Oriental Trading Wishlist

Hi everyone!  How is your Back to School experience going?  I live in New York and my summer is July through August, so I don't go back until September.  However, I am busily getting ready and decorating my room and familiarizing myself with the curriculum.

Where do you go to buy teaching décor?  Target?  Michaels? Walmart?  A local teacher store?  I do all of the above, but sometimes I don't have the time to go out or I'd rather happily browse at home.  One place that I know meets so many of my classroom needs is Oriental Trading.  What I love about Oriental Trading is their variety and they have so many brand names and familiar products that I already have and love.

I am really excited to share my Oriental Trading Wishlist (and I got a few things from it that I knew would be essential for my classroom!)  Wishlists are such a great idea to not only keep track of what you want, but you can share out your wishlist with parents or other teacher friends. 

These pencil sharpeners are perfect for my prize bin.  I am really excited to be teaching 4th grade, and I know they will be responsible with them.  They are a little bit small so I wouldn't recommend them for really small children. :)

 One of my favorites were these magnetic clips for "no name" papers - this happens far too often in multiple grade levels! :)

Check out my bulletin boards!  I love the borders from Oriental Trading, but I also love the bulletin pieces like this "I can" objectives wall!

Oriental Trading also has me ready for my 4th Grade Social Studies Units!  One of our first units is Map Skills and learning all about New York State. 

 I got complimented on these lovely punch-out letters that I got.  I am in love! They are BIG and BOLD and STURDY. 

I also found cute composition notebook bulletin board pieces.  Very good quality (cardboard) that I can write the students names on and hang them :) Can't wait!

 Best prices for pencils and dry erasers.  I had to! :)

Check out my wish list for more details on these items... and make your own wish list if you have time!  If you want to share with me, feel free I'd love to see them!

Happy Shopping and Wish listing!

Disclaimer: Oriental Trading sent me products in exchange for a blog post, but all opinions in this post are mine.

Classroom Setup 2016-2017

I will be going into my 8th year of teaching in September.  I am at a new school and a new grade level.  This summer has been full of hard work and continuous effort.  I have worked with many wonderful children in a literacy summer program and tutoring.  I can't believe that summer is coming to a close and I haven't had a day to relax, but to be in the wonderful district I am, made all worth the hard work!  My journey and teaching path are no accident.  I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

So I will be teaching fourth grade for the 2016-2017 school year.  I haven't taught 4th grade in some years, but I can't wait to provide care and authentic experiences for my fourth graders!

What do you think? There is still time to jazz it up a little more, but this is the basic gist  :) 

Can we say books?! Holy moly.  After many hours of work, all of the books are now categorized with specific labels and ready for the children to read.  Lots of choices! :)  

 Our daily subject board and jobs.  You can find this adorable "Pencil me in" job chart HERE! I am going to be laminating and rotating names for the jobs.

 

Below are some of my subject bulletin boards that I will be adding to and changing throughout the year.  Crayfish and Geography are two of the first units that I will teach for Science and Social Studies.  I am excited to have lots of wall space for each subject area!

 Here are my Genre posters from Really Good Stuff and I LOVED these motivational posters.  This TPT freebie can be found HERE from Teaches Third in Georgia!

 My reading nook is one of my favorite areas in my classroom.  I love my 6 Traits of Writing Posters, my RACE sign from Fourth Grade Flipper, and my Text Evidence freebie I found that would look awesome in color (but I printed in black and white.)

My classroom won't be on Pinterest and all of my bins do not match.  I don't have the latest and greatest bulletin boards, but as the years continue and I develop more of a supply for décor, this is what it'll look like.  And I like it.  Sure I would love to have the chalkboard designs and all black bulletin boards matching and all of my bins to be labeled.  But for right now, it's all good!

I wish you all a wonderful 2016-2017 school year.  Make it the best year ever. :)