Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits

Teaching with Heart and Creativity

Titles, Questions, and Tutorials

Hello amazing teacher friends!

I am BLOWN away by the amount of love and comments I received on my classroom progress post!  I want to finish the room that much faster just to be able to show you more.

In the meantime, I was asked a few questions and had a few requests for sharing!

First question:
Where did you find your new rug?

 I got this rug at Garden Ridge.  It is a store that has seasonal items, home decor, and some furniture.  It is like a BIG LOTS but bigger.  It was $99.  And it is BIG so I was really happy that I got it for that price.  I have been wanting a new rug for 2 years.  I scotch guarded it because the light color makes me nervous.

Second Question:
Will you share your math tub labels?
Yes! Click the picture to download them from TpT.
{Please follow my store for more freebie uploads in the future}

Want to put something in those math tubs?!?  After exploration the first week, this is my first set of tubs for my first graders!

Another item you requested that I share:
The Daily Five Anchor Charts
For charts and info on this, check out: The Teacher Wife.  She, Cheryl Saoud, Anna Brantley, and Lori Evans did a book study this Summer.  I think they were able to share some charts and ideas so you can get that by clicking on the link above!  My anchor charts are free and are not endorsed by the sisters and the daily five and cafe program.  Please check out the daily five program first!

Yesterday I finally tackled upholstery of my two little ottoman foot stools!

The little brown ottoman in this picture is going to be recovered in this tutorial.

Lay your fabric out upside down. Remove legs furniture legs if you have them.
  Make sure there is enough fabric to fold over on all four sides for stapling.
 Fold your fabric over on itself and staple one side starting in the middle and working out on both sides.
Leave the corners unstapled so you can tuck fabric later.
 This picture just shows not to staple the corners

 Once you have stapled one side, go to the opposite side and pull your fabric tight without warping it.  Then staple from the middle out again leaving the corners alone.

 Continue with all 4 sides.
 To do the corners:  Pull the triangle of fabric out from the corner and cut it about 3 to 4 inches away from the piece you are covering.

 Tuck one side flat and smooth under the other side.  This takes a little patience and time, but it will eventually tuck in smoothly and always be sure to pull it tight before stapling.

 Because this is for first graders I went ahead and stapled along my seam.  I can only imagine the students pulling on that folded area.  This picture only shows on staple, but I stapled the whole seam.

 Continue the corner tucking and stapling on all 4 sides.  Remember to do opposite sides first.

 If your object that is being recovered has feet that need to be reattached, just cut away the fabric around that area making sure it is stapled securely.

Put your legs on!
Flip it over!  A brand new piece of furniture!  
Don’t forget to scotch guard!

Where did you get your Big Book Tub?
{The label can be found in the math tub labels from above…I tucked it in there for ya!}

This is the same tub I have used for 5 years.  In fact, here’s a picture from last year…

It was at target in the garden section, and I do believe they still have them in many colors.  I just spray painted mine to match my new classroom colors.  🙂

Thanks for reading and commenting on all my fun setting up the classroom!  I really appreciate it!

In fact, I appreciate it so much that I am going to pick one of my “commenters” from my Classroom Progress post to win ALL of my Back To School Items!  I will have hubs pick a number randomly and then I will count and see which commenter wins!
Much Love Friends!!!
{We are heading out for a family movie matinee!  Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3}

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    Comments

    7. S. Simpson says

      Thanks for all of those answers and the tutorial. The only other question I had was where did you find the ottoman. After I saw your post the other day I went searching around all day yesterday for a box like the one you had for your big books. . . now I know where to head to next. Can't wait to see more of the reveal.

      ✰ Stacy

      Simpson Superstars

      Reply

    8. Storie says

      I love taking a peek into other people's classrooms and I appreciate you taking the time to share everything. I have always put the big books into my cupboard, but I like your idea of placing them in a tub. Hmm…I may be making another trip to Target {sigh}.
      Storie
      Stories by Storie

      Reply

    13. Anonymous says

      I LOVE your room! I hope that you don't mind, I will be emulating yours:) I love the clean, organized structure of your room. Thank you for sharing!!! I would love to have the anchor charts you are using for Daily 5. I read your post above but I had trouble locating them. Could you be more specific on how to find them:) (I love all of the ladies blogspots, such creative teachers)

      Thank You,
      Kelly
      [email protected]

      Reply

    14. Conchy says

      You rock!!!! Thank you for sharing all this and everything else with us! Ohm and thanks for the “re-upholstering” tutorial!

      I saw the tubs in Marshalls (Home Goods) about 2 weeks ago. Of course, I live in Puerto Rico so I don’t know if they have them in the States…

      Conchy

      Reply

    31. DeRidderK says

      I love your room and all the ideas you share. I am moving into a new empty room and wished we had a garden ridge or any big shopping choices nearby but the closest good teacher shopping spots like target, michaels, office depot etc. are an hour and a half away so I am jealous! You are doing a great job, can't wait to see more!

      [email protected]

      Reply

    32. Cara Whitehead says

      Love your classroom! I have been so inspired by so many great pictures!

      As we gear up for the new school year-new ideas, things to add, things to change, etc. I encourage you to give JogNog Quick Quiz a try.

      My students use this site in my classroom. I was so impressed that I shared it through social media platforms. Now, I have the opportunity to work with them part-time after school in the area of social media promotions.

      JogNog Quick Quiz allows you to create an online quiz in literally 60 seconds or less. This video will show you how. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_60PKEZRsI

      Using JogNog's content of over 20,000 study questions, you are sure to build a quiz to meet your needs. Give it a try, and let me know what you think!

      Cara
      Teaching…My Calling

      Reply

    33. Kristin says

      What's up with that comment above me? I don't understand the relevance after her first sentence.
      Anywho, I had a rug that was similar to yours . . . but I didn't scotch guard it. I threw it out yesterday. 🙁
      I can't believe I won your random number pick thing. I'm about to email you!!
      A Teeny Tiny Teacher

      Reply

    34. Barbara says

      I love your room!! This is my 30th year to teach and I don't think I have ever seen a classroom that is so inviting!!! You have given me some great ideas!! I didn't find the Daily 5 posters like you have so if you put them on TpT I will go and get them!!! Thanks again for sharing!! I teach in Texas too!! Are you ready for the kids and the hear???

      Reply

    35. Jessica O'Connell says

      Awesome! LOVE LOVE LOVE your daily 5 posters! Went to find them and can't…are they in your TPT store? My theme this year is Jungle and they would go SO cute with everything else I am doing. Thank you so much!
      Jessica
      [email protected]m

      Reply

    36. Jess says

      Love that ottoman! Did you use a regular stapler? I'm also loving your big books tub and need to make yet another trip to Target to find that ohh and spray paint it because it has to match! Thank you so much for the freebies! I'll for sure be using the big book and student files signs! Your class is looking so cute! I just started on mine you should check it out when you get a chance.
      Rambling About Reading

      Reply

    37. Surfing into First Grade says

      I absoulty love your classroom! I wish I had more time and money to invest in my room and make it as nice as yours! I'm sure you students are just going to L O V E love their new classroom. And your last room students will probably come back and say its no fair because your room is so much nicer this year…lol

      Reply

    38. Anonymous says

      Reagan, Your room is awesome! I love your blog and your sense of humor! Your posts make my day! I was wondering what the dimensions are of your classroom?

      Thanks!
      Sharon

      Reply

    41. Mick Angel says

      Your room is adorable! I can't wait until the day I am able to move out of my tiny brown portable to a real classroom so I can make it as cozy as yours! I searched every inch of my city's Target yesterday looking for a bucket like yours for my big books. No luck though. I will keep looking!

      Mick Angel

      Reply

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