I will be presenting a three-hour workshop at IWLA on the afternoon of Friday, October 12. I'm pretty darn excited about it. I'm also really excited about the other workshops that are happening [Insert frustrated caps] AT THE SAME TIME AS MINE! Nah, I say that with a very giddy and happy heart at the abundant learning opportunities in one city on one afternoon in the middle of Iowa. And... I want to go to literally every other workshop that is offered that afternoon (and morning). You probably do too. Check them out.   http://iwla.net/workshops

(Some of the most beautiful wall art I could dream of for my classroom)

This beauty arrived during 3rd period, delivered by our handy shop teacher and a crew of young carpenters. They zipped in a couple screws to fasten the 2 "L" brackets, and headed back down to the shop. I've been glowing since. 

Browsing some bookshelf-making resources shared by colleagues on an online forum, I settled on my favorite design last Winter. I tweaked one of Ana White's plans, opting for a stretched-out version given the particulars of my room. Right before school started, the shop teacher and I came up with a plan (I get the lumber, he and his students build it) and it turned out to be one of those blessed situations in which everything ends up working out better than hoped and planned.

The lumber cost...