American Themed Classroom

AMERICAN HISTORY Themed Classroom

I made this wreath with letters and flowers from Michaels. The red wire baskets I inherited from another teacher, and place it on top of my teacher wardrobe.

Found this wooden sign steal for $2 at TJMAXX on clearance!

I purchased these flag themed pendants from Michaels after the 4^th of July, when all of the holiday décor was on sale!

Party City sells this cute spiral stars to hang from the ceiling. My room is kind of dark so I hung these up like curtains. This way light is still entering the room, but the windows aren’t so stark and boring.

These red white and blue large round lights I found at Goodwill for $4! The bunting was from Walmart J I use these pieces to frame out my smartboard.

For the bulletin boards I tried to keep it consistent and organized with clean lines. I used black as the backdrop and used patriotic borders to tie it into the theme. The one on the left is red with white stars, the one on the right has the flag on it. Both of these I purchased on Amazon! The wooden stars hanging were part of my 10 for $1 stash from Goodwill.

I decided to put these window clings on the outside of my door. For some reason I find that any time I put stuff on the inside of my classroom door it gets destroyed. When kids are rushing out and trying to hold the door open with their hands full, things get ripped or relocated. These have held up really well and were also part of my 10 items for $1 at Goodwill. 

These items were purchased at Michaels. Michael’s is FABULOUS because of their 40% off coupons and additional 15% teacher discount when you show them an ID. I loved these patriotic flowers and I thought the flag was unique. I love to see a different twist on our traditional flag. I like that this one is sort of rustic, and vertical.

My original intention was to put pictures in these little rustic mini-clipboard frames. However, once I got them set up, I liked the way they looked plain. These little jars have twine and stars hanging from them, with small bushels of red, white and blue flowers. All of these items were purchased at Michael's.

I used my circuit machine to cut out stars on cardstock to stick to my filing cabinet. (see “using Cricut to aid organization in the classroom” post for more Cricut ideas)

My side board is bordered with president cards and red, white and blue Christmas lights. I also found red, white and blue poms on amazon and assembled those and hung them on the ceiling. There is 3 in each pack, and I ordered 3 packs total. The flag bunting boarding my white boards were purchased for $2 after the 4^th of July from Walmart. These are some pictures of my room as a whole.

I purchased this toolbox from Lowe’s for $16 (http://www.lowes.com/pd/Stack-On-22-Drawer-Blue-Plastic-Storage-Cabinet/3381356)

 I was able to download a free template on TPT and changed up the font and labels to meet my needs. OF COURSE I picked one with red and white polka dots to be consistent with my theme.

These dry erase bins from Dollar General are my FAVORITE. You can organize books and supplies and label and relabel the bins with expo marker. They also add a pop of color to my classroom bookshelf.

15 Game Changers in the Classroom

15 Game Changers for the Classroom

I have compiled a list of 15 things that I absolutely couldn’t live without as a teacher. You might call them my MVP’s most valuable (classroom) possessions.

1. Staples Desk Apprentice- Rotating Desk Organizer

I use this magical rotating organizer to declutter my desk. In the center I use hanging files labeled for each day of the week. I keep all my copies for lessons in the corresponding hanging file.  The exterior compartments have been used for a multitude of things over the years. Sometimes I keep copies for a class we have called Core plus- which is non-content specific. I use them to house clipboards, and other papers/books I want readily accessible (like rosters and such). The smaller exterior compartments hold pens, pencils, scissors, markers, staplers, etc... I absolutely LOVE this thing. 

2. (Large) Flat Desk Calendar Pad

These jumbo calendars are great for writing down important meetings, events and dates. I prefer these over wall mounted calendars because they are easier to write on. I also use my desk calendar as a quasi-folder. Whatever unit we are studying I keep important answer keys tucked under that month’s page. I LOVE using washi tape to mark recurring events (using the same color every month). It’s hard to forget important dates when they’re written in plain sight at your fingertips. I always purchase these at Target. 

3. Recollection 10 Drawer Rolling Organizer

I not only have two of these in my classroom, but also have one at home. They are easy to assemble, take up minimal space and can be used for a multitude of purposes. They are sold at Sams and usually go on sale (plus you can use a coupon) at Michael's http://tinyurl.com/hx28ax6

4. Magnetic Easy Staple Remover

I know a staple-remover probably seems like a weird game changer, but I seriously love this thing. It’s the very best at taking staples out of bulletin boards without tearing up the paper. ALSO, the staples that have been removed don’t fall onto the floor, this remover hangs onto them! In addition it has a magnetic underside for picking up any stray staples. I purchased this item on Amazon. http://tinyurl.com/h2rhvb2

5. Customized Teacher Notepad

Thank you Vista Print! There are dozens of small notepad templates. Once you select a design it’s easy to customize by adding any font you want. I received a pack of 2 pads for $10 and they have lasted for years! I adore this design- I added my own lines and signature at the bottom. http://www.vistaprint.com

6. Stabilo Fine Point Pens

So maybe this item is more of a LOVE than a must-have. I used another coupon at Michael's to purchase a pack of these pens. They’re amazing! I don’t have the best penmanship and these markers actually improve the look of my handwriting, no joke! In the past I have always used flair pens, which seem to dry out quickly. Another wonderful alternative to these pens are the Staedtler fineliner pens (can be found at Target).

7. Erin Condren Planner

Usually I don’t splurge on planners, but this planner is perfection. I love the checklist in the back for recording student grades. I like the layout for the planner portion when it comes to lesson planning. I would recommend this planner more for a High School or Elementary teacher with multiple preps. Some of the extra space goes unused since I teach the same content all day. Side note: I also recommend using washi tape to mark off important dates/meetings. It certainly doesn’t hurt how ADORABLE the cover designs are either. https://www.erincondren.com/

8. Fabric Scissors

This might seem random but fabric scissors are FAR superior to desk/office scissors. They have longer blades nature which allows longer cuts which equals faster cutting. They are nice and sharp since they are designed to cut fabric. My students are always begging to use my pair. They’re slightly more expensive than traditional scissors but it’s a one-time purchase. Trust me they are worth it; regular scissors pale in comparison. They can be bought pretty much anywhere. I know Joann’s fabric store sells them and they typically have excellent coupons and teacher discounts.

9. Personal Paper Cutter

This may not seem like much of a game changer, but I can’t even tell you how often this paper cutter has come in handy. Typically, copy rooms have paper cutters, but it’s so nice to have one in your classroom. Teachers in my hallways were always borrowing this from me. They’re reasonably priced and will save you extra trips to the copy room. This model was created by Swingline.

10. Personal Laminator

This is ANOTHER MAJOR favorite of mine. I purchased my Scotch Thermal Laminator for $18 at Walmart. The laminating pouches can be bought in bulk from Sams. I have used this to laminate student awards (makes them look more official), bookmarks, labels, and other handouts I wanted to use and reuse with my students. I know a math teacher who laminated number charts for students who were allowed to use them on tests as a modification outlined in their IEP. It’s great for laminating smaller items. I seriously laminate everything now!

11. Giant Post-it Pad

Creating anchor charts is extremely valuable when explaining difficult content/concepts. It allows you to use a visual aid for your visual learners (which is the most common learning style). I like this particular pad better than others because they are post-its. This means I can hang them anywhere in my classroom and avoid the hassle of taping them to the wall. It’s nice to not have to worry about finding space for an anchor chart stand as well. I simply used command strips to hang it up on the wall when it is not in use. This pad has lasted me 5 years!

12. Bluetooth Mouse & Keyboard

I recently purchased a Bluetooth mouse to help solve the setup issues in my classroom. My computer has to be at the back of my classroom where my Smartboard hookup is located opposite the Smartboard at the front of my room. It’s a huge pain running back and forth in my room whenever I need to use my mouse or keyboard. Even if your computer is located in a convenient place, you’d be surprised how nice it is to have a mobile mouse. Typically on student presentation days I will set up my keyboard and mouse at a desk near students who typically have difficulties focusing. It allows me to monitor them with proximity while still being able to access my computer to pull up a document, video or slideshow for the presenter. I also use it when I am sitting with my team at a table and we want to display certain things on the board during the meeting. I like being able to sit with the group rather than being banished to my desk like a loner 

13. Strong Magnets

One way that I save valuable learning time is my paper distribution system. Rather than spending time at the start of class passing out dozens of papers, I have students manage that task. Once a paper has been graded I clip it to my whiteboard. Anytime students see a stack of papers under their hour label, they automatically begin passing them out. I also try my best to put papers for absent students on the board as well. A full stack of class papers (30 or so) can be very heavy for a traditional magnet to hold up. I purchased these super strong magnets at a local teacher store. I was able to find them on Amazon as well. If you search Learning Resources Super Strong Magnetic clips, they will be the first to appear on the feed. http://tinyurl.com/jxjxr55

14. Dry Erase Bins

These are THE best organizing bins EVER. Not only are they SUPER cheap (just a dollar a piece) but they have a whiteboards surface so they can be easily labeled, erased and relabeled. I bought dozens of them for the shelves in my classroom. The rectangular shape allows you to store books and binders, and anything else you don’t want cluttering up your shelves. These can be bought online or in-store from Dollar General. I also love how they add a pop of color to the classroom. 

15. Wire Step File Organizer

I use wire file organizers for a variety of things in my classroom. I use it as Chromebook storage and clipboard storage. Before getting my desk apprentice, I used it keep daily copies in files. Clipboards are an awkward shape to store horizontally, this organizer makes it easy. My students borrow these all the time if they want to work in different areas of the room. For the Chromebooks it’s convenient not only for storage but also makes it easy to charge the devices.

IKEA Teacher Hacks

IKEA Teacher Hacks

IKEA is a magical place. If you’ve never been I recommend going, and don’t plan ANYTHING else for that day, because you’ll want and need as much time as possible to peruse the store. I find that IKEA’s strong suit is coming up with inexpensive organizational systems. I want to share a few things I have purchased from there that I use in the classroom.

First, the RÅSKOG cart. My absolute favorite thing in sold by IKEA! You could literally use one for every room in your home, but I'll focus my pitch on an educational setting usage :) 

 I have a pretty terrible classroom setup- let me explain: The cords to hook up my computer to the smartboard as well as the projector are at the back of the room. My smartboard is at the front of my room. I was trying to come up with a better solution than running back and forth from the back to the front every time I wanted to do something on my computer for the students to see. While I was getting lots of steps in, I was also wasting valuable class time. So I ordered a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard from amazon and purchased the cart from IKEA. I transformed it into a makeshift podium/portable teacher desk. I saw on Pinterest that a person had decided to flip the top shelf on the cart upside down to provide a flat surface. It was super easy!! I even purchased the hanging cups for around the edges to hold things I wanted readily accessible such as hall passes, the smartboard remote, and pens/pencils. I LOVE IT! It has saved me tons of time, and the lower shelves are great for holding my teacher textbook or other documents I want to refer to during a lesson. Small, compact, inexpensive organization at its finest. Used podiums can run you anywhere from $100-$200, this cart is only $30. Honestly, I’d still buy it for twice the price. It only took me about 15 minutes to assemble!

View the cart at this link: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30216536/

My next IKEA purchase for the classroom is a small metal shelf (I think it's called LERBERG) . I wasn’t able to find it on the website, but I’m fairly certain that IKEA still sells it. I remember it was super cheap- like $20 or something. It only came in black and silver, which was not my taste, so I spray painted it turquoise. I have used it different ways over the years. I used it to hold magazines and as a hub for student supplies. This year I am using it behind my teacher desk to maximize my desk space. I have picture frames, a phone, albums, and a small supply caddy on it for now. It’s very light and compact, and the uses are endless!

IKEA has tons of drawer organizers for the kitchen, bathroom and office. I found this one for I believe $4(estimate). I like that the compartments are wider than traditional drawer organizers. I’m not entirely sure if it was meant for desks rather than kitchen or bathroom drawers, but hey, it works great for me!

I also LOVE my IKEA teacher desk lamp. I’ve considered personalizing the lampshade, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.

Using CRICUT to aid organization in the classroom

Outside of my work, I'm not an overly OCD type of person. But inside the four walls of my classroom I am definitely a TYPE-A personality. I feel like I cannot effectively teach or properly function without complete organization.

 I have had the distinct pleasure of working with and observing dozens of teachers over the years. Some of these tips and tricks are of my own creation, others have been added to and/or modified, and some I have completely borrowed. I will include materials, as well as locations of purchases for each of the items mentioned. Hopefully these will increase your productivity, ease your stress and make your classroom a more functional and inviting space!

I am an absolute CRICUT fanatic!!! If you don't know what a Cricut is, it is a

"a personal electronic cutting machine that makes it easy to create DIY projects without breaking the bank. They are moderately priced machine that work with or without a computer and lets you cut a wide range of materials, from paper to cardstock to vinyl".

For more information visit: us.cricut.com

I purchase my vinyl for cheap at Crafters Corner

 http://www.crafterscornersupplies.com/ and I label dozens of things in my classroom.

These storage drawer towers were purchased from Michael's and SAMS (SAMS was cheaper, however Michael's is great for using coupons, remember teachers get 15% off if you show them your teacher ID). These are easy to assemble, typically priced around $25, and come with the necessary parts (no toolbox needed). I have also purchased one for my office space at home. I have seen teachers use these as turn in bins- and returned graded assignments bins. Another teacher friend of mine would label two shelves for each day of the week and use it to hold copies for the week and the following week. Regardless of the grade level you teach, these are a MUST HAVE!

I use my drawers as a filing system for each hour I teach. In addition they are used to organize supplies for students. I tried using blank labels in the past and wrote on those with sharpie, but they ended up peeling off half way through the school year. 

I also placed vinyl on my white boards for labels that I don't want to have to continually rewrite each day. It doesn't damage the boards and it takes up less space than printing them on paper and using magnets or taping those labels to the board. 


Here it may be hard to see but I have created vinyl labels for agenda, learning goals, and learning targets!

I created my homework board using electrical tape and I used a level to make sure the lines were straight. I decided to go with #tb then the day of the week, because every day is a throwback in history class :)))))