Bird Theme

I have always LOVED birds. My house is decorated with vintage bird prints, birds nests under glass domes – subtle touches of birds here and there. Not really sure what my fascination is with birds, but I am drawn to them. Birds represent happiness to me, tiny little creatures that speak so sweetly – almost giving you the impression that they are little messengers from heaven.

I had a very special little girl in my classroom for the last two years. This little girl had Down Syndrome. At the end of the school year, I received a gift from her mother – when I opened it up, it was a bluebird used to hang outside in a garden. It was so beautiful! I immediately thought, “How did she know that I love birds?” When I read the card that accompanied the gift, she had written that the bluebird was a very special symbol in their family. Only people that they love would receive a blue bird. She then went on and said that I meant so much to her and her family – I was their angel. She was giving me a bluebird to represent that I was an important part of their lives. I cried…and cried…and cried. “I was their ANGEL.” Wow! That was pretty powerful.

Over the summer, I found a pad of paper shaped like a bluebird from Carson Dellosa – I immediately loved it and knew I had to try and use it in one of my classroom designs. I had lots of different ideas for decorating my own classroom, but I kept coming back to this bluebird paper and how I could incorporate a theme around it. After some thinking, I figured out how to use the bird paper. With special permission from Carson Dellosa, I was allowed to blow up the image. I can’t wait to show you how I used this cute, little guy!

Every day, I walk into my classroom and I am reminded of my student from last year. The sweet bluebird is not only a reminder of her, but it is also a reminder of how powerful our profession is. As teachers, we have the ability to change lives, to inspire children – our actions and words matter. Our classrooms should be a haven where children are loved, respected, and nurtured. What an awesome responsibility we have! I often say that teaching is something that I never chose to do…I believe that I was chosen to be a teacher. The bluebird is a reminder that when I stand before my students- I am there for a reason. I have a purpose. This is my calling. I was someone’s angel.

I hope that every day when you walk into your own classroom, you remember that you are there for a reason, you have a purpose. You were chosen to be their teacher…YOU have the ability to be someone’s angel.

WELCOME to my classroom…

SHOPPING GUIDE:

Photography by E.C. Campbell Photography of Rochester Hills, Michigan

Table signs, Word Wall tags, mailbox tags, Welcome Banner, Daily 5 Tags, Book basket tags, Book basket labels, nameplates – Schoolgirl Style *You can purchase from the Schoolgirl Style Shop

Bluebird – Carson Dellosa *Birds in nest were enlarged with Carson Dellosa’s permission

Cloud cut out – Carson Dellosa

Green Tubs – Dollar Tree

Green polka dot border and matching alphabet – Teacher Created Resources

Blue and green utility baskets – Dollar General

Brown baskets – Jo-Ann Fabrics

Nests and Flower Poms – Schoolgirl Style Shop

Ribbon and polka dot curtain fabric – Hobby Lobby

Green and white polka dot leaves – Wrapping paper from Hobby Lobby

Yellow baskets – Really Good Stuff

Lime green and brown brown bordette/sky paper – Pacon

Wall picture frames for student work – Lakeshore