A Very Bookish Beginning

This year I decided to totally recreate my classroom.  I just wasn't happy with it last year.  It felt like the space wasn't used well enough, that it wasn't organized, and it didn't have that je ne sais quoi that makes a room seem extra special.

If I know one thing about myself it is that I am at my best when I have help.  Some people like to work alone but I always get better when I can borrow, steal, "honor" as my friend John puts it, or bounce ideas off of others.  So a couple of weeks ago when my good friend Jen asked if I would like some help setting my classroom up I said yes immediately!

I am quite pleased with the finished product.  I really like how my love of books is communicated in almost every aspect of the room.  Again, most of the ideas were not my own.  They came from Jen, many, many hours scouring Pinterest and teacher blogs, and my other friend Sara.  Sara helped create the characters from Extra Yarn! and I have to say that it was brilliant.  Last year my kids loved everything written by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen so this was a fun addition. Also because I discovered many of my ideas online, I thought I would post some pictures for those of you out there who are also looking for ideas.  Steal honor away!

The view from my front door.  Those tissue paper poof balls
were really popular this year. I saw them EVERYWHERE online.
Mine are supposed to be clouds.

Another poof ball.  Writing Wall to display their work.
Also, as a theme this year, I am incorporating "earthy" stuff.
Green, blue, black, leaves, clouds, etc.

New bench seat below the window.  The characters from
Extra Yarn!/I Want My Hat Back flank the window.
+ twinkle lights.

Two of our favorite characters from last year.
We also added a quote from the book Extra Yarn that reads
"Soon, people thought, soon Annabelle will run out of yarn."

Math supplies, Annabelle from Extra Yarn, and
the book that inspired her addition to the room! 

Close up of Annabelle.  I knit the little sweater she is working on.
The yarn travels from the magical box to her, over the window,
and to Rabbit and Bear on the other side.

Library.  Poof Ball.  Green leafy thing from Ikea.

Definitely stole this from a teacher blog. 
Kids will "tweet" quotes and ideas from
books they read by writing them on post-it notes and
placing them in the speech bubbles. 
When I told them about this today they
were super excited.  They are all now creating
their own @Names.

Another view of the library.

Shelf one with books from their summer reading
list, as well as books that connect to what
we are learning across the curriculum on top of the shelf
+ succulant.

"Be inspired by Nature."  Books on display to go along with our theme.

My new Cuppow!  I love this handy insta-portable-travel mug!
My life has been amazing since I bought it!

And there you have it!  Day one today was amazing.  I can't wait to get things going.  Congrats to all those who also started school.  I hope your room is as comfy as mine!