Crate Seats

If you're looking for more storage space in your classroom and functional/cute seating...look no further! I have seen these unique seats on Pinterest for quite some time! When I saw that my new classroom includes a small group table...I finally had time for a "DIY project" and I decided to give in to this new seating option.

Supplies List

• Crates (I made 6 using crates I already owned)- Wal-Mart usually has these for Back-to-school for a reasonably good price. I found these last year for about $4 each. 
• Staple gun and staples
• Hot glue gun and glue (optional)
• Craft ribbon
• Clear shower curtain liner
• Scissors
• Foam batting (also found at Wal-Mart for around $5...may be able to find cheaper at a craft store)
• Material to cover seats (I used 6 fat quarters from the material section at Wal-Mart)
• Squares of wood from hardware store- Each should be 3/4" thick and measured around 13 9/16 x 12 9/16 (Lowe's will cut these for you)
• Sharpie 
• Box cutter (optional)

 Okay, once you have gathered all of your materials, you are ready to get to work!

Set out the foam batting under the piece of wood and trace around it

Cut the foam batting on your guide lines

Using a hot glue gun, glue the corners of the foam batting to the wood (this will help keep the cushion in place)

 Put one piece of your material on a flat surface with the cushion side of the seat facing down

Using a staple gun, carefully fold over the material. Then, thoroughly staple the material to the wood.

This next step is optional, but I would recommend it for longer lasting seats. Cut your shower curtain liner to fit around the block of wood. and staple, staple, staple it! If you think you have stapled enough, staple a few more!

The last step is stapling a piece of ribbon to the wood. I cut about a foot of ribbon and looped it, then stapled to the wood. This will allow kids to easily lift the top for access to crate storage.

Now you have a completed crate seats! Repeat steps for the other seats! 

Stay tuned for more classroom hacks and beginning of the year set-up!

New Beginnings

Where are you? What are you doing next? Are you still teaching? What grade are you teaching? But I thought you were...

I finally have answers to all of these questions! I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to teach in a public school this year. I have spent two years teaching in small, Christian schools. Both schools have been amazing opportunities. I have learned a lot and I believe that I will continue learning more and more each year!
Over the course of the past five months or so, I've dealt with a lot of uncertainty and anxiousness. I knew that God was leading me somewhere but I wasn't sure where. If I wrote about all of my life events over the past three years or so and God's impeccable timing you would be reading this blog all night. I am once again reminded that God is in control of my life and I should really just have a little faith and quit worrying about every detail.
I will be moving this week to the eastern panhandle of West Virginia where I will teach second grade. Yes, that's the same grade I taught this past school year. I was very open to teaching any grade this school year, but coincidentally I ended up with this age group again. I was even open to exploring other careers, but after prayer and much thought/wisdom from older friends...I realized that I really need to be in the classroom (at least right now). In the recent years, I have become very passionate about reaching inner-city kids. At the time of applying for this job, I didn't even realize it was considered "inner city". After the interview and upon seeing my classroom, I've already fallen in love with the school and I haven't even met my students yet. Tears come to my eyes when I think about kids that need extra love and attention. Undoubtedly, I will come across a few of those when the school year starts. Yes, it will be hard. Yes, there will be days that I want to quit. Yes, there will be frustrating situations. BUT...I once again need to remember that there is a reason I am here. It may be for one student. It may be for me to learn more about myself. Who knows? Well, God does.
Here's to another school year and more teaching tidbits to come!