A Look Back at My Classroom...a Work in Progress

I am rethinking some of the organization in my classroom.  Mainly, my hanging files, which are open in a corner where my teacher desk used to be.  I am feeling "antsy" to get that area more organized.  Not so much what is in the files, but more where I want to put the files.  I chose hanging files over file cabinets because my stuff is very accessible and I use it more if I don't have to open a drawer.

My room hasn't changed that much over the past few years, but I always consider it a work in progress.  I am currently looking for a rug for my read-to-self area/library.  I have carpet in the room, but I want something special to make the kids go there and "hang out" and read, read, read.

Here are just some photos over a few years to show the room basics.  Nothing fancy, love turquoise and lime green!  This year I surprised even  myself and threw some red in there because I fell in love with this red chevron border.  Then it turned out to be toooo bold, so I toned it down a bit by layering border and it was fine.  Just a touch of red to go with my Creative Teaching Press borders I already love.  (red chevron border: Isabella at Mardel.)

I am in the mood to go and clean some stuff out today...It's December 26th...AM I CRAZY?!  I love to go up to school when no one is there and I can just do what I need to do.  I'm not really going up there, but I want to.  Weird, I know. 

This is one of my favorite b-boards.  The fancy framed corkboard is from Hobby Lobby (80% off, of course! ) This year, I added some red chevron border under the brown paisley border.  It is really cute!

I added these graphic polka dot curtains to hide shelving last year.  Even though my lockers are maroon (who picked those?! fire 'em...and the person who chose RED chairs to go with the maroon...AND the person who chose the patchwork carpet, yikes.)  The brown does look fine in person  above the maroon.  I added this pennant thing last year.  Found it in Canton, Texas at the First Monday Trade Days.  If you are ever in Texas at the beginning of ANY month, you gotta go. Fantastic! Plan to spend two days if you want to see most of it. 

You can see my shower curtain wall map just to the right of the border.  It is from Target and you can still get it online.  BEST PURCHASE EVER for my classroom.  You can write on it and the kids look at it every day!

The corners of  my room have A,B,C, D there.  We use them to show our answers by walking to the corner of our choice.  I also have math "clue words" there as well, and when we are problem solving, we may just walk to the corner of the chosen operation to show HOW we plan to solve the math word problem. 

I painted paisleys on this old classroom chair to match the Creative Teaching Press border called "Paisley on Chocolate." It's one of my favorites! 

My own children went to the school where I teach.  When they brought me a great art piece they'd done, I framed it in black and hung it in my room.  I moved this display above my lockers this year to free up wall space.  Love it there!  It makes me happy to remember when my kids were little and came to school with me each day! (And then I remember that I got NOTHING done after school and left as soon as possible each day because they were ready to go home!  It was good, though. No regrets!)

So this is how it starts each year!

Then Daily 5 organization kicks in...

Bookshelves start to take shape.  Classroom library is looking more appealing!

Guided Math wall ready for activities!

Desks in place, (see my framed art above the lockers? Better!) 

Now I need to find that perfect area rug for the D5 area.  Maybe I'll find a great after-Christmas sale!! I think I took this walk down classroom memory lane to help myself to get organized for 2015, so thank you for bearing with me while I get ready for the new year!  

Webquest Awesomeness!

Mini webquests are perfect for third graders.  I used them just before the break to get the kids out of their seats and work on some fun activities...learning included in the fun! When I have my students do webquests, I usually set the background information up in the form of a mini-lesson.  I have had them complete a KWL chart or just write a question or two in their journals to assess prior knowledge. Many times in social studies, they have never heard of the people we are studying (or they are confused about who they are.)  These webquests could set your students on the journey to more research about a person you are studying.  They are also awesome for small groups where the groups could read about the person, then collaborate on answers together.  Anytime I get the iPads out, there is excitement in the room!  We had so much fun with this the last time, I know they will be excited for these new quests!  You can find my new Mini-Biography Webquests {HERE}or {HERE}

My students love to get on the floor with an iPad and work together!

Kids scan the QR code and it takes them right to the website!  If you don't have devices to scan codes, no worries, just have the students type in the provided website.  (It's good practice in being careful!) 

{CLICK HERE}
Or {HERE} to see my new store at Buy Sell Teach

There are five different quests in the set! 
Find it also here at Buy Sell Teach

My kids said, "Hey, this is like a scavenger hunt!"  Yep, they loved it! 

Room Reveal...the Middle

I posted the "perimeter reveal" a couple of posts ago.  Here's a little peek at that again:

Then there was this little problem with that middle area of the room...

It's so much better and kids' desks are ready with their little activity to get them "settled" in during those first few hectic minutes the first hour of the first day. 

I LOVE my class.  They are so bright and sweet and mostly EXCITED to learn. I'm really excited to have a self-contained class for the first time ever.  It's such a sense of school "family."  I am going to love it!

Here are the "after" pics!

I have three tables of 6 desks...and I'll probably need more as the year goes on!

Part of my library area.  See our D5 book boxes?! 

Please excuse the little mess on the bottom shelf and the big paper sack in the foreground!

 Behind my book boxes is my "teacher area."  I did away with my desk last year, and I love it, but I still have to have some storage and computer spot.  The hanging files next to the computer are my go-to files for daily things.  I found that I wasn't using all the good stuff I had because I hate digging through a filing cabinet.  I just have everything out in the open, and I can get to it in a second.  It isn't beautiful, but it's efficient!

More of my D5 library

I hope everyone has a fantastic year!  Pray for an early fall here in Texas...we NEED recess and it keeps getting cancelled due to temperatures!

Progress Today!

I worked on my classroom today (we report the 18th.)  The air conditioner was on, so I took advantage!  I would like to say I'm done, but as you can see, only parts of it are even close. 

One bookshelf...done! 

I found this cute duct tape at Target (of course).  It's only 3/4" wide, so it covered one side of my clips for the chart! 

Kids' names go on the untaped side.  They will turn it over if they have to "clip down."

I got the reading chart bulletin board done!  

Daily 5 tubs full and ready for practice! 

You're thinking, "Wow, Julie. You got alot done!" I did actually accomplish some things today.  On the other hand I only worked around the perimeter of my room. Here is my reality.  I think I'll apply for federal disaster aid!

Teacher desk area, oh my.

Book box shelf :o(

See the middle?  Disaster!  But I'll get it done and you will get yours done, and on the first day, we'll be ready for the kids!

I'll post pictures of the finished room after next week!