Dual Classroom Setup

As part of my new position this year as the Dual Language Coach in our building, I will be working to provide professional development opportunities to our dual language staff, particularly the newbies we have this year!

While our school year does not officially begin until August 28th (I know...seems late compared to many of you!), I am working in conjunction with our district ELL/Bilingual Coordinator to develop some presentations and host some meetings for the new staff to help them get prepared for a successful year ahead of time.

Tomorrow these new dual staff members were invited to come in for a "Classroom Setup" session with both of us. We are going to work to provide them with ideas via a presentation we have put together first, and then give them time to work in their rooms and support them along the way. 

While this presentation is geared specifically toward dual rooms in our district there are a variety of ideas that would be beneficial to have in all classrooms particularly if you are a new teacher just starting out.

Thought I'd share what we put together with you all just in case you thought it may be useful for you! Gives ya a lot to think about in prep for the school year!

It's Currently August...Ehh!

Cannot believe I am saying I linking up with Farley for "Currently...August". Time is just a flyin' folks. Next edition of currently there will be kiddos in the building and the year will be underway!

So a little explainin' of the above...

"Listening"- First, I have a little crush on Blake Shelton....and furthermore something about country music in the summer time just fits!

"Loving" - I just got fitted for the first time for a new pair of running shoes. I absolutely love them. Did you know that you should go a 1/2 to full size larger in your running shoes to give your toes some free space? Who knew. Life altered.

"Thinking"- My little furry friend is gross as she just came tail wagging to do the door post rolling around in a dead animal. MOST Un-pleasant-smell-friends! So I went for a good ole' dog shaming photo to add some humor to the situation (as neither her nor I love puppy bath time!) I'm such a nice mom.

"Wanting"- What girl doesn't want to go on a little shopping spree every once in awhile? 

"Needing"- My basement is full of nearly all of the classroom stuff that I purchased over the years as my school was shifting rooms all over the place this summer and I am moving to an office with my new position. Now the feat is to go through it all and decide what to bring/can fit in an office the size of a closet. #teacherproblems

"B2S Must-Haves" - 1. Thank You Cards and Stationary are key for me as they are nice to have on hand to whip out and give to someone at a moments notice!

2. My laminator saves my life when our building one is out of laminate as well as when I want to laminate things with a little bit studier material!

3. I could own my own container store with the amount I have accumulated over the years. A teacher/girl can never have enough storage!

Be sure to check out other "Currently" posts and link up with Farley to share your own!

Old School... Back to School...Freebies!

and 

Linking up with Cara @ First Grade Parade for a little Throwback Thursday - Back to School Style as well as Classroom Freebies for Charity's Organizational/Back to School Linky.

Last summer, I shared these classroom organizational tools I created with you all that I must say worked marvelously for me throughout the year! Here is a little reminder...and you can click on any of the images that suit your fancy to head to my TpT store and get a free copy of your own!

First...numbered sticks! These puppies (once created) can be used year after year and prove to be so much more efficient than writing students names at the beginning of each new year. Plus they look adorable (at least I think ;)). 

I just printed, cut, laminated, and hot glued these babies to large popsicle sticks and there ya have it! They are still in wonderful condition after a year of use!

I also shared with you all a fun way to display how each of your students goes home each day. I utilized this clip chart all year long and had clothepins with each of my students names on the corresponding circle for how they went home. On the "busser" clips, I also added the students' bus number. It was quite simple for my to use as a quick reminder as well as to share with a sub where to look if there was ever a question!

Once again to put it together it is just a matter of cutting out the circles and laminating them. I then just actually clipped them to the ribbon, but you could hot glue for extra reinforcement as well if ya'd like!

If you download either of these "flashback freebies", I'd really appreciate/love your feedback guys! Also, don't forget to check out all of the rest of the super freebies and "throwbacks" linked up with the lovely ladies mentioned above!

iPad Rules Posters

Our K-2 classrooms are finally getting some iPads this school year! My colleague and I were chatting about what cute iPad rules posters we have seen pop up on Pinterest, TpT, etc., but none we had seen were in both English and Spanish. Thus, we decided something had to be done so we could join in the "cute rule poster" fun. I just finished them up...hot off the press..."iPad Rule Posters" that are in both English and Spanish folks!

This pack includes 8 rule posters with corresponding images (to help the little ones and our language learners) as well as an "iPad Rules" title poster to be hung with the bunch. All are 8.5 x 11 in size and you can pick and choose which rules you would like to use in your classroom as you see fit! Click on the spread to take you to me TpT store to get your copy!

So excited to see what our little ones can do with the iPads this year, and hopefully these posters will help start them off on the right foot!

Updated Calendar Labels for You!

I recently had a request for my "Spanish Calendar Labels" to be translated into English as well. Thus, in an effort to please and appease, I have done just that! Those of you that are looking to update or create your own calendar this school year may be interested in one of these packs!

Here is a photo of my mathematics bulletin board at the beginning of last school year with these calendar labels displayed.

The pack includes all months, a "Today is..." strip with corresponding days of the week to be Velcro-ed on, a "School Day" poster where students can continue adding numbers to count the days passed, as well as optional smaller days of the week labels for the top of your calendar, and 31 circular numbers to represent each date.

Here is a little spread of the recently created English version to help you visualize it a bit more :)!

Click on either of the images below to take you to my TpT store to check out the labels in English/Spanish!

Made It and a Freebie!

I am linking up with Tara @ 4th Grade Frolics for another edition of...

This week I came across a Pinteresting DIY project that I just had to try out. I absolutely adore headbands especially those that are comfy and I can wear lounging or working out....and this one was absolutely free and oh so simple to create!

I had recently put together a bag of clothes to donate and just snagged a tee out of there to use pre-donation! Cut a few strips off the bottom (as pictured), tied it up, and voila. Cute right! Here is the link to my pin for more in depth instructions.

In other news, July 5th was my handsome man's birthday! He absolutely LOVES the Bears and has still never been to a game (I can see why after purchasing the tickets...yowzas!). Thus, I figured I would be every man's dream gf and get him some tickets to celebrate.

I put the gift together in this little DIY frame. (I apologize it's all Instagrammy...for some reason I didn't save the photo anywhere else...but hey if you aren't following me yet...I'd love for you to snag my name and join in the Instafun!).

I bought the frame at Kohls for 40% off and then headed over to Michaels for a few scrapbook touches (football sticker, scrapbook paper, and the adorable Bear's themed buttons). Printed off a lovely little note and hot glued the frame touches and then presented it to my man! 

(I think he liked it ;))

And for the freebie...one of my kindy colleagues is doing a safari theme in her classroom this coming year and was searching for an "All About Me" type poster with this theme in both English and Spanish. I helped her out and thought I would share the creation with you all as well in case you wanted to use it in your room. It has a lot of picture spaces as it was designed with K/1 in mind. I believe she is planning on blowing it up a bit so you could do that to make the spaces bigger for your students if needed as well. Just click on the images to grab your free copy in the safari theme or I created a plain one as well! 

If you are lookin for more freebies of the day...check out "Manic Monday @ Classroom Freebies"!

Favorite Pins Friday #1

Just got back from vacationing at the lake and a visit to see my best friend and her family in Minnesota. Such a wonderful time had by all! And I cannot believe it is already mid-July. What happened to all of my time?!

Here is a pic of me and the beffer at a rooftop restaurant in Minneapolis. Gosh I love that city! SO fun!

In other news...while vacationing look what arrived in the mail!

Yes...to answer your question this is an Erin Condren Life Planner...and yes I am in love! It is an organizer's dream! She does sell the bands and fun markers as well...but I just bought both of mine pictured at Target to save some mula. 

Now that I am back to reality...I have had a little more time for some pinning! Thus, I thought I'd link up for my first "Favorite Pins Friday" with First Grade Parade.

Here are some of my faves as of lately...

Love this wrapping paper idea that can be used throughout the year. Just a little black Kraft paper and chalk markers...voila! 

Love anything that I run across already created in Spanish. I have seen this poster pin in English....but this is the first time for good ole' Español! I will be sharing this one with all of the newbies in our building this fall!

I have been on a huge clean eating kick lately and loving how it makes me feel! Here are our recipes I pinned for today and dinner tonight! Can't wait!

Cinnamon greek yogurt dip snack!

And for dinner turkey burger spaghetti with zucchini!

Finally I ran across this adorbs watch from Etsy. The price is quite reasonable...I am just a cheap skate. What do you guys think? Cute? Buy worthy?

Have a great weekend you guys! And don't forget to link up your fab pins today as well!