Awesome finds....

Sorry I've been MIA the past few days! It was my baby girl's {8th} birthday and I have been shopping..shopping..and some more shopping! I {heart} back to school sales - I have been finding some amazing things for my classroom! Here are just a few {well a little more than a few!}.....



I found these at the dollar tree! They are different sized clocks that you can use a dry erase markers with. I plan to break them up and make centers {check back because I'll be sharing the centers I create!} I also found a synonym file folder game.



Another Dollar Tree find... this great spinner. I'm thinking about using this to call on students. {My students are in groups of 4-5 and each have an assigned number 1-5 to each group!} I would have to ignore 6-8 though! I also found this pointer - I got it just because the teacher store is right next door to DT and they were selling these things for 6$!!!!!!!!




More dollar tree finds {it was a great day!} I found these for my treasure box. I will use the balls for a grand prize week. My students last year went nuts for erasers! I was so excited to find these bright colored ones as well as skateboard erasers!






Ok last dollar tree find. I found these adorable tubs that match the colors in my room! {Love it} I thought about moving all of my math manipulatives into them. Of course I bought like 12 of them {I wanted more though!!!}

I found these at Target so I can make those cute paperclip bookmarks that I saw on pinterest {love pinterest!} I found the ribbon in the dollar spot! The giant paperclips are on the supplies aisle! I already started making these and they are so much fun! I plan to give them as gifts to my teammates.







I found these sticker gems at the Target 1$ spot. I got an awesome idea from Tara at 4th Grade Frolics to put jewels on students' papers when they use "sparkling" vocabulary or use creativity in their writing. {Love this idea!}







Another great Target 1$ spot find! More shaped erasers {ice cream, crayons and cute hand shapes - i love you, hang 10, thumbs up} These are for my treasure box! I also finally found the mini erasers! I found them awhile back and decided to wait, then went back and they were GONE!! I plan to use them with centers!






And my coolest find is this timer {Target 14.99}! Sure it just looks like a regular timer....but it's quite the opposite. This is a giant timer {hard to tell in the picture} it's 8.5 in by 8.5 in! The best part - it's magnetic! I plan to put it on my whiteboard!!

I didn't take a pic of it, but I also found a good size rug 7ft X 5ft - with giant polka dots {and my room colors} for only 15$!!! And guess where I found it?!?! At my grocery store of all places. They had a dorm section with all kinds of goodies!

I think that is enough goodies for now!! Stay tuned, I've been working on some great printables to label your crates {should post in the next few days!}

Classroom Library Show Off Linky Party

It won't be long before the school year will begin. This will be my 2nd year of teaching! I knew from the start that my main focus of my classroom would be my library. I spent tons and tons of time on it! Here are some pictures....


Here is my library corner. I have my library divided up between picture books and chapter books. In the corner - I have a pop up laundry basket that holds my pillows and small carpets
{I have one of every color}. I was very fortunate - last year most of the college dorm stuff at places like Walmart and Target were bright colors that fit right into my theme.

My color baskets hold my picture books. I also have them separated {fiction & non-fiction}. I made the labels and pouch laminated them. I used a rectangle hole punch to make holes at the top and bottom of the label. Then I used small zip ties I found at Walmart {in their automotive section} to attach the label to the basket. All of my books also have a coordinating sticker on the back of the book that matches the box label to help with keeping it organized. I made the library letters using scrapbook paper and my Cricut {a must have!}

My chapter books are stored in the black mini crates that I picked up at Dollar Tree. The books are separated by series, favorite authors and the remaining books are separated by genre. The chairs are perfect for my library area. They are made of a mesh material that is easy to clean, they fold up for easy storage, and they are low to the ground {perfect for kids}. They are beach chairs that I found at Garden Ridge. I lucked out and found them right before school started last year for only 7$. I grabbed a blue and red one!


I plan to make a few adjustments to my library. I have a ton of new books {I had students donate them at the end of last year}. I also want to incorporate magazines into my library. I have already found the perfect containers for them. I want to know...How do you organize your library? What are some must haves for a classroom library? Or just show off your library.

Here is my first Linky Party. Link up your blog below with your library show-offs! And while you're here...follow my blog. When I get 30 followers I will share my library basket labels!

As promised here are my book labels...Enjoy!! Thank you for following me! {I just printed them on cardstock and laminated them!}

***You don't have to have pictures of your library to participate! I want to see ANYTHING that has to do with your library!!! New seating you found, carpets, how you organized - basically any ideas that have to do with your library!