In all the years I've been putting together my classroom at the beginning of the year I've stuck to the same process, and I'm going to share it with you here. For free! Ready?
Step 1: Make a huge mess
Step 2: Take 3 days to clean it all up
Not much of a process, huh? Well, let me show you how things are progressing.
My "window wall" needs to have things on it that don't get changed very often because it's a super hard wall to staple into, necessitating a staple gun. Also, the fire alarm and fire extinguisher are on this wall, limiting what can be placed here. So, I put things here that won't change over the course of the year, like my calendar and birthday chart, classroom job pocket chart, bucket filling post, bathroom sign out, and thinking maps. I also use the whiteboard for displaying our ever changing daily schedule and daily objectives.
I have my tables arranged, and hopefully won't have more than 30 students because that is what I've planned for. This means I'll have something like 36. Notice I said "tables". Not a student desk in sight. I made the plunge this week and had tables brought it and individual student desks removed. I'm hoping that students will be able to work better together in groups and will have fewer distractions. What's in it for me? No messy desks! Fewer distractions! Hopefully it'll be a win-win situation.
I've moved my classroom library up to the very front of the room because I want independent reading to take an even greater place in my classroom. There's no better way to show how important it is than to give it prime, front of the room real estate.
This is the back wall of my classroom (opposite the SmartBoard and whiteboards in the front). Most bulletin boards are here and my writing supplies and station are located here, as well as my Arizona interest board.
I know you can't see a lot of detail in these pictures, but I wanted to show the overall picture. I'll show pictures with better details once I have at least one thing exactly how I want it.
Just one week to go until Meet the Teacher Night, and there's lots to do before then. Meetings, meetings, and meeting galore. Oh joy!
I am so jealous of your room! It looks so big, so many white boards, a smartboard....yep, jealousy all over! I always worked in older schools, so that is all like a dream to me!!
ReplyDeleteYour room looks great...and HUGE compared to mine. I think you'll like tables. =)
ReplyDeleteI wish we didn't have so many meetings before school started. Our minds are usually on our rooms and our loooonnnnngggg to-do list.
I am happy to be your newest follower. I would love for you to hop over and visit me when you get the chance. =)
Heather
Heather's Heart