Blue Cat Themed Classroom

I really don't want all my posts to be linky parties... BUT!!! When Pete invites you to a linky party... you have to go. Especially if you are thinking of throwing some Pete into your classroom decor, like me! This linky is being thrown by Sandi over at rubber boots and elf shoes.

Like I have mentioned before, I can't get back into my classroom until Aug. 20, so I have to work on things from home. I'm going to share some of my Pete stuff here and when I get back to my classroom I will show you some pictures of it all together! :) Here are the pieces all ready to go on my back to school bulletin board. It will read "Steppin' Into First Grade", but I have to find/make the right letters to go with it...

Keeping with the shoe theme, I made these little coloured numbers to put on all my desks. I arrange my desks in groups. I will have 6 groups and each group will be a colour: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. In the group, each student will have a number. I use these as a quick management technique. If the purple group is quiet, they can line up first. If I need one volunteer from each group, I can ask number 3 to come get something. I laminate the numbers and just use mac-tac to stick them to the top corner.

The group's colour also matches the group supply basket. My students will have their own individual supply box for crayons and markers and such, but we will have a community basket for dry erase markers, scissors, and glue.

I think they turned out so cute! I love the bright colours and the adorable shoe clipart from KPM Doodles. If anyone is interested in these files, you can download the desk labels {here} and the supply baskets {here}.

Here's some cute Pete decor. I made some cute little labels to put by my students' hooks. You can download a blank version of hook or cubby {here}. Also I am using the same desk nameplates that I used last year {posted here}, but I added a cute blue polka dot border this time. And Pete may have made a little appearance by the letter c ;) You can download my new ones {here}.

I also made some matching polka dot letters for my word wall. I made the vowels blue and consonants yellow. They can be downloaded {here}.

Here are some cute month cards and colour word cards. Love how these turned out! You can download the months {here} and colours {here}.

Lastly, here is my parent communication folder. I bought double-pocket folders, clear page protectors, and cheap 40-page notebooks. I printed labels for the front and the inside pockets. The front labels print on 2x4" mailing labels and can be downloaded {here}. The inside labels are printed on 1x2.63" labels and can be downloaded {here}.

 "Left at Home" pocket for work that can stay at home.

Page protector will hold the monthly calendar.

 

Notebook is for writing notes back and forth between home and school.

"Right Back to School" pocket for forms that need to be returned.

There ya go! Can't wait to get into my classroom to put it all together now! Thanks for stopping by! If you grab any of the Pete freebies, I'd love for you to leave me a little comment letting me know! Thanks a bunchers!

Skunks, More Summer Countdown, and Pete!

This post is a smattering of randomness from last week... I have three days with kids and two admin. days left, so that's how my brain is feeling these days... scattered!

Here's a pic of our skunk hats (head pattern from Cara's "Camping Capers" unit, just stapled to black construction paper strips). SO stinkin' cute! ;)

S is for Summer Birthdays (mine included), so I made some cupcakes, iced them in blue frosting, and put some little swimming teddies on top. The kids loved them!

U was suppose to be play Ultimate Frisbee outside, but our class got invited to the grand opening of the public library instead! So U became "Ultimate Trip to the Library". They had just renovated and have a brand new children's section! After some speeches, they had Geronimo Stilton and Clifford hanging around for the kids to see. Plus they handed out balloons, stickers, Geronimo Stilton cheese hats, bookmarks, and book bags! Then we got to sit down and enjoy some cupcakes and juice! It was a pretty fun afternoon. I had a lady come up to me and tell me how wonderfully my kids behaved. I was so proud of them! :)

V is for Vacation! I gave my students an 11x17" piece of paper and we folded it in half twice to make four squares. In the middle we wrote "Summer Vacation" and in each square we drew and wrote about four things we wanted to do this summer.

Here's my plan for the summer... lots of camping (starting next weekend), road trip to Ohio and Wisconsin, new puppy!!! (Bella needed a friend), and my birthday. 

The plans that I didn't tell my kiddies about were moving classrooms, planning for guided math (new), and building a deck on the front of our house. Whew! It's going to be a busy summer! :)

Look what arrived in the mail.... It's Pete!

Love that little blue cat! Since I'm moving to a brand new school and classroom, it gives me a chance to change things up and start fresh. I don't want to do a garden them again, so I decided to go with a Pete the Cat/Polka Dot theme... Stay tuned this summer as I start getting things ready for the new year! Here's my Pete poster for my back to school bulletin board... I think it will say "Stepping Into First Grade". I bought some cute shoe accents to write my students' names on.

Lastly, I got my students' gifts all ready for the last day... I'm going with Reagan's Candy Awards (unfortunately they aren't available in her store right now...) and little goody bag with a pencil, activity book, and suckers! Sweet and easy!
 

May Currently, Plant Update, and Pete

I actually remembered to link up this time!! Here's my May Currently...

 

Just a short post tonight... maybe I won't procrastinate and actually get that closet organized! Or at least get some ice cream! Haha!

I'll leave you with a couple pictures. First, it looks like I do have some sort of ability to grow green things. Our pea plants are *thriving*. We are so excited! Take a look at these babies...

And last, I read the new Pete the Cat book today and the kids loved it! {Belly button}. Ah ha ha!! I didn't download the song yet, so I will play that on Monday and then we will graph which book we liked best. Rhonda over at Classroom Fun has an adorable little unit to go with the new Pete book. There is a cute craft I'm hoping to squeeze in next week and the graphing activity we will do on Monday. I made labels for my graphing pocket chart to go with Rhonda's paper version. You can download them {here} if you wish.

I can't wait to do some of the fun writing activities from {First Grade Blue Skies} Jennifer's Pete the Cat unit too. It is going to be a Pete-tastic week!!

Happy Weekend, everybody!!