Thursday, July 4, 2013

Throwback Thursday - July 4, 2013

Ok, this looks like too much fun to let pass by.  So, I am linking up with Cara Carroll from The First Grade Parade for her Throwback Thursday Linky Party.  



This blog post from the past comes from last summer, and talks about bulletin boards. Bulletin boards would be a close runner up to pencil sharpeners when it comes to things that drive me absolutely crazy!  Can I get an "Amen"? 

When you are done reading the post, follow the link over to my Facebook page because I just pinned a lot of great solutions to the bulletin board problem, that I received from my Facebook friends, to the top of my page. (While your there, make sure you grab my "Fans Only - Freebie" by clicking on the freebie tab.)

*****************************************************************

Originally posted - 7/11/12

Well, my first giveaway was short and sweet.  Rachel was the first to comment AND she had the correct answer!  Congratulations, Rachel!  I will be emailing you soon.

The mystery item was....


this owl wall hook at Target for $2.50.  I plan to spray paint it lime and hang our Boy's and Girl's Hallway/Bathroom Passes on it.  Loooovvee it!

I stopped at Lakeshore today and picked up some new bulletin board paper and borders.  I was so excited.  If you recall, I mentioned that my colors were going to be tangerine and lime.  Muy tropical, no?  When I got there, I decided to add teal. 

Now I am by no means a "decorator."  My mom, however, was an interior designer before retiring.  She always said to follow the rule of 3:  3 colors repeated at least 3 times in a space.  So, obviously, teal was missing from the party.

I was so excited after leaving the store.  My 11 year old daughter and I headed over to my classroom.  I knew I only wanted to spend 2-3 hours there, but knew I could at least hang all my paper and borders.

Well, that is....until I walked into my classroom and saw this....


DISASTER and CHAOS


EVERYWHERE!

It took everything I had to walk into that room, and face my enemy.  You can see the bulletin paper in the bottom picture.  Happy, right? 

I don't like it.  I don't like it at all.  The colors are not what I thought they would be.  The "teal" is more easter egg blue.  The "tangerine" is just plain orange.  The worst is the "lime".  I envisioned a vibrant lime saturated with color.  But, this paper, when you get it on the wall, looks more neon yellow.  Sniff, sniff...

I was devastated and deflated.  To add insult to injury, in the 3 hours that my daughter and I were in my classroom, all we managed to do was:

1) Put up 1 and 1/2 bulletin boards (I ran out of border.  Aargh!)



2)  Stuff 24 out of 27 pencil boxes.


Now that I brought it up, does anyone else hate putting up bulletin board paper?  It is pure torture.  You would think after 18 years of teaching, that it would get easier.  It doesn't .  My only tip for new teachers, or those of you changing rooms, is to leave whatever paper is up on the walls alone.  Don't take it down.  Seriously contemplate taping and patching it until you decide that it is good enough to use for one more year. 

Ok, if you can't bring yourself to do that, then at least keep the old paper up for these reasons:  1)  it will make the paper you put on top of it lay smoother (nicer?) and 2)  it will help make sure you lay the paper straight (especially if you just have empty walls like I do without any framing).  I probably have 8 layers (one for each year in my room) of paper on each of my walls.  Ssshhhh, don't tell the fire department.

I was so close to taking the paper down.  But, after the 3 hour time investment, and plopping some $20+ on fadeless paper, I decided to let it "grow" on me.

Anyway, I will keep you posted on my progress.

I do have a bit of an exciting announcement!  I have managed to put up a Facebook page for Mrs. Rios Teaches Second Grade!  I hope you will pop over and say "Hi!"  

Well, I am exhausted....Geez, and my official prep days haven't even started yet.  Scary!

Have a great night everyone.

13 comments:

  1. I hate putting up bulletin boards as well. I have no patience to line up things exactly. One thing I found that I love is using material. I pick a few colorful patterns. It doesn't fade and so far it has lasted several years. I just buy a few to rotate every couple years so I don't get bored. It is more costly but in the long run I don't have to put up new paper every year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have heard this idea, and think it is awesome. Unfortunately, I learned about it last year, AFTER I had already put up my fadeless paper. But, next time, I am definitely going to look into this.

      Thanks!

      Delete
  2. Thanks for sharing the link to bulletin board solutions... Just found your blog today through the throwback linky and am a new follower with bloglovin! I am always happy to find fellow second grade teacher bloggers. :0)

    Smiles,
    Sarah @ Hoots N Hollers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awesome, Sarah. Thanks for stopping by, and I am happy to have found your blog, too.

      Nicole

      Delete
  3. I'm a fabric man myself. I put up fabric once and leave it there for years! I am changing all of my fabric out this year to match my new theme though...sigh. Not looking forward to that!

    -Nick
    Sweet Rhyme – Pure Reason

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love the idea to "leave it there for years!" Definitely going that route, next time!

      Nicole

      Delete
  4. Hi! I found your blog through the Throwback Thursday Linky and I am your newest follower! I am curious...did the colors grow on you? I LOVE the teal color!! Bulletin boards can be frustrating... Like the poster above, I have used material in the past. I have also used wrapping paper for smaller bulletin boards! There are so many options and they can add so much to a classroom!

    Beth :)
    A Kindergarten Life For Me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha, ha. Yes, Beth! It is so funny you ask me that because they actually did. I was ready to scrap it, but my daughter, wise beyond her 11 years, suggested I walk away and come back to it. Once it was all done, I loved it, and will be keeping it for this year, too.

      If you want to read about how I changed my mind, you can read about it here.

      http://mrsriosteachessecondgrade.blogspot.com/2012/07/there-is-light-at-end-of-this-tunnel.html

      To see the finished product:

      http://mrsriosteachessecondgrade.blogspot.com/2012/07/one-last-hoorahand-my-first-day-of.html

      So happy to have you as a follower! Welcome.

      Nicole

      Delete
  5. I hate putting up bulletin boards and have never tried the fabric thing. It sounds expensive. I'm thinking of painting my walls with a cute border. Hmmm. as I typed that I realize that paint is just too forever. I'll try one board with fabric and see how it goes! I enjoyed your post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, please let me know how it goes, Sandy! Thanks for stopping by.

      Nicole

      Delete
  6. Dropping by for Throwback Thursday. I hate bulletin board paper, as well! For several years now, I have only used fabric. It's awesome! Stop by for my Throwback Thursday post plus a FREEBIE!

    Waving from The Teacher's Chatterbox,
    Rebecca

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've used fabric for years. Check out the bargain bins and fabric scrap bins. Sometimes you'll get lucky and find the size you need there. Fabric doesn't show staple marks and it looks better because you don't have to overlap it. I like solid colors so they don't clash with the artwork that you hang.

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...