DIY Crate Seats!

YAY! I finally did it! With the help of my awesome new teammate, I made the crate seats for my small group and/or library. I can't wait for my students to use them this year! I will be sure to post pics once I get in my classroom and start setting up!

Here is what we did. It was so easy!

First, we stopped at Big Lots. They were having a 20% off our entire purchase sale - SCORE! :) We each got black crates because we didn't know what fabric we were going to be able to find. We figured black would be easiest to match with! Without the discount, the crates were $3.45.

Next, we headed to Home Depot.
Tip: Bring your crate with you so that they can trace on the board and/or measure your crate.
At Home Depot, they traced our pieces then cut out all of our pieces of wood. So generous of them!

It fits!!!

After, we went to Walmart (JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, Michaels or anywhere else with fabric could work too). Walmart was just closest. Who knew they had such a huge selection of fabrics?! I must pass by it all the time! We picked out fabrics that work best with our classroom colors. So fun!! They cut it to size for us.
Tip: Be sure to leave extra room for the fabric to fold over the board and foam and to be stapled!

After Walmart, we were starving so we stopped at Panera quick to take home. ;)

Car filled with supplies! Among other items that I need to clean out. Oops!

Then, we came home, devoured our Panera and got to work. We were so excited!

What you need:
Fabric
Plywood
Staple Gun
Staples
Crates
Foam (we used the craft foam found in Walmart craft section)

We traced boards on the foam and placed the foam squares on top of Walmart cut fabric squares, Then, put the board squares on top of foam squares. Lastly, we folded the excess fabric edges over the board like wrapping a present and used the staple gun to staple the fabric to the board.

Traced the boards on the foam. The, cut the squares of foam.
Please excuse the mess. We were craftin' for our students! ;)

It fit perfectly in the grooves of the crates. Yay! We literally cheered after stapling each board together!

My pretty crates. :)

Happy Crafting!! :)

My Top 5 Teacher Projects for Summer

Hi everyone!

Welcome to my first blog post! Head over to my bio to check out what this blog is all about.

As my first post is at the beginning of summer, I will talk about my top 5 projects that I want to get done this summer. I am hoping that this blog will hold me accountable to getting these done! :)

Most of these projects I got my Pinterest. Well, let's be honest. All of these projects ideas, I got from Pinterest. My main goal this school year is all about organization! These projects center around that a lot.

Enjoy!!

I will attach the Pinterest links and if it has a tutorial - I will attach that too. As I complete these projects, I will post how they went and if I did anything differently.

1. DIY Crate Seats

http://gingersnapstreatsforteachers.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-make-crate-seat.html

I can't wait to do these crate seats! I plan to do them with my teammate this summer. They look simple and not too much maintenance. This ties along with my goal of organization because I plan to have any materials that my students may need during small group inside the crates!

2. Labeled Binders

This is simple and does not need a picture. I need to better organize my system for labeled binders. I am going to do a little research to see what other teachers do. Last year, I had my data binder and my guided reading information in one binder. It was too much. #rookiemistake #justkidding #butseriously

3. Find a way to organize headphones

Ahh headphones drove me crazy last year. I could not figure out a system for my students. Every student in my class has their own because we all have our own devices. Headphones were a headache this year. I'm determined to find a more organized system for that! To be continued...

4. Table Name Tags

This year I will have tables instead of desks. I. Cant't. Wait.
I loved this idea on name tags.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/110056784617207656/

And last but not least...

5. Student Book Bins

I love the idea of each student having a book bin. They can pick their books but not have to go to the library every time they want to read a new book.


Now, obviously I have a Summer Bucket List along with this teacher project list. I am SO looking forward to the beach and a few concerts that are planned!

What are your plans for the summer? Any project ideas?!