New classroom decor

So I had to move classrooms again this year..but at least it was just around the corner & not to the other side of the school to a whole new grade level like last year!

I'm trying to figure out if I should change up the colors/scheme.  Last year it was turquoise, purple, and chevron!  Here are some picture of my new 'blank slate' 

I'm thinking of doing black bulletin boards with chevron or colorful borders, maybe turquoise & black?

I really like the turquoise, black, and gray classroom theme from Schoolgirl Style, it's super cute & looks so clean, modern, and neat!  These colors would definitely make my heart happy!

http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/2014/05/turquoise-black-gray-classroom-theme/

What do you think?  Do you change your classroom decor often?  Have you seen any cute new themes or classroom decor lately?  

July Currently

I must be a crazy person already thinking of next school year!!!   I guess I'm technically not in my 'summer brain' mindset because I'm working at my school a few days a week planning and working with some kiddos in reading groups. Hopefully I'll get a 'brain break' eventually!

Right now in my tutoring groups I am reading:
The Jacket by Andrew Clements with my 3rd grade group and The BFG(Big Friendly Giant) by Roald Dahl with my 4th/5th group.  I've never read them before but heard they're great, and they seem pretty good so far!  (They are making the BFG into a movie soon!)
Have you read either of these books?  I would love to hear what you think of them!

As for personal reads, I am reading Bossypants, Tina Fey's book, and Heart of the Matter (I love Emily Giffin)! I have also been binge watching Scandal on Netflix...it's so good!

  

If you haven't heard of Orange Theory Fitness, you should definitely give it a try, it's a fantastic workout! I've been going for about 2 months and burn between 500-700 calories each time.  I recently changed my diet to healthier foods & smaller portions and am starting to see inches lost, (4 to be exact), YAY!  Classes are about an hour long, most are set up half treadmill intervals (base pace, push pace, all out), the other half is a mix of weight room & rowing machines, there are usually 3 blocks in about 25-30 minutes.  Sometimes they change it up with shorter blocks going between treadmill and weight room/rowers, so you are constantly being challenged.  You also wear a heart rate monitor and are able to look up at a screen during the workout to see where your heart rate is and how many calories you've burnt so far, I love OTF! 

Here is an example of  the cardio gx screen that you can look up to during your workout, as well as the workout summary they send you via email: 

What are you doing to keep fit this summer?  Hope you are having a great summer!

Ipad

Hey there!  I am super excited about getting a class iPad from donorschoose.org!   It was my first Donor's Choose project & I was amazed by all the support I got from my student's parents & my family & friends.  

I am looking all over Pinterest and the internet for great educational apps but I feel like a lot of them are phonics k-2 apps.  These are nice & beneficial to my kids but I am looking for even more 4th grade apps!  I teach 4th grade reading, so apps for older students would be preferable!  I'm starting stations this week & would really love some iPad ideas for them!  So far I have...

Educreations
Spelling City
4th grade spelling
Bluster
Wordstorm
Tinkerbox
NASA
StoryOnline
Tumble books
Kidblog
Brain pop
Class dojo

I've read that rainbow sentences is a good app too, but it's $7.99, worth it?

I would love any advice about great educational apps you use in your classroom!  Thanks!