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A Tiny Little Classroom Update

November 3, 2013 Maria Manore Gavin 24 Comments

I have been in school for nearly 9 weeks, but the classroom improvements continue!

As you know by now, I am teaching in a new building this year and I am lucky enough to teach in a classroom that is simply stunningย (it was a collaborative project between myself and Melanie from Schoolgirl Style.)ย As I settle more into the classroom each day, I continue to “fine tune” a few of the details in the learning space. This week’s touch-up was a simple improvement of the bench in my classroom library.

ikea-expedit-bookshelf-with-ribbon
The focal point of my classroom is definitely the library area. With bright book boxes, yellow silk gerber daisies, and the silhouette of a child swinging from a tree, it is such an inviting corner. I purchased an Expedit bookshelf and Drรถna fabric bins from Ikea to use as a bench in the reading area, topped off with a pink chevron cushion.
classroom library organization
The bookshelf-turned-bench is stunning but it needed a tiny little something to give it some extra pizzazz. At a recent trip to Michaels, I checked out the ribbon aisle and had a revelation! I bought my favorite stitched grosgrain ribbon in black and bright pink and was ready to do a quick little DIY!

I began by wrapping the black ribbon across the cushion and around the top of the bench, then securing the ribbon with a large bow. I did this 3 times across the shelf. It makes a bold statement and also keeps the cushion from sliding around as the students climb on and off of the bench to read.
use an IKEA Expedit bookshelf as a classroom library bench
Next, I wrapped the pink ribbon across the top panel on the front of each fabric box. I used hot glue to attach each end of the ribbon to the box’s side panels. This gave the bench the little bit of extra pop that it needed.
use an IKEA Expedit bookshelf as a classroom library bench
I loved my library bench before, now I love it EVEN MORE!
use an IKEA Expedit bookshelf as a classroom library bench
The bench for reading is wonderful and I adore all of the storage it brings into my classroom. Right now the bench is filled with all of my library books that still need to be sorted.

Have you discovered Vine yet? Its a new form of social media that loops 6 seconds of video. I created and shared the above video in Vine, along with a few others. I would love for you to follow me on Vine for extra glimpses into my classroom!

Want to see more photos of my classroom? Check outย my previous big reveal!

beautiful kindergarten classroom

Have a great week everyone!

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Classroom, Organization classroom, classroom library, Decorations, DIY, Kindergarten

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Comments

  1. Annie Moffatt says

    November 3, 2013 at 7:00 am

    Oh goodness! I am in LOVE with your classroom and that pink and black just makes me happy ๐Ÿ™‚ Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!

    Reply
  2. Krista Smith says

    November 3, 2013 at 7:23 am

    Your classroom is absolutely gorgeous! I’m definitely jealous. Doesn’t it just make your days even better working in a room that looks so good?!

    School Days with Smith

    Reply
  3. Erin says

    November 3, 2013 at 8:35 am

    Your classroom is stunning! What a fun and inviting place for students (and you) to work and play in each day!
    Erin
    Short and Sassy Teacher

    Reply
    • Maria Manore says

      November 3, 2013 at 1:03 pm

      Thanks Erin! We always have a lot of fun in the room!

      Reply
  4. Kris says

    November 3, 2013 at 9:39 am

    Very cute!

    Reply
  5. KinderKapers says

    November 3, 2013 at 10:15 am

    What a beautiful and inviting space!

    Terri Izatt
    KinderKapers

    Reply
    • Maria Manore says

      November 3, 2013 at 1:02 pm

      Thank you Terri!

      Reply
  6. Kathleen Sherburne says

    November 3, 2013 at 11:49 am

    I think your classroom is adorable! I like your bench. Did you make the cushion or find it somewhere?

    Reply
    • Maria Manore says

      November 3, 2013 at 1:02 pm

      Thank you Kathleen! To answer your question, I bought fabric for the cushion at Hobby Lobby, then purchased the foam and found a local sewing shop to create the cushion for me.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        July 12, 2015 at 10:21 pm

        Maria, I absolutely LOVE everything about your classroom! My husband just put together my bench from IKEA today! Now, onto the bench cushion… Where did you get the foam for the cushion?

        Reply
        • Maria Manore says

          July 19, 2015 at 3:08 pm

          Hi Jessica,
          There is a store near me called “The Foam Factory.” I purchased the foam from there. Maybe you can try googling “wholesale foam?”

          Reply
  7. Andrea Monroe says

    November 3, 2013 at 12:29 pm

    Gorgeous!

    Reply
  8. Kristin says

    November 3, 2013 at 12:30 pm

    what does the back of the bench look like? Is it white also?
    Looks wonderful!!

    Reply
    • Maria Manore says

      November 3, 2013 at 1:01 pm

      The back of the bench looks exactly like the front. It is white on all sides and you can access the baskets from the front or the back side.

      Reply
  9. Michelle Griffo says

    November 3, 2013 at 12:38 pm

    It is just so colorful and lovely!!! I’m obsessed!

    Reply
    • Maria Manore says

      November 3, 2013 at 1:00 pm

      Thank you Michelle! The obsession is mutual!

      Reply
  10. Amanda says

    November 3, 2013 at 3:31 pm

    Love reading your blog, thanks for being an inspiration to so many ECE out there ๐Ÿ˜‰ Classroom is stunning & looks like a fun place to learn. I use a cushion gripper drawer/shelf liner at circle time with my preschool class. Cut into 18″ squares, works great for squares for them to sit on, and “grips” the floor. I wonder, if placing a long strip between the chevron cushion and the Expedit would help grip the cushion, to prevent extra moving around? ~Amanda

    Reply
  11. Katie Knight says

    November 3, 2013 at 11:36 pm

    Just darling!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  12. Marsha McGuire says

    November 4, 2013 at 6:03 pm

    Maria, you are officially never invited to my classroom. You would be so disappointed in my mismatch, disheveled, put-together space. I’m so ashamed.

    Your class is fantabulous . . . amazing and a bag of chips. I just love it.
    Marsha
    A Differentiated Kindergarten

    Reply
  13. Tami Terry says

    June 2, 2014 at 6:33 pm

    Just FYI, the shelf is no longer available at Ikea ๐Ÿ™ They do have a new one that is similar, but it’s shorter (only four spaces), called Kallax. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  14. Sandy says

    August 29, 2015 at 2:20 pm

    OH MY HOW BEAUTIFUL!…It makes me wanna empty my room and have you come and decorate it for me!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE the decals of the children AND the reading bench!!! After I hit send I’m googling IKEA!!!!

    Reply
  15. Sarah says

    February 14, 2016 at 10:28 am

    Your classroom ist really amazing! I even can’t imagine how much work and how much money you spent on it!

    Every time I see such great rooms as yours my own seems really boring to me ๐Ÿ˜‰
    Do american teachers get extra money to buy stuff for their rooms?

    Greetings from Germany ๐Ÿ™‚
    Sarah

    Reply

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ย Maria Gavin round Hello there and welcome!
I'm Maria Gavin - a kindergarten teacher, curriculum developer, educational blogger and founder of Kinder Craze.

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