final classroom pictures

I didn't do a very good job of blogging my progress while working on my classroom... sorry! Here it is! I hope you enjoy the final product! My sister, Aly, took these pictures for me. Here are the before pictures.

This is the reading corner. Students will sit on the carpet and the couch while I read to them. They also have a ton of books that they can choose from. IKEA: shelves, wall shelf, rug, end table, pillows, blanket. WALMART: futon. TARGET: chair, book buckets. AMAZON: deer head (I repainted it). HOBBY LOBBY: letters. It's kind of hard to see in this picture, but the graphic by the elephant says, "READ WRITE SHARE REPEAT". My ooober talented friend, Amanda Nelson made that for me. You should check out her etsy shop!

This back corner is the "office". The computers are here (obviously) and all of the extra supplies are in the cubbies under the computers. Students can move the stools from the kitchen table over to the office. IKEA: grey tables, shelf, storage bins, curtains. HOBBY LOBBY: letters WALMART: Stools (painted blue). Donations: kitchen table, chairs, frames (painted), and quote.

My awesome friend, Katie, made this quote for me last year. 

Caroline, I put your supplies in little buckets at each table. Thank you!!

The theme for this year is "You have the power to choose." All of the quotes around my room are about making choices. 

... or about books. :)

A lot of people have asked me how I will decide who gets to sit on the couch. I have a reward system. One of the coupons they can earn is time on the couch.

This is my favorite quote. A lot of my students are born into unfortunate circumstances. I want them to know that that's not where they have to stay forever. I painted a canvas and then wrote the words with gold sharpie. 

(Ignore the ugly trash can!) Here's my desk! I found this at a garage sale for $20 and repainted it. I love the color, the space it provides, and how open it makes the room.

This picture of my guided reading table is my favorite! I love how it turned out. I made the ribbon chandelier out of embroidery hoops and ribbon. 

I love my little home away from home! I hope my students love it, too! 

* For first time readers, I worked a second job as a florist this summer to earn money for this project. I also asked for and accepted a lot of donations in the form of furniture, money, books, and supplies. It wasn't a cheap project, but it was a lot of fun and the pay offs will be big! Thank you again to everyone who donated! Matt and Jennifer Larsen, Chris and Aly Pray, Caroline Roeth and Family, Diane McKnight, Natalie and Mike Pray, Inga Lloyd, Ellen Sigety, Laura Biggs, Amanda Nelson, Ashleigh Elliott, Sister Passey, and Mark and Nicole McKnight.

THANK YOU TO MY HUSBAND, PARKER JAMES DONNER! I needed all your "oooohhh's and ahhhhh's".