A Shopping Spree!

Despite the fact that I blew my annual back-to-school budget a month ago, I went on a little shopping spree for my classroom today. I absolutely needed every single thing I bought. Well, most of it anyway.

This year, I am moving away from traditional literacy centers and into a Daily 5/Reading Workshop model. So I needed book boxes for each of my students. I went to Ikea and got the cardboard magazine files that are 5/$1.99. A bargain!

And while I was there, I picked up...

Ikea

Plastic stools for my kidney table (I've been eying these since last year).

5 @ $4.99

Pillows so the kids can be "comfy" while reading. 4 @ $3.99 

Little bathmats the kids can move around the room to create reading spots.

5 @ $4.99

A stuffed dog ($7.99), a carrier ($5.99) and a bowl of fake water ($1.99) for our class take-home pet.

Plus 5 packages of the magazine files I originally went in to get--

Ikea Grand Total = $95.03

Target

I also wanted to get some bins for the expedit shelves I bought last year, but couldn't find any that I liked. So, I went to Target and bought these:

Fabric bins 5 @ $9.29

I needed a lampshade for an old floor lamp I have, but the lampshades were $10 and up. This whole floor lamp was on sale for $7.99. The little blue lamp was just cute and I needed it. It was $19.99! (Ouch!)

 

More coziness--blue bed-rests. 2 @ $14.99

 

 A basket for notebooks...$5.49.

A basket for pillows...$5.49.

Target grand total = $124.91 (Yikes!)

 

Michaels

 
I got this cute little caddy for my desk. @29.99, with a 50% coupon. I used a $10 gift card, so I only paid $5.41! (That's all I bought there!)

OK...so maybe I don't need most of it. But you know how when you buy something new, it makes all of your old stuff look kind of dingy, so you feel the need to buy all new stuff...

I guess my new iPhone will have to wait!

Comments

[Christie Neise]

Hi,
Have you used the magazine files before? Are they durable?

[Julie Kate]

Today was the first day of school for me, and we began Daily 5 for the first time. My class is "building stamina for read-to-self," and we made it 2 whole minutes. :)

[Kathryn]

Christie--they do NOT seem durable! I am going to let the kids decorate them on the first day of school and then I'm going to use packing tape to really reinforce them! We'll see how it goes. It's only a $10 investment if it doesn't work out!

[Kathryn]

Julie-Kate, that's great! 2 minutes! I'm very excited to try it this year!

[Kris]

IKEA and Target - two of my favorite back to school stores along with Staples, Office Max and Lakeshore Learning - oh, and Amazon.com. It's crazy!

There is a Daily 5 Kindergarten chat group on Yahoo. I dabbled in it last year and am juming in more this year. Attended a workshop this summer and they've honed it down to the Daily 3 - with 5 choices. Their website it awesome, videos on just about everything and lots of articles, photos, etc. Does cost to join, though.

I want to attend their Daily 5/CAFE Kindergarten workshop this year. Fingers crossed there is still money after all the back to school shopping. :)

[Kathryn]

Kris--my team is asking my principal to give us $$ for that site. I'm glad to hear it's worth it!

[Lisa]

I attended the Daily 5 K training this summer and I am so excited to try it. What's the yahoo group-is it for K teachers? I did the Daily 5 in second grade but it is different in K. I cannot wait to see your room pics! I hope to join the site as well.

[Carolyn]

Hi Kathryn,

Just wondered how your cardboard magazine files have worked out. Loved the photo you provided of the decorated book boxes.

Thanks so much for all the information.

[Elizabeth Zaza]

You get a classroom budget? Nice...very nice

[True Religion Jeans]

It has been such a glorious summer with the nice weather. Made yesterday's heat and humidity even that more unbearable. I cross my fingers that we have an early autumn!!!

[Amanda C]

Man oh man! One day when I'm rich, I'm gonna reimburse teachers for the supplies they have to buy themselves! Go you! <3