Class Update and New {School} Year Resolutions

It's been a few days since I've posted. I've been super busy in the classroom. Last post I showed a few preview photos to show off what I was working with, but now I'll get to show off the (near) finished look. It's basically just the bare bones as I have not gotten any posters or displays up, but the walls are done, and it's coming together nicely.

This is how it started.

This is how it looks now! I love it!

Another before picture - other wall.

New and improved wall!

Better view of my future class library.

But updating the walls isn't the only thing I've been doing. I've been adding details to help make the room more organized and/or inviting - depending on the detail.

A tablecloth gives the table a completely different feel! It really warms up the entire room so much!

These crates are due to be turned in to seats. They'll double as storage. A trip to Home Depot and Hobby Lobby are in the works for today.

Each set of five students gets their own shelf to store book boxes and other odds and ends I don't want in their desks.

So, those are some of the things that I've been working on. I have a bunch more little projects that will hopefully be the final touch. I also need to put stuff on the wall. That will definitely be a process, but I know I need to find space for my Daily 5 and CAFE boards. I will need a writing board. I had a word wall last year; we'll see where that goes. I'm sure that I'll eventually be running out of room.

Finally, I'm linking up with Amanda at Teaching Maddeness for her New {School} Year Resolutions. Here it goes!

Number One: Stay organized! It's especially important because I got rid of my desk. I'll be using my Guided Reading table as my main spot, plus a shelf in the room for office supplies that I will be 'sharing' with my friends. Number Two: Plan! Last year I was so overwhelmed that planning was difficult. Don't get me wrong - I did plan, but it wasn't done as far in advance as I would have liked. Number Three: Guided Math. I was on and off and on and off with Guided Math last year. I loved it. My friends loved it, but (probably because of Number Two) I never was able to consistently do it due to planning constraints. Number Four: Take on some school projects. I'm putting this as a resolution, even though I kind of have already started. In theory - as long as no one else decides they want it - I'll be taking over Box Tops and Yearbook this year. So exciting, but I like being involved in things. And last, and probably the oddest one: Number Five: Stay late. What?! No really. My little puppy was so small last year - and still learning how to control his bladder, so I'd have to race home once our teacher hours were over so I could make it to let him out before he made a mess in my kitchen. Now, he's almost a year old (his birthday is on Tuesday!) and he is almost a pro. Still the occasional mess, but he's able to make it an extra hour or two by himself. But he's trained me to come home right away, so it's a habit I'll need to break. I don't need to stay late everyday - I don't want to stay late everyday - but I need to remember if there is something I want to stick around and finish, it's okay. Okay, I think that's it. I promise next post will be from my First Year Advice From a Second Year Teacher series. It won't be until next week though because we're going camping this weekend. Oh joy!
Until next week!