New Additions.

My whole house is usually in some sort of state of flux. The crack down on our budget has reduced that dramatically. However, I am pretty stubborn, I mean resourceful, and still find ways to update, switch around, and make over spaces. It is possible, even for free.

The classroom is no exception. At the beginning of the year our room and my office looked like this and this. I have had some new additions since September. The first is due to the combination of  having an amazing friend and being in the right place at the right time. Have you ever had that moment of when the stuff of life, several reorganization project cast offs, and the Goodwill pile all join forces and threatened to attack? The only way to win is to just start begging people to take things A-WAY? I was the recipient of just such a moment and a generous lovely friend said please get it out of here. Done. Her Cherry wood filing cabinet received a make over during the holidays and now she sits in all her ivory loveliness in my office. I am officially a grown up….and a teacher. I can’t believe I have never owned a filing cabinet. They are pretty handy. Go get one. Or find a friend with a lot of clutter and just sit around and look cute. You never know.

I had a bunch of aqua file folders because I do own file BOXES. I relabeled and quickly filled up my filing cabinet. The top drawer holds all of the non curriculum type of things I own. These are primarily extra resource books and activities to fill up the kids workboxes. I love pretty organization. Thank you, G. I owe you one!

Christmas brought me this cute little birdie. I love birds and really want a parakeet, but my family loudly disagrees. Boo. My stack of books that I  have just finished or am waiting to get to, became her little perching place. By the way, If you are a Tori hater, don’t judge. Mommy wood was at the Dollar Tree and I have always been curious about Tori’s books. I love all of her design and crafting and party planning……I need to check out her writing.

This past year Shawn’s grandpa went home to be the with Lord. He was an IN-cred-ibly-loved and Godly man. Our first born son was named after him. All of the children and grandchildren and great grandchildren were loved and blessed to receive special things from his home. We were given his globe for our schoolroom. We love having it with us.

We were short a chair at the school table and another fabulous friend of mine gave me this one. Cute huh? It was dark wood with a mustard yellow velvet seat cover. I made her over late one night, with some leftover paint and fabric. I  now have this fun new seat. For FREE. It makes me happy. Thank you Miss Monica!!!

We have also been clock~less for a while. When this one graced the shelves at Target I fell in love. After several months of waiting, a late night grocery run allowed me to find it on clearance for just $7.48. The best part of it is, it does not say “tick, tick, tick, tick…as many clocks do.” It pays to be patient.

Over the weekend I started tackling my grading and progress reports. It really helps my kids to know where they are throughout the year. Just like “real” school. Our system of papers goes like this…

1. Assignments are completed.

2. Things get graded together, or by me depending on what it is (usually the same day).

3. After grading, they go into the inbox. Each child has their own.

4. Every so often, I clean out the inbox. I enter all the grades in my grade book.

5. I pick out my favorite papers/projects to save and the rest go in the trash.

6. The ones that I have saved head to the second drawer of my filing cabinet,

where they wait until the end of the year.

7. When the year is over I move the years worth, to their permanent home (which is currently under construction).

THE END.

The project I am doing to control school memorabilia, has been circling Pinterest and blog land for awhile. I am just getting my version completed and will show you the big reveal next month.

We had a quiet day around here. Laundry, school, cleaning, grocery list making, appointment setting, and cookie making. You know a little of this and a little of that. We are taking it easy after the heartbreaking loss of our Niners last night.

I hope your day was happy!