LOVE YOUR TEACHER BINDER

Hello there! I'm so excited to share with you my Teacher Binder for the 2015 - 2016 school year. It is so organized & beautiful & I'm geeking out over it! I've seen a lot of adorable Teacher Binders, but I chose to create my own so that it could be organized the way I want and personalized. I'll use it for planning, record keeping, parent contact info, and so much more! I'm looking forward to carrying it into important meetings and having everything I need handy. If you're gearing up for back to school and looking for a new way to organize things this year or are looking for some fresh inspiration to show off your personal teacher style, then read on!

First things first, my binder cover! I printed out my cover and used washi tape to personalize it. My goal was for the cover to look professional without looking too uniform or boring. Not only was I able to achieve my goal, but it was inexpensive, easy to make, and turned out really cute! Let's open it up and see what's inside...

Say hello to my Flair pens! I can't wait to use them to grade papers and color-coordinate my calendar (it's the little things in life)!! I covered my binder divider tabs in washi tape not only because it looks cute, but because if I ever change my mind on my tab labels, I can peel off the washi tape, put a new strip on, and create a new label. Here's a break down of the sections of my Teacher Binder and what you can find inside:

To - Do List:

My to-do list comes from my deep desire to be super organized. I combined a few ideas I had from some books I've read, things I've seen on Pinterest, and ideas from my own brain. I have a few copies of my To-Do List in this section of my binder for me to use either day-by-day or week-to-week, just depending on how busy I am or how much I have to do. 

(If this To-Do List works for your organizational style, feel free to download the PDF and please comment below letting me know how it works for you!)

Calendar:

Next tab is my monthly calendar I got for free from Teachers Pay Teachers! I like it because it gives me a month at a glance view, so that when I'm in meetings I can quickly refer to it and make sure I don't overbook myself. I plan on using my Flair pens to color coordinate the events on my calendar so I can keep things straight.  

School Policies:

This section is where I am keeping important information about school and district-wide policies and procedures as well as my state's Code of Ethics for teachers. Now I can quickly reference those important materials right when I need them and not have to wonder, "now where did I put that again?".

Seating Charts:

I have three sets of students that rotate in and out of my room every day. I photocopied a blank mock-up of how desks are arranged and placed them in here. I will write in students names once school starts. This seating chart will help me match the faces to the names and hopefully help me get down all 90+ names sooner! It will also be a great resource for me to add to my substitute notes. 

Grades:

A place for me to put my spreadsheets... I'm one of those people who loves to have a hard copy of grades everything as well as a digital. I also decided to put my gradebook in this binder because it will go everywhere with me, so I should never have to worry about leaving my gradebook out somewhere or forgetting to bring it.

Communication:

I'm super excited about this Information Sheet/ Communication Log I created! Each student will have one of these sheets that I can refer to to look up contact info, birthdays, and other important information, as well as a record of all contacts with parents/guardians. 

(If this Communication Log works for your organizational style, feel free to download the PDF and please comment below letting me know how it works for you!)

Plan Book:

Lastly, I will attach my lesson plan booklet in the back. This booklet is something given to all teachers from our District and it's basically a weekly calendar with room for lesson plans, and mapping out scope and sequence. 

Is your Teacher Binder similar or totally different? What sections do you absolutely have to have in your binder? Did you download any of my planning documents? Share below!

ME + TARGET = MAD LOVE

Earlier this week I walked into my happy place, Target, and as I was greeted by the smell of popcorn and soft pretzels I was also greeted by this beautiful entrance:

At first, I was a little taken back by the sight of school supplies in the middle of July... but then I looked around and saw freshly sharpened pencils, reams of lined paper, and it was like Christmas morning. I turned towards the $1-$3 bins (my kryptonite!) and ran into some AMAZING finds! If you're starting to think about your back to school preparation wants/needs, you'll probably want to head to Target to see all of the wonderful stamps, pencils, stickers, banners, and more for your classroom. Today, I'm going to share with you some of my favorite finds from the dollar bin section and how I'm incorporating them into my classroom to show off My Teacher Style.  

Okay, so these clothespins were obviously way too cute to pass up!! They came six in a pack for $3. I loved the way that they looked and figured I could find some way to use them in my classroom. What I ended up doing was adhering a thick strip of magnet-tape to the back of each. You can find magnet tape at just about any craft store (I found some at Walmart for about $3). I super glued the magnet tape to the back of the clothes pins to make sure that it was very secure. After they dried I tested them out and I couldn't be happier with the results! I put them on my white board, and plan on using them to hold up anchor charts, showcase student work, or hold some "no name" papers... so much more personal than regular magnet clips.

This Classroom Rules sign caught my eye right off the bat. I loved the design, colors, and message so of course I had to say YES. There is a sink area towards the back of my classroom and that is where I decided to place this sign. I figure as students get a sip of water, wash up, or are waiting in line to take their turn, it's a great little reminder of what kind of culture we want in our room.

My final find that I'm sharing with you today is this little glass No. 2 Pencil Jar. I was trying to figure out how I wanted to use it, but I ended up deciding to be a little selfish. I've placed in on top of one of the file cabinets behind my desk-area and I'm going to fill it with some M&Ms or some sort of chocolate just for me as a little break.

So Target has done it again, and my classroom has just become a little more cute-ified because of it. Have you found any great pieces this summer at Target (or someplace else) to show off your Teacher Style in your classroom? Is the Target Dollar Bin section your kryptonite as well? Comment below!

CUTE CLASSROOM KEYS

A fun way to show off your Teacher Style at your school is by personalizing your keys. I did mine last week (pictured above) in school colors and LOVED the results. You can personalize your keys too in a few easy steps. To start the process gather the following supplies: keys, colored nail polish, clear nail polish, tape, glitter (if desired).

Step 1: Wash keys. You want to make sure you get all of the dirt and grime off before you start the beautification process.

Step 2: Cover section of keys that you do not want to get paint/glitter on in tape. I used clear Scotch Tape and it worked just fine.

Step 3: Cover top portion of keys in one coat of clear nail polish.

Step 4: Paint keys in color of your choice. Do two coats on each side waiting 15-30 minutes (varies depending on polish used) between coats for it to dry well. After you're satisfied with the color of your keys move on to Step 5 while nail polish is fresh.

Step 5: Sprinkle glitter on keys while nail polish is still wet. I decided to only do glitter on one side of my keys, but you may cover both sides (or not do any) if you like.

Step 6: After glitter is set, cover in 2-3 coats of nail polish waiting 15-30 minutes (once again, just depends on your nail polish brand) between coats.

Step 7: After top coat has tried, remove tape and ... Enjoy!!!

Did you glitter-ize your keys? Did this post help you in the process? If so, share your experience below!

FALL 2014- SPRING 2015 STYLING

Parent/Teacher Conferences - Spring 2015

This conference look helped me feel comfortable while professional and pulled together. I wear this watch every day so that I'm not constantly pulling out my cell phone or having to stop by a classroom to look at the clock if I'm on-the-go.

Watch- Target

Patterned Pencil Skirt- Target

Yellow Blouse- Walmart

Black Ballet Flats- Target

Everyday Look - Winter 2015

I love layering in the Fall and Winter... how about you? Added a statement necklace for a little sparkle and interest.

Chambray Shirt- Target

Blush Sweater- H&M

Statement Necklace- Claire's

Parent/Teacher Conferences - Fall 2014

I cannot say enough how much I LOVE chambray! It can be layered over or under, dressed up, or casual. I wore this look to Parent/Teacher Conferences. It's cute & classy.

Statement Necklace- Walmart (there now- $5)

Chambray Shirt- Target

Black Aline Skirt- H&M

Red Ribbon Week - Fall 2014

For Red Ribbon Week I wanted to show support while looking classy and stylish. I love layering different patterns and textures.

Sweater- Target

Chambray shirt- Target

Lipstick- Wet 'n Wild/ Stoplight/ 911D