10 Things on My 2024-25 Classroom Wish List

I can't believe it's that time of year again! Summer is halfway over, and I'm starting to see people share their Amazon class wish lists for the upcoming school year. We've got until almost the end of August before we head back to the classroom, but our sales tax free holiday weekend is coming up in a couple of weeks, so it makes sense.

And let's be honest -- I haven't just been ignoring school the past few weeks. I mean, I've tried my best, but I'm still not used to so much uninterrupted time off. It is only my second school summer, after all, and my first full summer off in years. Last summer was only about a month for me, remember? I started my certification course and had pre-planning both in July.

Anyway, I'll be moving to 8th grade this school year teaching writing and grammar, which isn't a big change but it will narrow my focus. I'll also be teaching more students. So I've been looking for solutions to some of the problems I'm anticipating as well as some challenges I've had the last two years, and I've created an ongoing Amazon wish list for school-related stuff.

This post will focus on the top 10 things I need and/or want for this upcoming school year. You can see my full class wish list here. If you would like to help in a different way, I have set up a TPT Class Fund. Contributions to that will help me purchase instructional materials for my classroom.

Hanging File Rolling Cart + Hanging Files - I'll be teaching every student this coming year, so my writing folder storage system needs a bit of an upgrade. This rolling cart is perfect! Not only will it easily hold the additional folders I'll need this year, but I can easily move it over to my desk whenever I'm going through folders for feedback. I'm not going to lie -- that's been the only downside to the folders the last two years. I'll also need new - and more - hanging file folders.

Scrabble Letters - I want a more fun word wall this year, and I absolutely love Scrabble. It'll be like creating a crossword puzzle which definitely appeals to my creative side.

Electric Pencil/Color Pencil Sharpener - My electric pencil sharpener limped through the last nine weeks of the school year, so I'll definitely need a new one for this year. I like this one because it has an automatic stop feature once a pencil is sharpened and is supposed to work for colored pencils.

Turn-In Trays - I use these to keep classwork separated by class, and I don't have enough for my increased class load. This is definitely more than I need for that purpose, but I also use baskets like these to keep supplies organized.

Over-the-Door File Organizer - Keeping up with make-up work is a chore, and something I need a better way of dealing with. I saw this idea in one of the teacher groups I follow and thought I'd give it a try myself.

Careers in English Posters - I want to do something different with my bulletin board this year, and I definitely want to focus on the importance of writing in the real world. This set of posters highlights 15 careers that are related to English.

Giant Magnetic Dry Erase Notebook Paper - This will be good for modeling what I expect out of students when writing.

Class Set of Colored Pencils - I feel like this is pretty self-explanatory, but I like to make writing as fun as possible and will definitely need some class art supplies. I've tried doing individual packs of 12, but they get all mixed up and eventually all dumped into a bucket anyway. This set should also, hopefully, mean that if every student needs a red, they'll have one and not argue over passing one back and forth.

35 Ready-To-Go Ways to Publish Student Writing - In the spirit of making writing as fun as possible, I think this book full of ideas will come in handy.

Broom + Dustpan - Would you believe I never bought a full-size broom and dustpan for my classroom? I always borrowed my neighbor's, but we won't be in the same school this coming year, and my mom will be too far down the hall for easily borrowing hers, so I've got to have my own this year.

My Summer Playlist: 25 Songs I'm Loving Right Now

This has been the summer of discovering new music for me. A lot of my favorite bands from when I was in high school and college are releasing new music, and I've been listening to stations that play new music more often so I'm getting introduced to some new-to-me bands as well.

My radio is most often set to PopRocks on SiriusXM radio, but here lately I've been spending a lot of time with Alt Nation and, when Alexis isn't in the car with me, Octane.

I'm pretty new to Spotify so I've been spending lots of time adding music to my library and figuring out how all the features work. I really like the DJ option on the mobile app and the smart shuffle feature. Both have helped me find new music as well as reconnect with songs from my youth.

I've added way more than 25 songs to my library lately, but the 25 included in this playlist are the ones I've been listening to most often. They're not really listed in any particular order other than the first two: Edge of the Earth by The Beaches and Too Sweet by Hozier. Those are my two favorite songs at the moment. You'll also see new music from Coldplay, Young the Giant, and The Offspring.

What are you listening to right now?

*This is not a sponsored post nor is it an ad for Spotify or Sirius XM radio. All opinions are my own.

10 Things I'm Loving Right Now

Happy summer, friends! I hope you're staying cool and hydrated but still having the best summer ever. We've been getting in lots of time on the water so far this summer, and it has been wonderful. Alexis has also gotten to do one camp so far, we've attended two programs at the library, and we've taken a day trip to the aquarium.

This week is all about tennis -- my favorite sport! Alexis has decided she wants to give it a shot, so we put her in a four-day camp with our high school coaches. Next week we'll be back at the lake for the July 4th holiday, and sometime next month we're going to visit an area zoo. We also want to go to our local water park at least once before school starts back in August.

It's been awhile since I did a favorites post, so I thought now would be a great time to share 10 things that have either brought me joy and/or made my life a little easier in some way.

Belt Bag -- This bag is great for trips where you don't want to carry a full-size purse. I ordered this specifically to take on Alexis's Tybee Island trip because I knew I would not want to carry a big bag but also knew I would need to keep up with my phone and her inhaler. This was also the bag I used for our aquarium trip. This can be worn as a fanny pack or be used like a crossbody. It's got two bigger sections/pouches and two smaller ones. I was able to fit my phone, a very small wallet, Alexis's inhaler, chapstick, a small tube of lotion, my keys, and cash money comfortably. I got the black so that it would go with pretty much anything, but it comes in a bunch of other colors/patterns. It is definitely worth the $8.

Weekender Bag -- Speaking of trips, I finally broke down and bought myself the overnight bag that's been on all my gift lists the last several years, and it was worth it. This bag was the perfect size for a three day trip. I was able to fit a pair of hiking boots and tennis shoes in the bottom compartment, and I used the larger of the smaller bags (which can be used as a crossbody if you want) to keep all my cords organized. I got the A03 - brown+pink leopard, but it comes in a bunch of other options as well.

Monthly Carwash Membership -- I'm definitely kicking myself for not signing up for this sooner. The convenience of being able to take my car through the carwash as many times as I need to and only pay once is unmatched.

Nivea Tinted Lip Balm in Blackberry -- If there's one thing to know about me, it's that I almost never reapply lipstick throughout the day, but I will put on lip balm multiple times. So this tinted balm by Nivea has been a game changer for me. And the blackberry color? So perfect for that just kissed look with literally zero effort behind it. I don't even need a mirror to apply it because it's chapstick!

Satin Sleep Mask + Cooling Headache Mask -- I'm pairing these together because I'm using them pretty interchangeably these days. We got new darkening curtains for our bedroom, and because it is now so dark, the alarm clock is super bright and directly across from me when I sleep. It's very distracting. Most of the time, I use my satin sleep mask that came in a Monat gift bag (this one is similar), but because it is so hot, I've been getting heat-related headaches, so on those nights I use the as-seen-on-tv cooling headache mask instead. Y'all, this thing is worth the $20 it costs.

White Sandals -- I got these at the end of the school year because I needed something dressier than my knock-off Burks but more casual than my braided wedges to wear to school. These definitely fit the bill. I'm seriously wearing them all the time and not just for work. I normally wear size 7 in shoes but these were a bit tight so I sized up a half size.

Luck Gods series by J. Gabriel Gates -- This series was such a pleasant surprise. It has a unique magic system, lots of twists and turns, and an unexpected ending. It hooked me from the first chapter and held me through all four books. If you're like me and love fantasy but tired of the same old tropes, give this series a shot.

Retro Sunglasses -- These are my new favorite sunglasses. The tint level is perfect!

Too Sweet by Hozier + Edge of the Earth by The Beaches -- These two songs have been playing on repeat in my head these days.

Mine Rapid Recovery Aftersun Gel -- I hate to say it, but I probably wouldn't survive summer without this miracle gel. It is the best sunburn product I've found and well worth the money. Seriously, I apply it and the next day it's almost as if the sunburn didn't happen in the first place. Sadly, I've already had to use it multiple times this summer (I swear I'm using sunscreen!). Unfortunately, I think this gel is no longer being produced, but the same company has a lotion version that looks like it may be similar and a different gel that says it's "coming soon."

10 Books to Read this Summer

Has your TBR list ever gotten so big that trying to decide what to read next is overwhelming? That's what mine feels like these days. I have 261 samples currently in my Kindle library and at least a dozen unread books on my bookcase.

That's one of the main reasons I started my One Woman Book Club in 2023, then continued it for this year. If I stick to the plan, that means crossing twelve books off my TBR list each year, but when there are 367 unread books on my ereader alone, twelve books doesn't really make much of a dent, especially when I can't stop myself from adding new titles to the list.

When it comes to reading, I pretty much read what I feel like at the moment (with the exception of my book club pick), but with a few hundred titles to sift through, some of which have been on my list for several years, I don't always find myself choosing a book already in my library, which is why I've started making myself seasonal reading lists.

Unlike my book club, there's no pressure to read these books in a specific month. However, it does help me narrow down my reading choices to fit certain moods.

For summer, I thought it would be fun to focus on books that happen in places I'd like to visit some day. I picked books that I thought would make good pool or beach-side companions. Surprisingly, none of these are fantasy, which is what I find myself gravitating to most days. These are mostly historical or realistic fiction with some mystery thrown in the mix.

I hope you find something that piques your fancy this summer. Happy reading!

The Three Mrs. Wrights

Author: Linda Keir

If this book looks familiar, that's because it's my One Woman Book Club pick for June. You might can guess from the title, but Mr. Wright has been keeping secrets from three women. To Lark he's Trip, the supportive investor who's making her dreams of being a board-game designer come true. To Jessica he's Jonathan, the founder of an inspiring medical start-up. And to Holly he's Jack, her husband of nearly two decades, father of her three children, and co-founder of a charity. Mr. Wright is anything but Mr. Right, and his lies are about to catch up with him.

The Song of Achilles

Author: Madeline Miller

This is my book club pick for July, and I'm excited to dive in to this Greek historical fiction. This will be my second book by Madeline Miller, and I loved Circe. This book follows Greek hero Achilles, son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and King Peleus, and his friend Patroclus, an exiled prince. The two are trained in war and medicine by the centaur Chiron and are then called with the rest of Greece's heroes to the siege of Troy after Helen of Sparta is kidnapped.

The Elephant Keeper's Daughter

Author: Julia Drosten

This is the final book club pick for the summer. Set in Ceylon's royal city in the year 1803, this historical fiction revolves around the esteemed position of the king's elephant keeper, a job that can only be held by a male. When the keeper and his wife have a daughter, they decide to raise Phera as a boy to ensure the line of succession. When the British invade, Phera is finally able to live as her true self, but she must also fight against the atrocities done to her people.

The Appeal

Author: Janice Hallett

What's summer reading without a murder mystery thrown into the mix? I picked this up from the book store after reading the tag line on the cover: "One Murder. Fifteen Suspects. Can you uncover the truth?" When the daughter of the director and star of the Fairway Players theatre group is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, the cast raises money to help pay for an experimental treatment, but not everyone is convinced it's a good idea. Things come to a head at dress rehearsal, and the next day a dead body is found and an arrest is made, but in the run-up to the trial, the lawyers aren't convinced they've got the right culprit.

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies

Author: Alison Goodman

I love a good historical fiction/mystery book, and this one sounds right up my alley. Lady Augusta "Gus" Colebrook and her twin sister, Julia, each remain unmarried at 42, which is practically a scandal in Regency-era London. In search of a distraction, the sisters agree to help rescue their friend's goddaughter, Caroline, from a violent husband. On the way to Caroline's country estate, the sisters' carriage is accosted by a highwayman, whom Gus accidentally shoots. The highwayman is the exiled Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their past who Gus is convinced was wrongfully accused of murder, so she sets out to prove his innocence.

Beyond the Moonlit Sea

Author: Julianne MacLean

This book has been on my TBR for awhile, and this summer feels like the perfect time to cross it off. It's about two women connected by something unusual: the Bermuda Triangle. Olivia's ties to the mysterious oceanic triangle come from her husband, Dean. The private pilot has been missing for years his plane having disappeared over the Bermuda Triangle. Melanie, on the other hand, is a particle physicist who had been studying the triangle up until her mother's death. When a shocking discovery links the two women together, it also sheds new light on Olivia's husband's disappearance.

The Venice Sketchbook

Author: Rhys Bowen

Caroline's great-aunt Lettie's final request is for Caroline to scatter her ashes in Venice. She leaves her niece a sketchbook and three keys to guide her on the journey of unlocking Lettie's love, loss, and courage. In 1938, Lettie began teaching art in Venice, where she was also able to reconnect with Leonardo, the man she loves whose future has already been determined by his family. Then the threat of war comes to the city, and they're forced to fight, survive, and protect a secret.

Mockingbird Summer

Author: Lynda Rutledge

This is the same author who wrote West with Giraffes, one of my favorite historical fiction books of all time. This book is set in Texas in 1964, the height of the Civil Rights Movement. The story revolves around Corky, a 13-year-old white girl who befriends the new housekeeper's daughter, America. When Corky asks America to play on her softball team for the annual church rivals game, it sets off a firestorm of tension and changes in their small town.

The Price of Paradise

Author: Susana Lopez Rubio

In 1947, Patricio flees Spain to the island paradise of Havana, Cuba, with nothing but the clothes on his back and dreams of a better life, but he manages to land a job as a runner at El Encanto, one of the most luxurious department stores in the world. That's where he meets Gloria, wife of the notorious mobster Cesar Valdes. What follows is a love affair that spans fifty years.

When We Believed in Mermaids

Author: Barbara O'Neal

Kit's sister, Josie, has been dead for fifteen years, or so she thought. When Kit sees a woman who is unmistakably her sister in live coverage of a fire at a club, Kit travels to New Zealand to try to reunite with Josie. But Kit's journey unearths long-buried secrets and a devastating truth that's kept them apart.

July 4th Outfit Inspiration

Independence Day is just around the corner. Have you planned your outfit yet?

The 4th of July is still one of my favorite holidays. It's all about family fun and fireworks, usually at the lake. The last few years we've spent the holiday camping with my parents, which has been amazing.

You can show your patriotism without decking yourself out in full flag regalia. For the past several years, my typical July 4th style has been shorts and a patriotic t-shirt or tank top, and that's honestly probably what this year will look like as well. It's just too hot where we are to get too fancy.

This year's outfit inspiration post reflects that casual vibe a little more than previous years, I think, but you'll still find some dressier options. I rounded up some of my favorite affordable tops, dresses, shorts, and accessories from Amazon, Old Navy, and Cato. I stuck with red, white, and blue in a variety of rewearable prints, but I did include a few flag options that aren't overwhelming for those of you who are so inclined.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Flag Dress | Strapless Red, White, and Blue Maxi Dress | Bandeau Top | USA Patch Tee

White Off-the-Shoulder Top | Red & White Striped Tank | Smocked Floral Top | Star Print T-shirt

Flag Print Dolphin Shorts | Flag Pocket Shorts | Patriotic Overalls | Flag Flip Flops | Flag Kimono

Patriotic Earrings | Patriotic Headband

Summer Style on a Budget

I don't know about where you live, but where I'm at it's already unbearably hot. That makes getting dressed in the summer a little tricky, especially if you want to look like you've put thought into your outfit. Trust me when I say that it's so hot that most people (who don't have to work) choose the path of least resistance -- usually shorts and a t-shirt. Honestly, so do I most of the time unless I know I've got something going on like taking Alexis to camp or attending a program at the library. For those, I usually choose a dress.

We've been fairly busy since school let out. The first week of summer Alexis had Odyssey Camp (I posted about it on my Instagram if you're interested). Other than that, I spent the week decompressing from the school year. Seriously, I slept a lot.

Since then we've gone to the lake, two programs at the library, and visited the Georgia Aquarium. We've also gone to the bookstore at least four times (I've lost count at this point) and gotten back into a fairly consistent dog-walking routine.

I have six outfits to share with y'all from the last few weeks, plus a swimsuit that's amazingly still in stock. True to form, I keep forgetting to take pictures. I wore this dress when we went to try the Dolly Parton donuts at Krispy Kreme. You can just barely see the top of it in the picture I did take. And I wore a dress that's really similar to this one when we went to see Animal Tales at the library.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 140 lbs. I typically wear size 6 or s/m in clothes and size 7 in shoes.

Dress (similar) / Sandals (similar) / Necklace / Sunglasses (similar)

I don't honestly remember what we did this day. I know that Alexis had Odyssey Camp, but she was staying with grandparents during this part of it. I'm sure we probably walked through a handful of stores because it's rare we get to do that without Alexis (if you're a parent, then you understand the joy of being able to browse a store kid-free).

Anyway, this is one of my favorite style of dresses from Old Navy. It's their fit and flare mini dress, which they pretty much always have in at least a few color/pattern options. This particular pattern is from several years ago so no longer available. I wear a medium in this style dress because the bodice is fitted and has no stretch. The straps are adjustable, and it's got pockets, but the skirt is not lined. It hits me just above my knee.

For most of the day, I wore my new platform white sandals (size up at least a half size), but remember I mentioned getting back into a regular dog-walking routine in the introduction? Yeah, I took this picture on our walk, and I just slid my feet into my tried-and-true triple-bow flops. They're old but I linked to a similar style that feels pretty on trend for this year.

Dress / Sandals / Necklace / Sunglasses (similar)

This is one of my favorite summer dresses. I've had it for a few years now, and it's held up very well. It hits just above my knees, so it's the perfect length. The waist is fitted but elastic so it doesn't squeeze you. It is fully lined. I'm wearing a size small. I know that I, once again, took the picture on our daily walk with the dog, but I do not remember what else we did that day.

Swimsuit

I'm only sharing this picture that I find incredibly unflattering because of how I was sitting because my swimsuit is still available. The top is still available in all sizes and my exact bottoms are available in L and XL. The high-waisted bottoms are available in all sizes still. This swimsuit is on the pricy side (I'm pretty sure I got it on sale last year), but the quality is really nice. The top can be worn with or without the tie string.

I didn't get a good picture of it, but this is the coverup I wore. You can read more about it and some other favorite coverups here. I also picked up a pair of Teva lookalike sandals from Walmart for less than $15 to wear on the boat. I wish I'd gotten a picture of them for you, but I did not. They are incredibly comfortable. I got the hot pink but they come in black and an olive pattern too.

Sunglasses / T-shirt / Overalls

So I know that this isn't a great outfit picture, but that's because I mostly took it for the sunglasses. However, all three things I'm linking were part of my Amazon summer wish list.

I am in love with these sunglasses. Cheap sunglasses are my not-so-guilty pleasure, and this three-pack only cost $20, putting each pair at less than $10. This is the solid black pair out of the three pack. I don't typically go for all-black sunglasses, but these are definitely a winner. I especially love the deep tint of the lenses. They're perfect for my light eyes that struggle with brightness and haze. Full disclosure, I did somehow manage to dislodge one of the lenses, but it popped back in with minimal fuss and no scratches. Speaking of scratches, these come with a convenient soft pouch to store them in so they don't get beat up in your bag as well as a cleaning cloth.

I'm wearing a medium in both the t-shirt and overalls. The t-shirt has a fun, almost vintage-feeling print on it. I got the style called Apricot. The overalls have three cute wooden-look buttons for the straps, so they're adjustable. I did the loosest one because that's how I like my overalls. The legs hit me about mid-thigh. They've also got a nice-sized pocket on the chest, which came in handy for holding my sunglasses.

Dress / Sneakers

This isn't the best picture -- the lighting in the aquarium was not the best -- but I wanted to share this fun t-shirt dress with y'all. It was also on my Amazon summer wish list.

What drew me to this dress at first was the fun, colorful abstract pattern, but the lace detailing on the hem is what kept my attention. I ordered this in a medium because I like t-shirt dresses to be loose and not clingy. This was perfect to wear on our trip to the Georgia Aquarium. It's soft and a good length and kept me cool in the crowds.

I would normally not wear sneakers with this dress, but I knew we would be on our feet all day, so I wore my Adidas Grand Court sneakers, which are comfortable to walk in and/or stand for long periods. Mine are actually the kids version, though, in a size 5. They're exactly the same except for the price.

Dress (Cato - not on website) / Sandals (similar)

I saw this dress in the display window of my local Cato and had to go in to try it on. Crochet is having a comeback moment this summer, and this dress is such a fun way to embrace the trend without drowning in it. This dress hits me just at the knee. I got it in a medium because they didn't have a small. I'm pretty certain I could wear a small, but the bodice might would have been a bit restricting. Also, the straps are not adjustable, so that could have been a problem.

This dress is brand new, but I cannot find it anywhere on the Cato website, which is frustrating. They have a similar maxi style dress in blue and a solid crochet neck dress in the same color, but not this one. So keep checking the website or visit your local Cato if you're interested. 

This dress feels a bit fancy, especially for running errands, so I kept my shoes simple with my brown leather slides. These are from  Old Navy last year, but Old Navy has a cute pair that's similar that I've linked to that look to be the same quality.

Dress / Sandals / Sunglasses / Purse

All the crochet styles I've been seeing in stores is giving me major 90s flashbacks. It was a trend I didn't fully embrace then, and one I don't find myself gravitating to as a rule now, but I really could not resist this crochet tank dress. Not only does it check the trend box for crochet but also the boxes for bright colors, stripes, and tank dress. Now because this is a juniors brand and crochet isn't exactly stretchy or forgiving, I sized way up to an XL, and I definitely do not regret it. By doing that, I ensured that the short liner is almost knee length and bought myself some breathing room.

My purse was also featured on my Amazon summer wish list. It's a trendy crossbody style and has a nice slim silhouette without sacrificing space. It has so many pockets it's unreal! It comes in a bunch of other colors and patterns.

Photo Dump: Tybee Island Trip

Back in May, Alexis took her first big multiple-night field trip to Tybee Island. About twenty kids and a dozen or so parents, including me, went on this trip. We had to leave really early in the morning to make it across the state in time, but we did take a charter bus instead of a school bus so at least there's that.

We went to the Burton 4-H Center, which is a year-round camp that also hosts these type of class trips. When we got there, we jumped right in to the activities and classes. Over the course of the trip, the kids learned about the plants and animals of Georgia's coastal plains region. We went on a dolphin cruise (a first for me), met a man who had found a megalodon tooth (picture proof below), dissected squids (so gross), and met lots of coastal animals, among other things.

Here are some of my favorite photos and videos from the trip.

Dolphin Cruise

This was our first activity, and it did not disappoint! We saw a ton of dolphins on this cruise, including several family pods with babies.

 

Megalodon Tooth

This man was walking down the beach when he noticed our group and asked if he could share his find with the kids. It was really cool. For reference, the megalodon tooth is in my hand.

 

Squid Dissecting

We wrapped up that first day by learning about squids, which Alexis is kind of obsessed with by the way. Then the kids dissected small ones...with lots of help from the adults.

 

Salt Marsh

After learning about the different zones of the salt marsh, we went exploring. The kids got to hunt for crabs (I got zero pictures of that because I was too busy helping them catch them) and snails, which they then hummed to in an attempt to get them to come out of their shells.

 

 

Beach Zones

After the salt marsh, we learned about the different zones of the beach. Then, we took the kids down to the beach, where they used materials they found to create models of the zones. They also learned about erosion in a couple of fun, interactive ways and about the different birds found along the Georgia coast.

 

Animals

The last day of our trip was spent with animals. We started out by fishing for shrimp off the dock. Then we met some of the animals that are being rehabilitated at the center, and finally we interacted with way more snakes than I was comfortable with.

 

 

 

Fun Extras

Of course there was lots of fun in between classes, too.