Presenting the 2017 Classroom Reveal…
SO WHAT DOES THIS YEAR’S WORK ENVIRONMENT LOOK LIKE?
As you walk into our classroom, you are immediately drawn to the beautiful bright primary blue wall. Our building and maintenance admin picked the color, and I think he nailed it! This is also our school color.
OUR LIBRARY AREA
I have placed several high interest books on the front shelving of our little library cabinet. The other side has author and character book tubs with labels. (this was during organization phase, so still a few out of place items)
OUR CALENDAR AND GROUP AREAS
Each day, we go over our rules, talk about what day it is and share in this area. It also doubles as our group work area for lap boards/clipboards during guided drawing/writing, written reading work, and math. (minus the box and chair with a book making machine).
OUR SEATING CHOICES…
This year, in addition to bucket seats, I purchased 6 stability balls from an online medical supply for $9.00 each. These are inflated to somewhat different sizes to accommodate the smallest to the biggest kinder kid. I also purchased some cute cushions for the floor seating, 2 yoga mats that I cut in half, and several types of chairs. Added to this mix are the newly acquired Neorok stools purchased with DonorsChoose.org grant money. We got four red stools that are a hit with my students.
OUR CENTERS STORAGE…
My center categories are labeled with the cows, goats, chicks, and pigs. All cow and pig centers are Word Work based. All goat centers are Tech Based (computer, ipad or chromebooks). All chick centers are Fine Motor skills such as play-doh name mats, alphabet mats or hands-on centers, counting sets with number words, etc. Other centers in the room have a label the same as the tubs to indicate type of center.
Admittedly, centers are not going to run smoothly until all have been taught, so at this point, we are having table tub activities . Soon, we will be using our centers rotation board. (again, this pic was while I worked on organizing centers before school began)
#1 Rule: Only two to a center.
ONE OTHER TYPE OF SEATING WITH STORAGE…
During the month of July, hubby made a bench to house three crates with our farm animal cushions. The padded seat is made from fiber fill covered with oil cloth. This is holding up well, and makes a great shoe tying station!
DURING THE PAST SCHOOL YEAR, SOME OF MY BEANIES VANISHED!
To replace them, I sought out replacements for the ones I had lost. I soon found they were discontinued and very expensive to replace! So…I found a cute toy site that had the same concept characters for $5-10 each. Score! They are just a big as the beanies, and so cute! (yes, that is me as a little girl with my parents in the background).
TODAY’S READERS ARE TOMORROW’S LEADERS!
For over ten years, I have used the same caption in my classroom. It takes varying forms, but always has the same words. I truly believe it is our job to create readers for the new age. That means, not only text on paper book readers, but readers of all types. Their world will be electronic, so they need to develop skills to use the technology as it evolves. But let’s not throw out the traditional skills needed to problem solve and plan when tech isn’t available. So much is expected of our little learners!
If you read my post from the first week of August, you saw how I used design boards to visualize my room layout, colors and functionality. Here is the end result of all of the planning and work.
I have worked all week organizing, moving, hanging focus wall pieces, cutting, laminating and sewing. There is still much to do as far as journal assembly and planning, but the bulk of my room is ready. Here is a photo from the hallway as you enter my room:
I have a nice size classroom, but there is never enough storage. If I add storage, it seems cluttered. So I do the best I can to make the space work. Here is the view from my small groups table:
One of my favorite purchases this year is the alphabet shower curtain from http://educents.com/#MaggiesKinder
I made cute yellow and white chevron curtains to frame it. 
On my tables are the crayon organizers from four years ago. I have retouched the paint, but this year may be the last year before they need a major overhaul. I love using the Crayola triangular crayons to begin the year. They help kids to get the perfect grip right off the bat.
My library corner is small, so I make it functional by providing comfy seating and plenty of fiction/non-fictional
seasonal or current theme books The rest of my library is stored in covered file boxes and are rotated all year.
I am excited to use my morning meeting area focus walls. One contains the calendar and the other contains my alphabet chart and sight words. I also have my whole brain teaching baseball scoreboard ready to go. It is a cookie sheet painted with a ball diamond for our team and the opposing team. We try to make a home run each day for extra minutes of brain breaks or Go Noodle dances!
My small group reading area has beanie babies with strategy posters and teaching ideas by Deanna Jump! I am going to enjoy using these materials this year. I have had the beanies for several years, but have not used this method of keeping track of my strategy instruction with each small group. It’s going to be amazing!!! Look for her guided reading packets 1 and 2 in her store! I still have things to do on my table! Still loving the skirt and new bucket seats! You can learn how I did the bucket seats soon when I post a link. I use fabric over cardboard for seat cushions, but I cover the fabric with clear contact paper. They stay clean and new!
Thank you for peeking at my classroom! I still have more to do, so the big blog launch will be soon. Watch for details!!!
