$100 Dream Classroom Giveaway!!!

 

I'm just like you.  I'm spending my summer thinking of how I can turn my room into the "DREAM CLASSROOM."

Some might say I spend more time decorating my classroom than I do my home.  Let's face it, I probably spend more time there, so why not?

Last summer, I completely revamped my classroom.  Yes, I'm one of those "theme" teachers.  I went from a Hollywood theme to a MonSTAR theme.  I crafted all summer long.  You can see pics of last year's classroom here.

It was worth it.  One sweet kiddo came to meet the teacher and exclaimed, "I want my bedroom just like this!"  Worth. Every. Minute.

I want my classroom to be a place that the kids LOVE coming to each and every day.  I want it to feel like a place for THEM!

This summer, I haven't had time to craft it up....and frankly, there's not TOO much that I need to craft.  But, there are some things that I needed to purchase. 

I am a rug girl.  I LOVE "meeting on the carpet" with my kiddos.  We sit there a majority of the day.  It's comfy.  It's on their level.  I have them right where I want them and they're focused on me. :)

Unfortunately, my rugs had seen better days.  My GIANT colorful rug had been a rescue from a dumpster several schools ago {cringe}.  My two smaller rugs had been purchased locally and replaced year after year because they were not "school grade" - let's face it....kids are rough!

This year, I am investing in some new carpets and I am going BIG TIME thanks to School Outfitters!

Have you heard of them?  They are an amazing school supply company with SO much to offer....including "heavy duty school grade rugs."  OH YEAH!

So, when they contacted me about hosting a GIVEAWAY (that's right, don't stop reading...you have to make it to the end for that!), I was all over it!  They are offering $100 to the winner of my giveaway, and also gave me $100 to spend on MY classroom.  

I ordered the 6x6 square rug in teal and the 6x6 round rug in red.  Whoop!Whoop! for having my classroom colors!!!  And, the best part???  FREE SHIPPING on both of these rugs! :)  I'm positive that next year, I will NOT need to spend my summer rug shopping!

If you're looking for a rug, check them out - they have all colors, sizes, and styles (solids, patterned, learning rugs, and more!)

There are a few other things that are "must-haves" in my classroom for setting the learning environment that you can pick up from School Outfitters.  Here are some of my TOP "must-haves":

1. Seat Sacks

I could not live without our "chair pockets."  Since my kids sit at tables and don't use their cubbies for storage, our chair pockets are essentials!  Mine have lasted YEARS and have been one of my best classroom investments.


2. Easel

Since my students are usually down on the carpet, we use our easel ALL the time!  It's perfect because I can read big-books on the top, clip my morning message to the top, use the bottom for mini-lessons, and store essentials for those lessons at the back.  It is truly my "hold all" area for mini-lessons!

3. Personal Dry Erase Boards

For those times when students are at their desks, I love to use our personal dry erase boards for instant assessments and feedback.  They're also perfect for students to carry around the room for partner practice and/or group work.  Rarely a day goes by when we don't use these!  School Outfitters has an awesome sale on this set of 24 right now for $34.88 and they ship in 24 hours!  Can't beat that!!

4. Book Display Shelf

If you've seen my classroom library, you know it's a little out-of-hand.  I can't pass up a children's book, or throw any out.  This little book display is perfect for the front of my classroom - a spot away from the classroom library where I can "showcase" important books.  Whether it's books by a particular author we're focusing on, books on a specific topic we're learning about, or books that my students have published themselves - any books that I place on this display are thought of as "special" and fly right off the shelves during independent reading time!  That makes my heart smile, friends. :)

 5. Pocket Chart Mail System

I used to use those big, bulky mailboxes (you know, the wooden cases with a slot for each student?) until I realized how much space it was taking up that I could use for something more valuable for my students.  Then, I discovered this fantastic pocket chart!  Mine is hanging on the back of my classroom door (a space I wouldn't typically use for anything else).  Throughout the week, as I grade papers, I file them in students' pockets.  On Mondays, when we take important papers home, students pull their stack of papers from their pocket to put in their folders.  Easy peasy....hidden and out of the way!

6. Learning Games

So, what did I utilize that space for, once I cleared out that big bulky mailbox system?  Learning games!  These reading games are AMAZING!!!  My kiddos BEG to play them and I use them as a reward a lot of times.  They will do anything to have "game time" - and when "game time" means making inferences and sequencing events, that makes this teacher happy! :)

Now, for the fun part!  Take a look at the School Outfitters website and tell me what ONE thing you would most like to have to complete your DREAM CLASSROOM.  Leave that in a comment below for one entry (remember to leave your email address in the comment, too, so that if you're the winner, I can reach you!)

If you would like additional entries, you can share this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.  For each social media share, you can get one additional entry - just come back to this post and leave the url for your share (along with your name and email).

Best of luck!  I will pick a winner on Sunday, August 4!  The winner will receive a code for $100 from School Outfitters to purchase items for their own "Dream Classroom!"


Disclaimer: I received my own $100 giftcode from School Outfitters as mentioned in this blog post for hosting this giveaway on my blog. The $100 giftcode being given away in this blog post was also provided by School Outfitters and will be sent to the winner directly. Opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own. I have not been compensated for this post in any other way.