Responses to Inquiries

Hello Everyone....WOW! It has been such a long time since I have found the time to come on here and write a post. Summer has quickly come and soon will be gone as we set sail into another school year.

Amazingly, I will not be doing a new theme this year. I loved the circus one so much, I have decided to stick with it for one more year. (Already planning my theme for 2013-2014)

I wanted to post regarding the many questions I have received about my circus classroom and where I purchased the items you see in the pictures.

Question #1: Where did you get the cute tablecloth?

Both the tablecloth on the small table outside and the kidney table skirt were both made by my very talented mother. The blue fabric with colored stars is from Jo-Ann Fabrics, but the circus material she ordered from online because she could not find any circus materials in stores.

Question #2: Where did you find the circus performer clip art?

There is wonderful circus clip art online. The circus performers in the hallway are from Thistle Girl Designs. I also used a lot of clip art from Lettering Delights to make the desktop nameplates and nametags.

Question #3: Where did I get the banners that hang from the ceiling?

My very talented mother made them by hand with various colorful material. The flag banners are 3 feet long.

Question #5: Where did you get the little clips to hang student work outside?

My mother and I made those. Pretty simple to make. All the materials are from Jo-Ann Fabrics. They sell little wooden rectangles in a package. We took those and painted them. Bought some cute 3-D circus clip art and added it. Then used E6000 (awesome glue) to attach the little silver clips (these are in the jewelry section). We had to use a staple gun to get them into the wall because they are a bit thick, but they held on all year and pulled right out of the wall at the end of the year.

Question #6: Where did you get the red and white circus tent?

The circus tent is actually a child's gazaboo tent. We ordered it and then my father had to cut down all of the poles because it was way too large for the classroom. My mother then removed the overlay that it came with and made the custom red and white circus overlay, including the flag and little sign. The overlay easily comes off the metal bars and brackets and we can use the mold of the gazaboo for other future themes. The fabric for the red and white tent is from Jo-Ann Fabrics.

***I hope I was able to answer everyone's questions about my circus room. If you are thinking about doing a circus room this year, please do not hesistate to ask me. I would be more than willing to help. E-mail me at QtJenny19@aol.com.***

Big News......

I just finished opening my Etsy shop. I only have a stock of handmade teacher aprons right now. You have to go and check them out. I will post my favorite collection here for a sneak peek. This is my 100th day of school collection. I know that many of us are approaching our 100th day of school soon.

This apron is adorned with 100 different types of rhinestones. I have worn my 100th day of school apron for 5 years now (mine has buttons) and my kids go wild for it every year! I have several different colors and collections online. I have many that I haven't posted yet. 

Go over to my shop and take a peek.....http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheTeachersToolbox

The Best News....

Help me reach 100 followers and I will do my first giveaway. I will let the winner pick an apron of their choice from my Etsy shop. 

Help spread the word!

I am thankful....

for these great learning videos from Have Fun Teaching. Does anyone else use these songs or videos in their classroom? My kiddos just LOVE them! If you have never heard of this company before, please click on the link and see what all the hype is about! They are currently having a 50% off sale on all items. The coupon code is SUPERSALE. Have Fun Teaching Shop

What's popping? Circus Theme Class Photos

One of my favorite things about teaching is deciding what theme I want to decorate my room in. My mom came up with the idea of using a circus theme this year. I loved it as soon as I heard it! My mom has been busy all summer sewing things for my room and I have been busy creating things on my computer. We have been in the classroom since Monday and we are dead tired! Here are pictures of my new Big Top Kindergarten Class!

This is my little alcove. The table is used as a sign in table for my little Kinder Klowns!

This is my work display out in the hallway. Each student has a circus performer with their name on it. Under their picture, they have a little clip that I can hang their work/projects on.

I love this bulletin board! My mom made the 3-D box of popcorn.

This little monkey displays work inside our classroom. I used him last year in my jungle room. This year, we dressed him up as a clown!

My new and improved rocking chair. I never really liked it because it is so big, but now it is very comfortable! The lion is a bath mat that my Aunt found.

My favorite part of my classroom! This is my reading library.

This area is used to display the children's writing. Each author has their own display area.

My new job board that I made on the Cricut!

Circus Nameplate Freebie

I tried to make some circus nameplates. Not sure about them yet. They are very bright and colorful, but I need to see how they print. I'm all out of card stock so I guess it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Circus Nameplates

Friday Freebie!

I'm so excited for my new circus theme! I made some circus themed number cards modeled after the current numbers that I have up in my classroom. A quick slice down the middle, laminate, add a magnet, and VIOLA! I hope some other teachers can use these! Leave me a comment if you download and tell me what you think.

Circus Numbers 0-10

Surviving VPK Freebie

I have been MIA recently! I am teaching 4 weeks of VPK. I took over another teacher's class and will be finishing their year. All I can say is, "Golly..am I exhausted!" 13 more days of VPK fun and then I can get back to planning for Kindergarten! The worst part of this new experience is that I'm not too fond with the planned curriculum. My teaching stuff is in my classroom and I don't have enough to work with. What is a creative teacher to do? You guessed it...make your own stuff! I have been messing around with Power Point and have found that I can make really cute stuff and it is so simple. Stay tuned because I will be posting all of the things I have made so far. Here is something I made today. We are studying the Rain forest. I hope you enjoy it!

Snake Sort