temperature water will melt, freeze and boil.  Every year I try to find a way to make this topic "hands on" but it never works out right.  This year beakers and thermometers were broken in the process.  I am hoping an interactive virtual investigation through STEMScopes will happen on Monday, technology willing :)

Getting Classroom Ready!

Oh my, it is July!  In fact, July is halfway over and before you know it, it will be time to get in to my classroom to start decorating and organizing.  I can't get in to my classroom until next Monday, and with a 3 month old and a 4 year old, it is going to be difficult to get anything done.  However, I am hoping to get in a few hours next week.  I still have things in my old classroom that I am sure the incoming teacher would like me to move out of her way.

In the mean time I have been using "nap" time the quiet late night hours to create some awesome poster sets for my 5th grade science classroom walls.

I created these awesome Science Lab Safety posters to coordinate with my classroom colors.  I used the awesome Neon Bundle form I Teach What's Your Superpower's store on TPT.  I was so excited when I found the Neon Bundle, it was perfect, just the right color combinations for what I imagined in my classroom for this school year.  I used Science Lab clip art from Scrappin' Doodles.  I am absolutely in love with her creations!

Using the same Neon bundle, I created these Scientific Method posters.  Aren't the colors just popping! The adorable kid scientists clip art is from Mrs. Fun on TPT and school supplies from Tracee Ormen.

I am super excited about how great my classroom is going to look.  I have never done a cohesive color theme before and think it will be a bright place to be in every day.

So much for last year's blogging goals!

My last post was almost one year ago on July 22nd.  The Sunday after that post I found out I was pregnant.  Sweet lil' number 2 arrived on April 9th.  Blogging and creating products for Teachers Pay Teachers were placed on the back burner as I adjusted to my new teaching position, planned for a long term sub, and figured out how to be the Mom to two awesome daughters!  I am hoping this summer to get back in the blogging game...once a week would be great! Twice a month may be more realistic!

So far this summer I have been thinking about classroom decor.  I want something consistent, that I can use year after year.  Changing decor each year gets expensive, and now that I have 2 in daycare, my budget just won't allow for my classroom to express the annual theme my school does each year.  This year's theme is "Get in the Game" and my hallway has chosen Candy Land as our board game.  We will decorate our hallway to resemble the game.  I am hoping to come up with an awesome motto using SWEETS as our acronym.  I am throwing some ideas around...Students With Enthusiastic Educated Thinking Skills?  I will get it eventually...

For my own classroom I have been scrolling through Pinterest looking at pics of awesome classrooms.  This is the time of year I start to wish I was in an elementary school and could incorporate some of the cute ideas I find, but I teach 5th grade in a Middle School and cute doesn't always cut it there. 

What has really caught my eye are black and white classrooms with pops of color, and of course a chevron pattern.  I love chevron...and polka dots!  And they actually look really cute together.  So far I have created Calendar Monthly Headings using a great Chevron background.

Available on TPT

I envision black fabric on the bulletin boards.  Solid borders on those bulletin boards.  And accents of color, like with the calendar headings and classroom rules.  I am working on my seating plan as well.  My department head, mentor, friend, leaves her class set up with 5 "tables"  all year. ( we have desks in the classrooms and not tables, every other science teacher in the district has tables, go figure).  I want to try doing this as well with each table, or team as I will call them will be numbered...or colored, I haven't decided.  The team signs will add another pop of color.  I want to attach the signs to tissue fans or paper lanterns, like these on Oriental Trading.

I really think it is all coming together in my head, I just hope I can transfer my idea to my classroom!
Wish me luck!