Classroom makeover!

Hey there!  I've been a little MIA this past week.  My student teacher is wrapping up her time soon and we are transitioning back to me as "the teacher" and I've been busy getting back into the swing of things.  Just like riding a bike... a little wobbly at first but then it's like you never took a break, LOL!  

As you may know, I've been spending some time making over my room.  It started out as a little side project that I would use in September to spice up the classroom I've been in for the past ten years.  But, I couldn't resist putting up some stuff to see how it looks and I LOVE IT!  Here are some pictures of some of my new stuff.

This is a portion of my new alphabet and number cards.  I made the alphabet cards but bought the number cards from here.  I love them and the feedback from my colleagues has been awesome!

I wish I had taken a picture of the before of this before the makeover.  It is a plastic drawer set.  Each drawer was a different primary color and the main part of it was a bright blue.  I spray painted the whole thing with black gloss.  (It took 2 1/2 cans and I did end up with a bit of a headache!)  Then I used the zebra duct tape on the fronts of the drawers.  I love the finished product!

Another view

I posted about this adorable ottoman a few weeks ago.  I found it at AC Moore.  I found the perfect use for it... my listening center.  All of the books on tape/CD fit perfectly inside and they stay neat and out of sight.

I'm dabbling in Whole Brain Teaching so these are my rules and procedures!  

I'm loving how it is all turning out.  

I'm just WILD about this theme!

Since January, I have had the pleasure of mentoring and working with a wonderful student teacher.  Ms. D has enormous potential and I have enjoyed getting to work with her.  After working with her, to be ready to take on the class on her own, she was ready to jump in with both feet.  Once I wasn't teaching anymore, it left me thinking... "Now what do I do?"  Ms. D. was doing well on her own and of course I was giving her feedback and support daily, but she didn't need me as much as I wished she did- a mixed blessing to be sure!  I do have a bit of a reputation in my school as being a bit of a control freak particular about how my classroom runs.  Now I know we all have our OCD tendencies, but it's always been hard for me to sit back and allow someone else to work with my kiddos.  I always end up interjecting, not that that's always a bad thing but, some other teachers may view that as threatening, even though I don't intend it to be.  But, I didn't need to interject (often) and I was feeling like I wasn't needed.  

Anyway... back to my reason to post... Once I wasn't teaching full-time I started to get really bored and started daydreaming about all the things that I never get to do because there's just never enough time.  For years, I've looked at pictures many of your blogs with your wonderfully themed rooms.  There's been a little green monster of jealousy lingering on my shoulder, for what seems like forever.  So now that I had this time (no papers to check at night, tests to grade, or lesson plans to write), I had time to plan out my perfect themed room.  I've always had a little wild side, plus I had acquired a few cute store-bought monkey items over the years.  So it just seemed logical to go with a jungle theme.  

I started teaching myself how to make items like the ones on TPT.  I notice my techniques improving with every new item.  Of course I purchased more than a few, too.  Then I started seeing animal print everywhere.  On a recent trip to AC Moore, I found these treasures.  They are storage ottomans.  And here's the best part... I got them for about $5 a piece.... SCORE!  I love sales, plus 25% off coupon and teacher rewards.  Woo Hoo!  

Now I need some ideas... what to do with them and should I go back and try to find some more?  

If you are planning a jungle theme for your room, check out my TPT store.  I'm really making things for myself but figure if I like them, maybe someone else might, too.  So they are available for you to purchase.  I hope you have a great rest of the weekend.  Thanks for stopping by!