The One With the Husband's Idea

Back on my Currently in July post I mentioned that I was working on a little project that my sweet husband designed.  Several of you were very curious as to what great idea my husband had given me.

I'm finally ready to share it with you.  I got it put up in my classroom yesterday.  

We purchased a new patio set at the end of June.  A round table that came packaged with a perfectly round piece of cardboard.  The husband immediately thought I could make something out of it so it remained in our living room for a few days while I pondered the possibilities.  

I finally decided I wanted it to be a tree.  One of those perfectly round whimsical trees.  The husband immediately googled pictures and we started playing around with ideas.  This picture was my favorite.

That's when my husband got the great idea to print book covers and cut them out in circles to put on the tree.  Genius!!  Love that man.

So the project began. Here is my reading tree.

A close up of the book titles. 

The trunk is made of cardboard as well.  I cut it from the box that our table came in and then covered it with brown duct tape.  

I absolutely love it, but it doesn't quite fill the space like I had hoped.  So here's what I'm thinking.  Blue clouds around it with quotes from books.  Whatcha think?

The One Where I Tell You More

I love me a good linky party.  Amy over at Step into 2nd is hosting a Tell Me More Tell More.  It's a great way to get to know some new bloggy friends.

Here are few odd things about me.


#1 I'm a hog through and through.  Woo Pig Sooie!

#2 I recently took up the sport of golf.  My husband is my coach.  So far so good.

#3 I'm a nail biter.  I want to quit.  I almost have a full nail on every finger.  Once I have all ten, I'm getting a manicure.  I'm hoping a little nail polish will deter me from biting.  It's a hard habit to break.

#4 This is my 2nd blog.  I also blog at www.elainaweaver.blogspot.com about my daily life with my husband and our sweet furbaby, Liberty Belle.

#5 I played the clarinet from 6th to 12th grade.  Band Geek in the House!!

#6 As some of you have figured out by my post titles my all time favorite show is...

#7 I've recently decided to use twitter as another way to connect with fellow teachers.  Follow me at elainaann3.  Yes this is a bit of a lame attempt to get followers.  Don't judge.


#8 Snakes bring me to tears.  I'm terrified. Can't even look at a picture of one.  Keep them far far away.  Just because I'm a science teacher does not mean I automatically love all "critters"

#9 Watching Say Yes to the Dress makes me want to get married again (to my sweet husband) just so I can buy another wedding dress.  I would pick something very different this time around.

My original  pick...

Though I love that dress, today I would pick something more like this...

I love the fun feathery bottom.

#10 Lately I have been obsessed with this snack.  I eat it almost every day.

The One With A Sneak Peek

I have been working away in my classroom for several weeks.  I'm going through everything and giving away or throwing away quite a bit of stuff.  I'm tired of moving things from classroom to classroom when I never use the stuff.

I've also been doing a little decorating a long the way.  You know...mixing a little fun with the work.

Though I'm not quite ready to show you the husband's bright idea, I thought I would share a few pics of things I'm gotten up and ready to go.  Most of the ideas you will recognize from Pinterest. :)

 My only two rules....Short & Sweet

 Owl Wall Stickers from Pier 1...love them!

 My organizer for papers... Thursday, Friday, & Next week to come.

 More owl stickers.

 Fabric backed shelf.

 Close up of the fabric.

Reading Nook

The One With the Genre Tracker

Last month I finally jumped on the bandwagon and read The Book Whisper.  Needless to say, I fell in love with it and plan to implement Donalyn's strategies in my 7th grade ELA classroom this year.

Earlier this week I sat down and created my own version of what I'm calling the Genre Tracker.  It's a two page graphic organizer that allows students to keep up with how many books they've read from each of the required genres.  I plan to have them glue it into their reading notebooks so that they can add to it throughout the school year.

I have placed my Genre Tracker in my TPT store for free.  Because the idea is not original to me, I do not feel like I can ask anyone to pay me for.  It's there to download if you don't want to have to recreate one.

The One With The Toolbox

Because you haven't seen enough of the teacher toolboxes floating around out there, I thought I would share mine.

I purchased this multi color cart a few years ago because I just had to have it.

I'm sure you've all seen them.  I'd even bet several of you own one yourself.  They aren't exactly the cheapest little things, yet they seem cheaply made.  I find that too often as I am closing a drawer it comes out of the tray that holds it and it won't close.

Honestly, if you don't already have one I don't recommend you spend the money on one.  I'm glad I got mine with a coupon while it was on sale so that I didn't pay full price for it.

I'm replacing it with my teacher toolbox.  Whoever is the original creator of the teacher toolbox, a major shout out to you.  Genius idea!

Here is out mine turned out. I really love it!

I'm using it to take the place of the color cart.  And since I have a love/hate relationship with the color cart, I can't let myself get rid of it.  I'm trying to find a good use for it.  Originally I thought papers/forms for my students that we will use often, but I know they won't be able to keep the drawers in the trays so I don't know.  Any ideas?

And while I'm sharing, I scored this cork board owl @ Target this past weekend for $2.50.  I just couldn't resist.

I brought her home and gave her a quick paint job.

Happy Saturday Friends!

The One In July

Oh my!  Someone needs to block pinterest on my laptop.  I keep find more cute things I want to make for my classroom.  It's becoming a sickness.  At some point I have to stop and start working on lesson plans.

But for now, let's play Currently.  Go ahead.  Link up with Farley and play along.