Teacher Toolbox

This idea is definitely not my own. I took this idea from someone who the idea from someone else and so on. It's an organizational tool used to organize various small teacher supplies. Its a 22 drawer set found in hardware stores-intended for small items. After some scrapbook paper, tape, and love, this is now my teacher toolbox to hold things that would normally be strewn in a desk drawer. My contents: post-its, labels, expos, staples, paperclips, batteries, push pins, white out, binder clips, hair stuff (bobby pins & pony tails), high lighters, sharpies, rubber bands, staple remover (& paper cutter), 1-hole punch, band aids, loose change, pencil lead, erasers, glue (& other adhesives), index cards and stickers. I had drawers for pens, pencils and markers but the drawers weren't long enough to hold much. So this is the final product.

DIY Nautical Wreath

My school's theme for this year is "Sailing Towards Excellence," so naturally, we are decorating with a nautical theme in mind. Because I am trying to be money conscious, I decided to make my own door decor rather than paying for something already made. I Googled (as I do for most things I want to find out) ideas for DIY nautical wreaths and found a site where someone used a pool noodle to make a wreath. The link to the site of this idea is: http://fakeitfrugal.blogspot.com/2011/06/nautical-life-ring-wreath.html
Guess who already had a pool noodle handy? This chick. So I got crafty and with no real hopes of this turning out well. The pool noodle was only $1 so I figured it wouldn't be a waste.
Materials:
-pool noodle
-paper mache (You can make your own from flour and water like I did.)
-newspaper
-masking or packaging tape
-paint (The color you wish your wreath to be.)
-any decorations such as ribbon, decals, buttons, etc.

 I also painted a wooden initial to hang from the top ribbon. The photo below is my finished product.

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It's not the most beautiful thing ever, but this is what I spent:

-Pool noodle $1.00 from Dollar Tree

-newspaper sheets $0.00 because I used an Academy sales paper

-paper mache $0.00 because I made my own

-tape $0.00 because I stole tape from Dad

-ivory & navy paint $0.00 because I own lots of paint already

 -ribbon $0.00 because I reused the ribbon from a gift I received

-twine $1.99 from a local building supply store (it can also be found at dollar stores)

-nautical themed wooden decals $0.49 x 4 from Michael's

-wooden initial D $1 from Michael's

for a grand total of: $5.95 plus tax

Can't beat it!

So I've Decided to Start a Blog...

I have at many times considered starting a blog. In high school and college, I would just post notes on Myspace and Facebook when I felt the need to share something of much length. I had at one time designed a blog and deleted it because I felt my life was too boring to write about. However, now that I have graduated from college and survived my first teaching job, I have decided to try again. I follow several blogs via Pinterest of people who post their adventures in teaching, cooking, crafting, etc. This is what my blog is meant to be, as well. My friend Lindsay has really inspired me as she has decided to document her first year of teaching via a blog called Realizations of a Rookie Teacher. You can find her blog through this link: http://rookieteacherrealizations.blogspot.com/2013/07/teacher-binder.html I encourage you to follow her, as well. :) So to the point, I have realized that I have learned many great ideas from other blogs and decided to share my thoughts and ideas in hopes that I may be of help to someone out there, too. A little bit about who I am and where I am in life as of today:

• My name is Jera, and I am 23 years old.
• I am a recent graduate of William Carey University.
• I am a teacher. I started teaching in January of this year and, by God's grace, survived my first teaching experience. I was thrown into a 4th grade classroom middle of the school year in a town I had never been to in my life, teaching the subject I feel weakest in: math (along with science and social studies). Basically it was a deer-in-headlights time for me. I look back on those 5 months and realize that although it was probably one of the hardest things I've ever tackled I: 1) was able to survive when I had nothing but doubts, 2) gained such an invaluable experience, and 3) I'm not as bad of a teacher as I felt I was.
• After living in Hattiesburg for the past 5 years, I am moving back home to live with my dad and sister (who happens to be a senior in high school--gosh I'm old).
• After much prayer and begging with the Lord, He has shown me that, although I still have my reservations, teaching is what he has called me to do. He has provided me with a job at the elementary school where I attended K-8th. Not only did I attend here, but so did my sister and most of my family. My parents and grandparents even attended when it still had a high school attached to it. 
• Oh yeah, the job. I will be the new Inclusion Teacher for 5th-8th grade. I am actually looking forward to a new situation, being closer to home and family, and working with small groups of students rather than being accountable for 20-25 small bodies at a time.
• I love to craft, and Pinterest has definitely added to that love. Now, more often than not, my crafts are actually projects for my classroom, but I am dreaming up ideas for my future house, as well.
• Along with crafting, I love trying new recipes--both health conscious and sugar-coma-inducing.
• I have an amazing boyfriend, Jake, who I hope to one day call my husband. He is truly heaven sent. I would be lost without him.
• I have a loving, supporting family. My family is minus a very important member: my mom. She passed unexpectedly in 2009, and not a day goes by that I don't wish that she was here. Every day something happens that I wish that I could share with her, but luckily, the Lord blessed me with many more important people, like my sister, Jamie. She is more of a great friend/therapist than little sister. It's been hard on us both, but our relationship has only strengthened.

My blog may not be that exciting or informative--yet--but I hope to document all my adventures in teaching, crafting, cooking, and life itself over the next year. Hopefully someone will enjoy my posts, and if not, I've at least crossed another item off the bucket list.