Set...

My classroom is done. 

Bulletin boards are up, colorful, and engaging - but not too feminine.

Calendar is up and dated - a bit girly, but I borrowed it from my aunt.

Names are on desks, desks are arranged to fit academic excellence and feng shui.

Books are organized, students are registered (but that's another blog in and of itself)

My name is by the door and school picture day is coming up.

I'm ready...I hope...

One thing you may notice in my pictures is a giant red dotted line running around my room.  That's my treasure map.  There will be, sometime this week, 9 different stops on the map - volcanos, islands, whirlpools etc. - that the kids have to get to throughout the year.  They do this by accomplishing things like memorizing multiplication tables, reaching benchmark reading standards etc.  I'm also going to have a class boat that sails to one destination a month.  I'm going to give group rewards in the form of treasure that goes in the treasure box at the end of the map, the end-of-year prize/party/amazingly-awesome-something-that-Mr.-B-gives-the-kids will be dependent on the amount of treasure in the chest.  Also, if kids pass off all of their math facts (basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication) they get to become a pirate captain.  They get their very own pirate ship and become a part of my pirate army.  It's gonna be awesome.