Cute Classroom Inspiration – Ashley Bouknight from South Carolina

Ashley Bouknight from Batesburg- Leesville, South Carolina was so kind of enough to share her beach themed classroom.  What an amazing space!  I was most impressed with the different colored beach umbrellas at each table.  She created a “WOW” factor by incorporating one at each table.  I also loved the colored stools around the table.  I love the punch of color it gives her room!  Can you imagine how the kids must feel going into that room everyday?!?!  What a fun place to learn!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments

  1. Lisa says:

    This room is unbelievable! I’d love to know how she managed to get the umbrellas to stay. It’s such a cool room, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s a bit much stimulus. It’s certainly creative. Love the flip flops. Wow! Just wow!

    ❀Lisa
    Effective Teaching Articles Blog

    • SchoolgirlStyle says:

      It is a “WOW!” for sure. We had a family party today and everyone commented on it as well…they loved it!

      • Cindy Shepard says:

        Cute Cute Cute!!! How did you get the umbrellas attached to your table? I would love to do that also for next year?

        Cindy

        • SchoolgirlStyle says:

          Hi Cindy,
          I could have sworn that Ashley said that she drilled holes into the table, I don’t know about you, but my district would never let me do that!

        • Ashley Bouknight says:

          These are tables my Daddy made me so we drilled holes in the middle and the umbrella goes down into a hole in a bucket of cement.

  2. cherylp says:

    While I certainly admire the teacher’s creativity, I am completely overstimulated by that classroom. There is way too much going on in there.

    • alyson fort says:

      Totally disagree! What child would not want to learn here! Well done from one SC teacher to another!

    • Nola McCarthy says:

      I LOVE this room! I always have lots of color and things going on in my room and always have someone mention the “overstimulation” factor. Never happens. The kids get used to it and work their hearts out. They love having a fun room to come to in the morning. Great job!!

  3. Mrs. Zrihen says:

    Your room is AMAZING!!!!!! How fun for your kids!
    I grabbed your button and am now your newest follower!
    Visit me :)

    Have a great school year!
    A Teacher’s Treasure

  4. mary says:

    This teacher is so dedicated and loves her children. I can not imagine how many hours it took to plan and implement her vision! Love the flip-flops as “headings.”

  5. emily says:

    wow, i love this. I hope my classroom is half as cool as this. I would love to know how everything got put togeather

    • Ashley Bouknight says:

      Thank you! I found the umbrellas on ebay a few years ago for 9.99 each. The shipping was 15.00 though.:) They are not on ebay any longer but I have seen them at Carolina Pottery and Big Lots. I just grab anything colorful I see and make it work :-) ))))))))

  6. Laura says:

    HI,

    This is amazing!! Is there a way you can email me about your umbrellas and where you got them? I just love how you put everything together. Do you have a blog?

    • Ashley Bouknight says:

      I found the umbrellas on ebay a few years ago for 9.99 each. The shipping was 15.00 though.:) They are not on ebay any longer but I have seen them at Carolina Pottery and Big Lots. I just grab anything colorful I see and make it work :-) )))))))) I do not have a blog

  7. Ashley Fort says:

    My son and daughter were both in Mrs. Bouknight’s class and they absolutely loved her classroom. We are so lucky that Caroline will have her again in 4th grade! Her classroom is every indication of what a dedicated teacher she is!

  8. Lauren says:

    What do you use the different colored leis for? Where did you buy your umbrellas? This is such a CUTE classroom!

    • Ashley Bouknight says:

      I found the umbrellas on ebay a few years ago for 9.99 each. The shipping was 15.00 though.:) They are not on ebay any longer but I have seen them at Carolina Pottery and Big Lots. I just grab anything colorful I see and make it work :-) )))))))) I do not use the leis now, but the kids would use them to earn table points. It did not work like I thought it would….

  9. Mrs VanMeter says:

    AMAZING! I want to be in this room! LOVE IT! I want to do this… CAMPING STYLE! I love it! I can’t say it enough! :)

  10. Crystal-Lee says:

    WOW! If only all teachers cared this much. So much attention to detail and so much fun to learn in. Overstimulated? No way! When I walk into some over-cluttered and boring classrooms I would be less inclined to learn or care about the subject matter. So nice to see a teacher that puts so much effort into making her classroom a haven for her students to grow and learn! :)

  11. Gina says:

    Overstimulated? I WISH I could be a kid in this class! It is amazing! I seriously doubt kids would be overstimulated here They would be inspired to learn, entering a new world when they walked through the door. Your dedication shows. How impressive! Well done!

  12. Jennifer says:

    I love this soooo much!! Can you tell me where you got the umbrellas and the skirting on the tops of them? So amazing!!

    • Ashley Bouknight says:

      I found the umbrellas on ebay a few years ago for 9.99 each. The shipping was 15.00 though.:) They are not on ebay any longer but I have seen them at Carolina Pottery and Big Lots. I just grab anything colorful I see and make it work :-) ))))))))

  13. Originalkat says:

    This is an amazing classroom! I don’t think it is over stimulating at all. It is so neat, organized and pulled together. So so fun! I would have loved to have a school memory of your class!

  14. Lara says:

    I love the umbrellas! How did you attach them to the tables, especially your reading or small group table?

    • Ashley Bouknight says:

      These are my tables that my Daddy made me so we drilled holes in the middle and the umbrella goes down into a hole in a bucket of cement.

  15. Michelle says:

    Can you tell me where you got those tree umbrellas or how you made them?

    • Ashley Bouknight says:

      I found the umbrellas on ebay a few years ago for 9.99 each. The shipping was 15.00 though.:) They are not on ebay any longer but I have seen them at Carolina Pottery and Big Lots. I just grab anything colorful I see and make it work ))))))))!!!

      • Wendy Crummie says:

        I bet you can make these with an umbrella, a cheap grass skirts from party city or oriental trading, a hot glue gun and some painted pvc pipe to make it tall enough. :)

  16. Claude says:

    Hi I would love to know where you got the umbrellas! They are great!

  17. Heidi says:

    Hey,
    Awesome room!

  18. Becky says:

    Anyone making a negative comment on this room is CRAZY! I would imagine the students taking such pride in this environment. If kids have to be at school for 7-8 hours… shouldn’t their “office” be stimulating and exciting? LOVE your tables. Sooo cute. Have fun and enjoy with your lucky students! Mine is a jungle theme and it is pretty “over the top” too!

  19. Lara says:

    I have been searching for stools to use at my guided reading table and have not had much luck. Where did you find yours?

  20. Ruth Bishop says:

    I love your room. Would you mind sharing where you purchased the stools?

  21. Tasha says:

    Love it!! Where did you purchase the umbrellas or did you make them?!
    Would love to share your idea with students in Illinois! :)

    • Ashley Bouknight says:

      I bought the umbrellas off of ebay, but I have not seen them on there lately. I have seen them at Carolina Pottery and Big Lots.

  22. Ashley Bouknight says:

    These are old metal stools that were in storage and were going to be thrown away. A can of spray paint worked great!!!! :-) ))))

  23. Ashley Bouknight says:

    Thank you all for the sweet comments! The umbrellas are fire retardant. When the fire marshal comes by I just show him the paperwork that came with the umbrellas :-) ))))) I am changing some things this year. When I get it decorated I will share pictures!!!

  24. Cynthia says:

    What did you use the lei’s for? What’s attached on each lei? I’m doing a beach theme and love getting ideas from everyone who has been there done that! Love, love, love the room.

  25. Amie says:

    This classroom is beautiful. I also do the beach/luau theme but mine is quite lame compare to this. Hope you do not mind but I am stealing some of your great ideas! Great job!!!!

  26. Debbie Ellearddelleard says:

    What an awesome job! Did you cover the tables with contact paper?

  27. Tiffany Clark says:

    I love your room. I teach kindergarten and I’ve had a jungle theme for two years now. I need to change it up a little. How did you make the center board?

  28. Blaine Beatty says:

    Where did you find the umbrella for your horse-shoe table? I’m guessing it is clamped on…but the ones I have seen around the stores have been clamp on to chair kinds. Help me! :)

  29. Heather Smith says:

    My two children, Avonlea and Harrison, had Mrs. Ashley as a third grade teacher and hoping that Harrison has her again for 4th. They loved her classroom and most importantly they loved her teaching. She is a very caring teacher and has an awesome attitude in and out of the classroom!

    • Ashley Bouknight says:

      You are too sweet, Heather!!!!! I am so hoping that I get Harrison again!!!! I cannot wait to see his name on my roster! THey are such sweet kids!

  30. Sarah says:

    Love you room! I cannot do anything to that extent in my classroom but I do believe that the “extra touches” help so much! I love using grass skirts for decorating!!!

    I’m a bit worried about my colorful classroom. I new to my school and a kinder teacher was told she had to redo her classroom because it was too bright. My whole classroom is BRIGHT! Hopefully I don’t have to redo anything! I saw some people said your room was too overstimulating, do you have any research that indicates children do learn in ‘colorful and stimulating classrooms?”

  31. Jo says:

    I love, love, love your room! I just bought natural colored grass and see yours is green – hope mine will look fine!
    What do you use your lei’s for?

  32. Holli Kitchen says:

    Hi, Ashley! I can’t find the list of where you purchased the items. Where did you find the stools? I have been looking for some for my reading table. Thank you!

  33. Lauren says:

    Love this classroom. Recently at Dollar Tree I saw something that would go perfectly in you classroom, Punctuation Paridise. They are bulletin board kits that have 6 forms of punctuation and a sign for the group. The sign says “Punctuation Paridise.” It looks like something that goes with a luau themed room. You can find them in the teacher section of the store. Good luck!

  34. Jameka Haynesworth says:

    LOVE THIS!! I’m in the process to redecorating my room to a luau/beach theme and I’m sooooo glad I ran across this site to get more inspiration :)

  35. Rebecca Harden says:

    Love the room…I wish I could do something like that but in West Virginia the fire marshall would never let us do this….not fair for us. How do you all get around that?

  36. Sarah says:

    I am at a loss for words to describe just how much I love your classroom. I have hit a rut with my room and found a great inspiration!!!!! WOW!!!!!! How well does this work for you and do you leave it up all year?

  37. elayne says:

    I love this room! Awesome! I am going to borrow some of your amazing ideas! I think it is awesome and I am sure the kids love it!

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