Elbow, knees, dreams

a blog about preschool, public schools, and what it's really like to be a teacher

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sprucing up my classroom

I had four wooden bookshelves that are old and beaten-up, that someone passed down to me my first year at this school. I’ve used them ever since, but it didn’t occur to me until this summer that I could paint them to make them look better. (Here is one Read More...

MY toolbox

Okay, so I am not a crafty person. But even a NDIY (Never Do It Yourselfer) like me can learn a few things on Pinterest. I love the toolboxes I’ve been seeing, like this one and this one , and finally decided to do it myself. I went to Home Depot and Read More...

this looks awesome: customizable lesson plans

Through the magic and wonder that is Pinterest, I found this website, Dragonflies in First . The blog author has made lesson plans for the computer that she is selling on Teachers Paying Teachers that look extremely cool. I have tried and failed to come Read More...

Plotting and planning; new school supplies

I went to Target and Office Max today, to hit their current sales. (Hurry in — at Office Max composition notebooks are only 50 cents each, although you can only buy 5, and at Target spiral notebooks are about 37 cents each, with composition notebooks Read More...

Pinterest find: More Classroom Organization

I love the idea of clean, organized, lovely looking desk drawers. Sometimes I succeed at it, and other times I get off track. Here are two photos of lovely desk drawers to inspire you: This one is from Better Homes and Gardens . I think I may try this Read More...

Pinterest find: Classroom Organization

So I haven’t been writing in my blog this summer. What have I been doing? (You know, besides drinking cold chardonnays in the evenings, reading books, sleeping in, and organizing my house a tiny bit each day?) I have been PINTERESTING. Man, I am in love Read More...

National Teacher Appreciation Week discount at Container Store

The Container Store is having a 20% off sale for teachers, through May 31. If you sign up here for their Organized Teacher discount program, you will qualify for the discount. It’s probably worth doing; the Container Store has great stuff, and most of Read More...

Spring cleaning, with snow on the ground

It is a classic winter day here, with ice and snow and cold. However, I felt some signs of spring within me — I did a major spring cleaning of the classroom, with the help of my Americorps volunteer. Visual clutter raises my blood pressure. My classroom Read More...

on sharing, the little red hen, and teachers

There is a new teacher teaching the afternoon class this year. She is young, determined, and confident. I had hoped to develop a mentoring relationship with her, but she doesn’t seem interested. Which is completely fine. She doesn’t have much overlap Read More...

breakfast can be terrifying

It’s like Lord of the Flies downstairs in our cafeteria every morning. Last year was the first year that our school breakfast became a madhouse, and it’s even worse this year. The kids get off the bus, come in the door that’s closest to my classroom, Read More...

So I think Angela Watson might just be a genius

For more than one reason, actually. She sent me a copy of her new book, Awakened , and it is absolutely terrific. I read it and felt like she was speaking to me personally. My review is coming soon. Today, however, I’m thinking Angela’s a genius because Read More...

my back to school list

I need to get to school soon, to give the school secretary a letter from me to send out to my new students’ families. I used to request school supplies (Crayola crayons and markers, pencils, Elmer’s glue, glue sticks, tissues, etc.) but I ended up with Read More...

thinking big

Our children are away at camp, so last night my husband and I had a Wednesday date for dinner and a movie (“Crazy, Stupid, Love” — highly recommended). At dinner, he said, “Do you have any goals for this coming school year?” And with that, I was off. Read More...

an inspiring writing center

Jessica Meacham has this photo of her writing center on her website : Is that not a thing of beauty? I am so inspired to make my writing center more attractive to my students, not to mention, to keep digging for awesome classroom organization photos! Read More...

See Jane Work; see Kiri drool over office supplies

See Jane Work is a luscious office supply site. Things are a little on the pricey side, but awfully pretty. I’m particularly fond of these Semikolon file boxes , which are on sale. SJW also has these cool document boxes , in plenty of colors. I’m also Read More...
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