and so it begins...

After almost a year of blog stalking, I have finally decided to start my own blog! I must say, I was very hesitant at first. I mean...one more thing on my plate, right? One of my former team members, Jillian, over at Little Miss Whimsical , started her fabulous blog earlier this summer, and I must admit, I was more hesitant. Because we are sharing our TPT and TN stores, I didn't know how it would work out having my own blog. BUT...I had all these ideas and wanted to personally connect with so many other bloggers that..needless to say, I started my own blog! Because Jillian and I basically make and create the same sort of things, we decided to share our TN and TPT stores so some of the things you might see here on my blog will also be able to be viewed on hers as well. I'm VERY new to this whole blogging thing so BEAR with me as I'm sure it'll take me a while to get adjusted to everything!! :)

I am excited, though, because my room is ALMOST ready! YAY! I have been inspired by SO many bloggers out there that I'm sure everything in my room has been "stolen" from some website or blog! Here are a few pictures of my [mostly] completed class library and reading areas! My math section is still a work in progress as I was inspired by Kristen over at Ladybug's Teacher Files, and how she organized her levelized math games. Needless to say, I'm in need of colored ink and lamination to get all those math games ready, BUT I'm very excited about having a levelized math games section for my kids. I'll post more on that when I am closer to completing it!

Sorry if these pictures are dark..I have the OLD iPhone 3G so my camera is definitely not the best! Ha! ;)

I'm very excited about implementing CAFE this year. I've LOVED Daily 5, and cannot wait to see my kids grow as they learn the variety of strategies that CAFE introduces.

Our classroom library! We've continued the theme of black with bright colors so many of Kristen's library labels over at Ladybug's are at use within my library! Check them out on her website, they are SO cute!

Jillian at Little Miss Whimsical helped me paint this bookshelf from a not so cute BRIGHT red to black! I love it!

One other cozy reading area underneath our Daily 5 board. The empty black space is where I place all of our I-charts needed for implementing Daily 5. Those will go up as we introduce them!

Jillian made these SUPER cute book luggage tags to be placed on the kids' book baskets. You can check them out at our TN store! Within these book baskets the kids will keep their guided reading/literature discussion books and 5 of our class library books. My goal is to diminish the constant "book shopping" I see within classrooms. I want them reading not shopping! :)

Whew! That was a long 1st blog post! :) I'm very excited to have this blog to communicate, share, and learn from all of you! Can't wait to see all the amazing posts of rooms and first days of school!

How are your rooms coming along?