Use code SAVE20 for 20% off everything!
Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Coming Soon! An All-New Classroom Design

Have you heard the news? I am partnering with the amazingly talented Melanie from Schoolgirl Style once again to decorate my kindergarten classroom with an all-new theme. After two wonderful years of enjoying my Rainbow Chalkboard classroom theme, I decided it was time to shake things up a little.

This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission each time someone makes a purchase through one of my links, which helps to support the blog.

Melanie and I started planning what my new theme would be several months ago, and I drove out to her little shop in July to stock up on a few classroom essentials.

Stocking up on @schoolgirlstyle goodies for next year! #iteachtoo #iteachkinder #backtoschool #schoolgirlstyle #kindercraze

A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on

Once August rolled around, I headed back into my classroom ready to work and I really had my work cut out for me. This is how my classroom looked when I first walked in the door. kindergarten classroom ready to be set up for back to schoolI had a new plan for how to decorate the space above my windows so the silhouettes of children playing had to come down. You wouldn’t know it, but those paper decorations were held in place with a whole lot of glue and a little bit of tape! Each display come down in one piece. It was such a shame to throw them away, but after 2 years, the paper definitely needed to be replaced.

From there, the real work began: deciding on a color scheme. My new Schoolgirl Style theme came with plenty of printables, but I still needed to narrow down my color scheme.

This has proven to be quite a task! So many people on Instagram have been eagerly waiting for a peek at the new colors and design, but something in the room changed every single day. Often, it was big changes. Like the time I covered the massive bulletin board in the back of my classroom with Canary Yellow Fadeless paper.

Only to decide that it was too much yellow a few days later and start all over again with a new color.

So long yellow paper. You were nice while you lasted…

A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on

And then there was the classroom library. Oh my word, I thought that space in my classroom might be the death of me. I spent hours this summer looking around for every possible color of plastic bin to use in my library. I really wanted it to have lots of teal.  This was the initial color scheme I had in mind. classroom library with teal and yellow binsWithin a day, it was replaced with this: classroom library in progressAnd soon evolved into this: classroom library boxesI really wanted to find book boxes in softer colors and was not having any luck. So I took my matters into my own hands and decided to spray paint a couple of book boxes to see if that was a viable option.

Stepping out of the classroom and into the garage. It’s all in the details! #spraypaint #classroomsetup #backtoschool A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on

Spoiler alert: it isn’t.

I ultimately decided to embrace the colors currently available for plastic boxes. My library has successfully been transformed and I decided to change things even more and make the switch to using my White Series Classroom Library Labels (instead of the black labels I had been using).

Those black labels aren’t the only thing to change. I decided that it is finally time to say goodbye to my little chevron bookshelf. The design is just a little too busy for my new classroom theme.

I recently purchased a new piece of furniture from IKEA and my wonderful husband even came in for a few hours to assemble it for me. He also sent me flowers. I’m not at all sure how I got so lucky.

As my classroom color scheme evolved, so did my debit card. I have made countless trips to various stores to purchase new items and just as many trips to return items that I ultimately decided were not a good fit for my classroom design. This is just one haul that I decided to return during an afternoon of errand running. The gold letters went back to Hobby Lobby, the coral baskets went to Target and the decorative cork boards went to Bed, Bath & Beyond.

classroom setup itemsSchool resumed this week for me and once again, my classroom was not ready on time. It has a definite atmosphtere (and, thankfully, a color scheme) but many of the finishing touches are still a work-in progress. I ripped down my classroom alphabet after the first day of school and replaced it with a new look. I am hoping to roll out the rest of the details in the coming week so I can share it with you soon!

kindergarten classroom alphabet bulletin board

Share This Post:

Pinterest
Facebook
Twitter
Email

Maria Gavin

Maria is a former kindergarten and first grade teacher, with 13 years of teaching experience. Her love and passion for all things early childhood is now fulfilled as a mom to two amazing kids. She loves sharing practical and creative tips and ideas that are perfect for young learners – in the classroom or at home!

Leave a Comment

8 Responses

  1. You are a wonderful and dedicated teacher to put in so much time, money, and thought in decorating your classroom! Love the reading area and look forward to seeing more! Have a great school year!

  2. I cannot wait to see your classroom reveal and I love the painted palette border I see peeking out! You do such a fantastic job decorating!

  3. This year will be my first year teaching kindergarten. I have taught young 5’s for 5 years. I love your classroom. I want to make my classroom fun and inviting but I am kind of stuck. I keep stressing that I have so much to do but I never start because I don’t know where to start. It does not help that the previous teacher took everything.

    I love the paper lanterns in your room. Do you happen to know how long the ribbons are?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hi, I'm Maria.

I’m a former kindergarten teacher turned work-from-home mom. I still love sharing ideas and resources to make teaching easier, so you can focus on what really matters in the classroom. When I’m not working on the blog, you’ll find me chasing kids around the house with a cold cup of coffee in my hand (some things never change even once you’re out of the classroom!)

Featured
Resources

Classroom Decor
Classroom Decor
Labels
Labels
Subject Areas
Subject Areas
Resource Type
Resource Type
Month
Special Days
Price
Price

Shop on Teachers Pay Teachers