Hi!  Tomorrow the children are coming!  I lost one student so I am down to 25  students.  Two teachers now have  fewer kids than  I  do so I should not get the next 3 students. I probably shouldn't but I am willing to do a happy dance right now., if I had the energy.  I am tired from 2 days of meetings.

 I have some fun things planned around Pete the Cat and The Kissing Hand.  I love to read and sing with my class so that should help start off our first day together! How many of you don't start until September?

I wanted to let you know about  bundle of kindergarten and first grade math over at this Tales From A Traveling Teacher.  They are  also having a giveaway if you are interested.  Here is the link!  http://talesfromatravelingteacher.blogspot.ca/2013/08/journal-giveaway-summer-lovin.html

I have a funny story to tell you about today.  I decided over the weekend that I could not stand my kid's orange cubbies that they put their supplies in.  They are very old and grungy. I also decided they didn't match my classroom colors of aqua and green.  So I decided to spray paint them blue. I know I had the whole summer to do this but I decided to wait until school starts!  I guess I like stress!  They do look nice but I look like a Smurf!  It doesn't matter what I paint I always end up wearing it.  I did discover that Goo Be Gone will cut through the paint so the Smurf in me has disappeared which is a good thing because I had to go back to work today.
This year we have 2 work days before school starts.  We had meetings this morning and then we could work in our rooms.  Tomorrow we are in meetings for the entire day.  The children will start on Wednesday.  We are all up to 26 children and counting.  That's a large class for us. 104 first graders!  My largest class was 35 first graders a long time ago.  I still have a cute note a sub wrote me.  She drew 35 stick children and said I don't know how you do this every day!  I hope if you are starting back to school this week that you have a great week and a great class too.  I know I am anxious to use some of the new items I just bought on TPT.

I promise I will take my camera to school this week to take pictures of my room.  I am not allowed to take pictures of the children in my room or I would probably share those with you too.  Have a great week!

Heads up!  Teachers Notebook is having a site wide sale this weekend.  I believe TPT is doing the same but I don't know when it starts.  If you are like me you probably have some things on your wishlist you would like for back to school!  If you display Mel's (Graphics From the Pond)  cute I Love Clip art button she  has another cute graphic for you!  It's one of her cute stick figures. http://graphicsfromthepond.blogspot.com/2013/08/scrappy-rainbow-kids-set-3-free-for.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GraphicsFromThePond+%28Graphics+From+the+Pond%29
I need to go to school this weekend and finish setting up my room.  Our school board will be going through for a tour and then my Open House is Wednesday.  So I guess the stress begins.  My room is decorated in polka dots and owls.  I need to take some pictures so you can see.  A friend of mine made my polka dotted curtains because
a.  I haven't sewn in forever
b.  I tore apart a closet and found my sewing machine but couldn't find the cord
c.  I couldn't find the metal piece that covers up the thread
I really didn't want to sew them anyways.  They turned out so cute!
I hope you have a great weekend and if you have already started back just remember you will be out before the rest of us and then we will be jealous too!.

I have been busy laminating, working on a bulletin board and fixing up  my space in the hallway.  We are each up to 25 children and counting!   That's a lot of children compared to last year and we haven't even started school yet! We usually average around 19-20 children, although  my first year of teaching I had 35 little darlings.  A sub drew me a picture of my class and said that is way too many children in one room.  I kept the note and put it in my first year of teaching scrapbook. When do you go back?  I have an Open House next Wednesday and then school starts for me on the 19th.  The children won't start until the 21st.

Here's a great giveaway to check out! http://www.luckytobeinfirst.com/2013/08/its-giveaway-time.html?showComment=1376085349430#c4804313526318689165


Education to the Core is has a lot of great products on TPT.  They are also having a giveaway going on right now too.  Come check it out!
http://www.educationtothecore.com/2013/08/25-tpt-giveaway-from-education-to-core.html

  I don't know where this summer has gone.  Tomorrow will be my last day tutoring a sweet little boy.  I plan to stay after tutoring and work on my room.  I would like to get my bulletin boards done and see if I can find my cute owls.  If they flew away I still have time to make new ones before our Open House.  Our Open House is the following week before school starts.  Is anyone else getting nervous?  I don't know why we get this way every year but I still get the butterflies, although right now they feel like frogs!
 I am so excited to have another item added to my TPT store.  I have been using this word sort in my room for years. Mine was not this cute!  I can't wait to see what the kids think of it!
I want to leave you with some info on a giveaway http://inthatroomwithheidiharrell.blogspot.com/2013/08/treats-for-teacher-giveaway.html  There are some cute owls which of course I would love to have for my classroom!
Is anyone else going to watch the final Bachelorette?    I have found the whole season to be rather boring but I am going to watch tonight's show or at least watch the end of it if it is boring.

I wanted to share with you a great giveaway for classroom supplies or furniture.  Have a happy Saturday!
http://www.teachingmaddeness.com/2013/07/100-dream-classroom-giveaway.html?showComment=1375535829296#c7432145539955734557