Freebie Friday!

Yesterday I officially linked up to Teacher Week at Blog Hoppin'!

Thanks to all of YOUR amazing blog posts, Pinterest pins and just generally awesome ideas and generosity, I have been feeling VERY inspired. So I decided to post my very first TEACHER FREEBIE!!!

The first one applies mostly to IB - PYP teachers. These are kid friendly cards giving the definition of the 10 learner profile traits. Although these are intended for IB teachers, I think that they are honestly not only great vocabulary for kids, but also character traits that every learner should strive for! You'd be amazed at how quickly kids pick up on these traits!! Scroll down for the link!

Click here for printable Learner Profile Trait cards!

As I've said, this is my first year teaching first grade. Up until now, I had worked only with 3rd graders! This means A LOT of changes for me - including adding a WORD WALL to my classroom! So, of course, I had to create some cute alphabet letters like the ones below: 

Click here for full set of printable alphabet cards!

And finally, I used these GREAT genre labels that I found via the Clutter Free Classroom, added some kid friendly definitions and shrunk them to the size of a flash card. 

Click here for printable genre labels and definitions!

I think that's all for me for now - I'm pretty new to this whole freebie thing. But I think I like it! I can't wait to see what you all post - so don't forget to link up over at Blog Hoppin' to share!!

Where I Teach Wednesday (yes, I know it's Thursday...)

I stumbled upon this most recent teacher link up a little late in the game, but I'm still excited to participate! It's Teacher Week over at Blog Hoppin' and yesterday all of the amazing teachers that linked up showed off their teaching space. Well I had already been planning to do just that so why not link it up too??? Even if it is a day late...

Here is the view as you enter my classroom. I'm sticking with the beach theme this year but decided to spice it up with a cruise ship! Eventually I want to have all their little first grade faces in the life rings surrounding the boat. 

We're also a pod school - meaning no real walls or doors. To most people who come in for the first time, this boggles their minds. I honestly prefer it - you're able to better collaborate and be spontaneous with your teammates. And it's great for "borrowing" ideas you see other people using throughout the day!

Library area complete with new, reupholstered rocking chair. Though not as comfy as my old one :(

Computer and reading/writing centers

My thinking maps and PYP Learner Profile Traits board. Actually the IB learner Traits have changed since I took this photo! I hope to upload the new definitions I created as a freebie on Friday!

My math and calendar area. I'm excited to get to integrate the calendar into my morning meeting again!

IB Unit of Inquiry board, sink/water fountain and workshop/word wall area. I just LOVE the little stuffed sea creatures hanging from the ceiling! Thanks to my Momma and Auntie for coming in and helping out with that (among many other things...)

"Information Station"

A view of MY space. I just LOVE my little Ravens bulletin board behind my desk for photos of all my favorite memories and people!

And just a few wide shots of the room in general...

I hope you all liked touring my very first first grade classroom! Be sure to hop on over to the linky party at Blog Hoppin' to check out tons of other great learning spaces!! 

Sneak a Peek

Teachers don't technically have to go back to work until Monday. But, of course my OCD prevents me from actually giving myself a FULL vacation and I've been in to visit my new classroom a few times.

I started by recovering this old stool. It was in my classroom when I moved in 3 years ago but I actually use it a lot! Sadly, I didn't think to do any before shots but I'm SO SO SO stoked about the finished product! 

This is the first time I've moved classrooms since transferring to my school 3 years ago AND the first time I've taught a grade other than 3rd. Next year, I'll be moving down to big, bad, scary (for me, at least) FIRST GRADE! So, needless to say, my anxiety and over preparedness have been out of control...

My math board has gotten to say FAIRLY the same as in my old room. I had to move my calendar to the math area and add a few things to it. Let me tell you, packing up I made sure to label my fabrics with what size boards they fit and kept the borders together with the fabrics. It made recovering my new bulletin boards SO. MUCH. EASIER!

I've never had to have a proper word wall before, so I spent a lot of time on Photoshop perfecting the letters for this one. You can't see here but they have super cute little beachy borders all around! And luckily, for whatever reason, the chalkboards in my school do not really like chalk. So, we all use whiteboard markers on them instead! It easily wipes off with baby wipes whenever you're done, so that will be how I will be adding the words to the word wall! 

This photo also shows my workshop board. I will end up putting their small group rotation schedule on the board, as well as workshop responsibilities. Here's a closer shot: 

First of all, let me make it clear that this sign up chart was not exactly my idea. I found the general format for it on another amazing teachers' blog but sadly cannot remember which one. I have been finding so many amazing, useful and creative ideas out here in blog world that I've lost track! So, if this is your creation, please comment and take credit! 

Anyway, I'm very OCD about order in the classroom. So when small group rotations begin, I like to know exactly where every kid is AND exactly what they're doing there. With this system, I can mark on the laminate cards what students should be doing in each center. Then, they will clip a clothespin with their names to the edge of the card to show where they will be during center rotations. I did it a little differently in 3rd grade, so I'm hoping this will be a little easier for the little ones.

And, since every center is not open every day, I added velcro to the backs of the cards so that they can switch in and out easily - please excuse my need to be painted in a bad way nails. (I am a total velcro FOOL this year!!) 

 Although it may seem like I've been so hard at work that I must almost be ready to roll, the picture below shows that this is far from the truth. I feel so OVERWHELMED already!

Well, I guess it's time to lavish in my last THREE official days of summer vacation! Is it sad that I get in such a depressed little funk around this time of year?