Don’t you just LOVE Summer…I mean a blog post devoted to shopping at IKEA?!?! It’s just too much fun! I try to blog when I actually have something helpful for the classroom. I am not sure if this will qualify, but it’s fun and well that’s all I have for an intro.
So it was an hour and a half drive for us and we have to get through Austin traffic which makes it feel just a bit out of reach for an everyday trip.
Do you hear the angels and harps playing too when you see this?!
I tried to be all cute and take a selfie with the sign.
#fail #EYEkea #thatsabigsign #ineedhighlights
So here’s what I saw that I thought would work for a classroom. This rolling cart is TOO cute. I got it in gray. I have no idea what I am going to do with it yet. #irrelevant
This is the box type that I am going to use for my paperwork nightare organizational overhaul. I am not going to use the highlighter yellow. I got them in black. They are very large. I got 18 of these!!! I justified this purchase because it will be my one major purchase for my room this year. {Try and forget that I just posted a rolling cart above} I am not sure what the box is doing on a chair and faux rug. Those are not mine. The plan is to file this year by standard rather than month or theme. I really wanted it that way last year and had to go searching for skills because I needed them in a different month than the theme organization allowed.
I loved the idea of having a magnet board for objectives or a class schedule etc. I didn’t buy this because I know I can find what I need and customize it near my house.
These little paper organizer shelves were awesome but I didn’t get them. I loved that the drawers slid in and out.
I did get one rack and 4 black hanging cups! This will be near my writing center!
My daughter found these adorable wall speech bubbles and I fell head over heels for them! I plan to put titles and headings on them for bulletin boards etc.
Each speech bubble came with a black arrow too! I have cute ideas for these but I am not going to tell ya yet!!
Here I am sporting my cheesy grin due to my shopping high.
Although I didn’t need any fabric, I stood and stared at it for a little too long.
I do have a thing for rugs and I loved the look of this one SO MUCH! I didn’t get it. It was about as soft as sandpaper and I had visions of rug burns and blood on it so I walked away.
These are the cutest little frames EVER. A teacher from my school got them last year and made adorable table number signs out of them. I really wanted them in brights or black and they didn’t have them in any of my colors. #devastated
So my classroom purchases were a rolling cart, black boxes for sorting by standards, speech bubbles and arrows….and a few things for the home!
Celebrating the 100th Day (or 120th)
Apples and Fall Happenings
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Guided Math and Place Value
What is the ikea name for the boxes? Might need some too!
I want to say Ternja? They don't sell them online. Just in the store! 🙁
Tjena 😉
Looks like fun! We don't have an IKEA anywhere near us so I'm a little jealous of your great finds.
I went today too and bought the black rug with white polka dots.
I loved that rug!
There is a black rug with white polka dots?
I need to go to IKEA NOW! 🙂
Yes and it's only 19.99! I have 2 – one stored in a closet in case thenthernone gets damaged or dingy. 🙂
Right now it is 14.99 with the family card. 🙂
You must have gone to the one in RR,
You got and also looked at a couple of things that I have in my room! I love my teal cart. I use it to hold supplies for myself and for guided reading. On the top shelf I have pencils, pens, highlighters, etc in cans. In the middle I have dry erase boards, expo markers, & trays with magnetic letters. The bottom shelf has misc. things that I use.
I also have the magnet board. I put a map of the school, how my kids get home on it, and pictures of my kiddos. It is right by the door.
I have two of the paper organizing shelves for my writing center. Love them.
Got some great stuff! Can't wait to see how you use them in your room! 🙂
Isn't IKEA the best?! Its items are both functional and affordable…every teacher's dream combination =) I was looking for a rug for my classroom last year and didn't want to pay the $50-$75 most places cost, and then I found a cute orange one for $20 at IKEA! It looks like you found some good stuff today to make it worth the drive.
-Amanda
Kindergarten Teacher at the Wheel
I have wanted that turquoise cart since it first came out, every time I go I just wish I had a reason or place for it (home or at school). You got some great things. LOVE IKEA!
This Old Art Room
I LOVE Ikea! In fact, I live only 10 minutes from one and it is dangerous! I have been eye-balling that cart since it came out and I need a REALLY good reason to buy it! Please come up with the 'absolute can't live without' use of this cart so I can justify buying it! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your trip! Love the speech bubble too….
emma
Ready for my once a year IKEA fix!
I buy the Tolsby frames (from eBay since there are no IKEA stores anywhere near me) and spray paint them whatever color I like! Super easy! Spray paint and duct tape are my HEROES! LOL!
Angela
Umm… Reagan…. I am about to get you in trouble so you might want to stop reading now. …. did you stop? No.. okay here it goes! Michael's has those frames for $1 in black, white, red, hot pink, turquoise, and I think it was lime. At least my Michael's does.
Misty
Think, Wonder, & Teach
I'm very curious about the black boxes you bought. What size are they and how much does IKEA charge? It's a 3 hour drive for me to the closest IKEA, but lots of fun stuff to do over there. If I know it's worth the trip I'd convince my husband we need to make a day trip.
I got lots of stuff at IKEA last year — their rolls of paper are great for anchor charts and art projects. That black rug with the white dots was perfect decor. Some of their pillows are in my reading corner. I use their lamps to light up the corners of my room when we have the overhead lights off for the projector. I'm sure there's more I forgot about, too! LOVE IKEA!! Can't wait to see what you do with some of that!
Heather Q
My Clever Endeavors
I am sooo jealous! I NEED to take a trip there now. I cannot wait to see what all you do with all your great finds
Bagby
Get Your Science on in Room 701
I seriously am going to have to get the rolling cart in grey for my baby's room! So cute!
Ashley
I have 2 of those carts in turquoise!!!
Anita
Another reason I LOVE your blog….I ran out of rooms at home to IKEA'ize so did classroom and then at end of year got moved out of it ….so had to find new homes for all of it…Does that stop me from going back ….the one closest to me 1 1/2 hours away…..btw a friend got the frames and sprayed them the colors she wanted 🙂
I have been drooling over that cart since the first time I saw it. I want it so badly, but I don't know what I would use it for! The minute I come up with a reason, though- that baby is MINE!
Erica
Blooming In First
I LOVE Ikea and your purchases are AWESOME! I see a trip there in my near future. 🙂
Loved your post. I live in Australia and there are constant complaints about IKEA marking up their products in Australia. I compared the price of the paper organiser with the pull out shelves as it looked really neat. Thanks to your pic I could see the USA price of $19.99. In Australia, the same item is $35.99. Even taking the exchange rate, that is a BIG markup. You guys are lucky.
My daughter who is a senior at UF is getting ready to do a semester abroad in Stockholm, Sweden. One of their first Orientation activities is a trip to IKEA! LOL!
I went to IKEA in Atlanta yesterday! I picked up the frames and the hanging buckets. LOVE THEM!
~Brandee
Creating Lifelong Learners
I LOVE IKEA!! I was there recently, too. I recognize many of the items you posted from the store. I looked at some of the same things. By the way, the picture of your cart at the end of your shopping spree cracks me up! We seem to be 2 IKEA peas in a pod. 😉
I am buying the rolling cart for my classroom as well, I am putting student supplies in it. Our classrooms are used after school by Religious ed and this was the cart can be wheeled into the closet.
Sara
Frampton's FUNdamentals
I'm kind of jealous! I've never been to an Ikea! I would have to drive 1hr 30+ to get to one too! Maybe one day this summer we'll make the adventure. I do have a few items I'd love to have! You scored some great things!
Erin
Creating & Teaching
I guess I'm not the only one who has been eyeing that rolling cart for more than a year. I have tried to talk my husband into buying one several times. I can't wait to see what you do with the cart and those black arrows. I may go and purchase a couple of those arrows just in case your idea is something I can't live without doing.
The Traveling Teacher
I'm 5 hours away from an IKEA. We are finally making a trip this month. I am beyond excited!
We take 35 to get to my DH's family (and back) and every time we pass the IKEA in Round Rock, I try to convince him to stop. It's sort of become a joke now that he WON'T stop…which just means we have to take a special trip back once every quarter. 🙂
I bought the towel rod and black cups two years ago at the Roundrock Ikea. I keep it at the front of my room for all my supplies, I love that system. It keeps glue sticks, sharpened pencils, extra scissors, etc. It is such a time saver, my kids just show me the supply sign with their fingers and go get what they need. Perfect. I think I want to add cute labels this summer.
Those speech bubbles are adorable, I may have to go get some, can't wait to see how you use them.
A trip to IKEA is definitely post-worthy. We're all teachers. We get it! 😉 Love that rolling cart. I may have to get one. We are lucky they built an IKEA in our city. Before that it was an 8 hour trip to the closest one! Eeek! Now it's only 40 minutes for me. Love it! 🙂
Amanda
First Grade Garden
I bought that turquoise cart last year! Love it! My friend and I are going to Ikea next week and I'm going to have to grab that speech bubble! Such fun!
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I love Ikea!! My daughter and I are going today…in just a little while! She will be a freshman at Baylor (Sic 'em!) and we are looking for dorm room things. I am moving from 5th to 2nd and looking for classroom goodies! Love the rolling cart and also looking for boxes, maybe magazine holders, for my Daily 5 book boxes. It's gonna be so fun shopping!!!
I teach 4th grade and bought the frames for each pair of desks. The students write questions and answers (on the opposite side) and quiz each other throughout the unit. They can also be used for math equivalents, etc. Periodically, the signs are rotated so students see "new" signs. Great (and inexpensive) investment!
Love all your great finds! Really like the rod with black cups for the supplies in the writing center. The nearest IKEA to me is 3+ hours, but I have been dying to go! This post just made me want to jump in the car right now. Thanks for sharing!
~Laura
Luv My Kinders
What finds! I still find that the public still has no clue that we actually spend a ton of our own hard-earned money on the classroom.
We have an Ikea about 40 minutes away but it still feels like forever! I really do need to go sometime this summer though. I am in need of some new classroom stools! Glad to hear your trip was a success!
Kristin
Teaching In A Nutshell
IKEA is dangerous… I need to make a trip up to the one in Frisco, but I've been putting it off until I get in to see my new classroom.
Bryce
First Grade Stampede
What is the name of the rolling cart?
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I have the turquoise cart in my home–it makes a great "drink station".
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