Fabulous Finds Build Excitement

I'm excited about my classroom theme next year... makes me wonder why I haven't done a better job of this sooner. Thankfully, I told hubs today, that teachers typically (I think) keep the same theme for 2-3 years then rotate to something else. (At least that's what the teachers at my school do.)

I'm even planning that maybe I could be a monster for the Halloween parade... hmmm...

Anyway, I started searching this weekend to expand my classroom library to include more lower level books and more holiday/seasonal books.

Perhaps next year's change will spark my creativity. I'm already excited for it!

Check out today's fabulous finds...

Surprisingly (or maybe not-so-surprisingly) Goodwill and thrift stores are great places to find some classic children's books. (This is about $30 worth of books [around 37 of them] from three different locations. Some hardback, some not.)

I'm super excited about the monster fabric I found at Joann's.

Our school is still keeping the HAPPY theme next year so I figured I wouldn't change ALL my curtains into monster ones, just every other one.





That is one of my summer tasks. They will look fabulous when I'm done!

The cashier at Joann's has probably inspired another summer to-do when she told me about a pattern that they sell...

Random Monster Acts

I've been somewhat random, it seems this month. Oh, well.

I think I've decided on a classroom theme for next year. [Yes, I am already thinking about next year!] My first 2 years here in fifth grade I somewhat had a theme that revolved around my reading tree. I eventually had to nix the awesome fake tree that I had from floor to ceiling, complete with fake vines leftover from our wedding reception, due to fire codes. Since then I haven't really had a classroom theme. So, next year is the year.

Now I'm not sure if these are really the monsters I'll be ordering in my requisition, however, you have to admit that these monsters are just too adorable to pass up.  This summer will keep me busy, then, with creating some monster curtains for my classroom windows and maybe making some monsters games/centers for next year. Even though it's classroom related, I don't mind doing it over the summer. I don't [think I] know any teachers that really take the whole summer off.

Small group last night was great. It is always such a blessing to get to share with other believers. It can also be very encouraging. That's what last night was all about, sharing where we are right now in our walk.  I think this is something we should do somewhat regularly.

I feel like the Lord is really working on me in two areas: fear and love. I have such fear in so many areas of my life, but He is slowly changing my heart and has put people in my life that encourage me. (ha ha) It is also very easy for me to treat other people the way they have treated me instead of treating them with love... regardless... the way I want to be treated. Oh, so hard for me. I think that I am getting better though. I'm so thankful for the convictions that God gives me because I do want to become a better person.

I've really been enjoying attending church-related events lately. We've officially stopped the Wednesday night ministry we were going to have for kids of all ages, young and old. Instead, it's just a Bible study focusing on Acts, and I like it. Very appropriately (since Easter was Sunday), we read Acts 1 tonight which focuses on Jesus' ascension and Judas' replacement. It's great to get together for an hour, read from the Bible, and talk through it. I'm always so impressed with other people's knowledge of Jewish traditions, daily life, and the Hebrew/Greek language.

I've found many things humorous lately. I need to start writing them down. The humorous quote of the night is from our pastor during the Bible study... "A resurrection doesn't just happen, unless it does!"