Mash-Up

There is no clear theme to this post, hence the title. Mash up sounds all cool when other people use it to describe things, so I thought I'd give it a whirl although I'm pretty sure I'm using it in the wrong context. I usually try to tie things together with some kind of unifying theme, but that is just not happening today. And it was actually holding me back from blogging, so here I am Themeless in South Florida. Figured it beat Blog Post-less is South Florida...

So to start with, I've been doing some school shopping. I purchased these stools from Ikea for $5.99. They're called Marius if you want to look them up and they come in white, black, and this funky blue which is what I got. I'm hoping to use these at my reading table. I have permanent indentations in my shins from the kids swinging their feet under the table. I'm hoping these stools keep their feet on the ground. We shall see. Either that or I'm going to have to start coming to small group in full catcher's gear. Here are the stools:
Which will hopefully eliminate my need to dress like this:

I'll let you know how that goes. A cooler, crafter blogger than me might take those stools and wrap the legs with chevron washi-tape or sew little pillows for their little tushies, but we're going to go straight-up industrial Ikea in my room with these bad boys.

I also bought these from Really Good Stuff. I could have bought a designer purse for the amount I paid for a class set, so if you have them and don't like them, please don't tell me.
I bought those book boxes because I finally actually read The Daily 5 for myself. Everything I know about D5 is from reading other posts and seeing it in other people's classrooms. My husbands's school did a book study on it and he brought his copy home. I picked it up, started reading the first few pages and was hooked! Last summer, I read Laura Candler's Power Reading Workshop and implemented many of those strategies, which have similarities to D5 so I'm already in that mindset, which wasn't that far off from my core of beliefs to begin with. So, in short, I'm super excited to be a Daily 5 girl now, and I have the book boxes to prove it!

I also tried to hit up my local Targets to find some of the cool Dollar Spot stuff that everyone is sharing all over Instagram that I totally don't really need for any specific purpose, and this is what I found. This is two different Targets!! And I even went back to one of them the next night and still found it empty but I was too sad to even take a picture. Now I know how Old Mother Hubbard feels...


As for my TpT worky-work, I finished another set of Common Core Essentials for 2.NBT.3, which covers counting and representing numbers up to 999 in various forms. Here's a peek at what's included in it. You can click HERE to get it on tpt.


The feedback on these have been music to my ears - thank you my friends! I am definitely continuing the series. The next one will most likely be Operations and Algebraic Thinking, since we'll need those before the rest of the NBT standards. Currently, I'm taking a teeny weeny break from these and working on my third grade CCSS version of my Weekly Word Work because I promised so many people I'd have it done by the start of the new school year. I'm sticking to my promise, I promise!

Now this next thing, you're totally going to dig. It's a collaborative blog specifically 2nd and 3rd grade!

Nice right? I'm so excited to be part of this amazing group. So check out the blog and be sure to enter our grand opening giveaway here!

And to cap off all my randomness, a few days ago I asked you to come up with another caption for the following picture:

So many of the entries actually had me laughing out loud, but the clear-cut the winner of my caption contest is...
Congrats Suzanne! Just email me with anything from my store that you might be able to use and I'll send it your way!








17 comments

  1. I *LOVE* those chairs!! Unfortunately the closest IKEA to me is in Atlanta, 3 1/2 hours away. My hubby is going to be near ATL though so I am hoping he will stop by and pick these up....I love that blue!!

    I can't believe your Target's dollar spots have been that empty...wow!

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  2. oh Denise, how do I adore you?! I loved your mash-up! The stools are adorable and I love that shade of blue. I have those those bins and I LOVE them, so I hope that makes you feel better...though a bag might have been nicer...what is wrong with us anyhow??? I hope you are enjoying your weekend :)

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  3. Walking info Ikea (literally) in about 5 minutes for more of those stools. This time for a coworker :) I love them...and I'm keeping mine all industrial, too!
    Elizabeth
    Fun in Room 4B

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  4. I really love those stools! That shade of blue would go perfectly in my room. I don't have those exact bins from Really Good Stuff but I have some from there that are similar and I love them. They have held up really well. I know how you feel spending way too much on school supplies and containers! I just went to the container store today.
    Rambling About Reading

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  5. 2 rugs for my classroom could have equaled the best handbag at the mall....
    Guess I need to strap on the rug and walk around to show it off. That's where my money goes!

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  6. I use the same stools at my reading table and they work like a charm!

    faithfulinfirst.blogspot.com

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  7. You made me laugh so hard with this post!!! :)

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  8. Heading to Ikea for the first time next weekend. :) Roadtrip for the classroom. :)

    ~Brandee
    Creating Lifelong Learners

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  9. Thanks for posting about those stools. It looks like they can be ordered online. Great for me since Ikea is 3hours away. I've got to get some!
    --Chrissy
    Firstgradefoundme.blogspot.com

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  10. Hey Denise, I am teaching second grade this year too! I love the neon book boxes-- I need them. I am actually reading D5 now and writing about it on my blog if you want to stop by and share some insight. This year is my first year in second so I plan on hitting up your store! I've been stalking Staples the way you've been stalking Target! I'll be back, thanks for sharing!!

    Kathleen
    The Diary of a Not So Wimpy Teacher

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  11. Hey! I’ve been following your blog for a while and I just love it! If you want to check out my blog, I’d love some opinions! Thanks!
    www.newliferookie.blogspot.com

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  12. Our district bought those book boxes for our grade level a few years back and we LOVE them. This will be my 4th year using them and I haven't had to replace any either- they are very durable. Hope you like them as much as we do!

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  13. I got the same bins in primary colours from Scholastic two years ago and they're perfect for the kids' Read To Self andd Read To Someone books selections. They were even pricier than from the RGS catalogue but I used bonus coupons.

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  14. You're so funny! Hopefully you can keep that catcher's gear at home!

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  15. I've spent 25 years in first and now 2 nd grade so I know all about those KICKS! It's usually the smallest kid that kicks the BEST!
    I've had those book baskets for probably about 6-8 years now and they are very durable and study! I think I've only had a few crack in all these years!

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  16. So I am new to the blog world... 1) my blog is 1 week old 2) I am your NEWest follower! :) I am inspired by your posts, and I can already tell I am going to learn lots of tips and tricks, and gain lots of motivation from your energy. What is your trick? Almost 20 years teaching and you've still got it! Can't wait to read more! :)

    -Miss McDonald

    http://missmcdonaldsmemoirs.blogspot.com

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  17. I love those stools and love the idea of decorating them with the tape! I also like the book bins. I have had them in my cart for days. Let me know what you think of them. I did find some from Big Lots too that go with the same color theme. I can't decide if I like them 100% yet and have my heart set on the Really Good Stuff ones. I am glad I found your blog. I am a new follower! :)
    Sara
    First Grade Funtastic

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