IKEA

I just spent 2 1/2 hours at school and my classroom looks exactly the same - messy!   It doesn't look better yet.  I was really hoping to take some "after" pictures to post, but they would qualify as "befores." What did I do with my time?  Hmmm...I know I hung some stuff from the ceiling, organized some shelves for my stations, moved a table, and hung a framed bulletin board.  I think I stood and looked around alot!  I did find some cool stuff at Ikea last this past week.  We don't have an Ikea near us. Well, there is one about an hour away, but that means going across Dallas and into Frisco...traffic...stress...no.  This past week I went to the Hill Country to visit my sister. (For those of you who don't know about this part of Texas surounding Austin,  it's gorgeous and fun.)  There is an Ikea in Round Rock,  and so much easier to get to than the Frisco Ikea (from down there!)  Anyway, it's more fun to shop when you're out of town.  I bought some cushions for my kids to sit on while they read.  I had originally thought I would make some thicker ones, but it's too close to school starting, gotta move on. 

They are obviously made for chair cushions, but I liked the thickness and color, so I bought them!  I also found some bargains for .99 - these cute little frames (two sided).  I thought I would put reminders for each station for Daily 5 on the front, and then reminders for my math stations for Guided Math on the back.  I think the dry erase (I'll use Expo Bright Sticks over the black I've put inside them) will make them "pop." 

 
If that idea isn't working, I'll use them for something, I'm sure!  They had such cute colors, these three, along with red and white.  I LOVE them!! Ikea is a confusing and busy place, and I've found that I need to know exactly what I'm looking for (this time, the seating was my goal) along with measurements of the spaces I'm trying to fill if I'm buying storage containers.  Here is a link to the last items I bought, a plastic tote that will hold several items for a station.   I love to shop in the summer.  After school starts, I'm onto more important things!