Happy Sunday all! I survived my first week of school and in all the Back to School madness I realized that I never shared pictures of my new classroom! So here goes…
Awhile back I mentioned that I was moving to a new school. This picture was taken in June, on my last day of work, at my former school. This is my entire classroom packed inside 53 boxes!
Thankfully, the district moved all of my boxes and furniture to my new school for me. It took my husband and me 2 entire hours to move everything from the MPR, upstairs and into my new classroom. The first time I saw my new school and classroom I feel in LOVE. Goodbye portables and Hello AMAZING classroom!
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| This is the first time in my teaching career that I have ever had matching desks!!! |
Yet another perk of marrying a teacher- we have the same schedule! My darling husband came in 3 days to help me hang bulletin boards while I unloaded and organized everything. The first thing I wanted to tackle was unpacking and reorganizing my classroom library… I don’t even want to tell you how long this took.
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| Before… |
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| …after. Check out my Upper Grade Library Labels here. |
This is the view when you enter my classroom.
There is A LOT of storage but not a lot of wall space. I will have to get creative as to how I will display student work. I also have a bulletin board directly outside my classroom, in the hallway that I can and will most definitely use.
I decided to go with a U-Shape desk arrangement. That way they can collaborate, but they are a little more spread out and I can pull up a chair in the center and work with them as a small group SUPER easily. I added an extra desk to the center of each table group to store their offices, the Tidy Tub and supply bins.
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| Grab this Tidy Tub Owl Freebie here… |
This will also hopefully help prevent students from arguing over whose desk the supply bin is on.
I am going to be adding a crate underneath it which will have their work portfolios in hanging folders so we can file away their work easily.
This is a view from the back of my classroom looking forward. This is the first time I have had a projector that is mounted to the ceiling… I am stoked about that because now I wont have that hot fan blowing on me all day.
This is the left side of my classroom. Look at those AMAZING windows. I just love all of that natural light. It makes taking pictures a little tricky 🙂
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| notice my amazing Mac desktops- 4 here and a few more on the other side… #luckyteacher |
A close up…
Here is where I store some of my Whole Class Journals and centers. I am still organizing and sorting them. I also have a few that I need to print and laminate. Oh the life of a teacher!
Here is a math bulletin board in between both windows that go along with my Math Problem of the Week set. I will showcasing their hard work and perseverance of that on this board.
Here is the other side of my classroom where I have 2 MORE Mac desktops and a lap top too!
All of these computers will take my centers to a new level!
Here is the front of my room… I purchased plastic pocket dividers, cut off the label tab and mounted them on the wall in the dead space underneath the Smartboard/White board. They are labeled with student numbers and this is where they will turn in their center work. It is a great way to manage who has or has not turned in their work as well as a great place to put absent work!!!
Here’s a peek at a few of my bulletin boards…
I blogged last week about my Brag Tags here… This is where the students will hand their tags when they aren’t wearing them. On Wednesday, When I told them about Brag Tags and they were SO excited… see, they aren’t just for primary kiddos! Every child loves and deserves affirmation!
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| Grab these Brag Tags for Big Kids here… |
My most popular bulletin board over the past several years is my interactive Synonym Wall. Students can come up and find a more interesting word while working on their writing. Plus, they can add to it as the year moves along.
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| Grab this bulletin board here… |
This is my Data Wall which will track the student’s progress for AR, Math Facts and ST Math. For AR, I use the treehouse and the students climb up into new rooms as they acquire more AR points. It’s a great visual representation, that motivates them and helps them self monitor and set personal reading goals. They also earn Brag Tags each time they earn 10 AR points or 10% in Jiji. Motivation!
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| Grab this adorable Chalkboard bunting here… |
I have a TON of white boards in my classroom. I turned one of them into a GIANT wall calendar where we can track birthdays, assignments, due dates, holidays etc. Thank you Little Lovely Leaders for this set!
I know I have OVERLOADED you all with photos, but I love taking a peek into people’s classrooms because it gives me new ideas, it inspires me and it reminds me that I am not the only teacher that LOVES what they do.
For some pinning fun on this Sunday, how about a little giveaway!?! The first 3 people who pin a picture from my Back to School 2014-2015 Reveal– can choose any product that is under $5.00 from my TpT store and I will email it to you for free!!!! Just leave a comment below saying you did it along with your pinterest address (for example mine is pinterest/laylawhenry) so I can verify, let me know which product you would like and I will email it to you tonight! Ready, Set… PIN!
Such a cute transformation! I love your use of color and organization!
Layla, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your idea to use numbered pocket folders for students to turn work in! It's even more visible than having them flip over a clothespin clipped to the turn-in bin (tried that for this first week). I may be doing a quick change before I post my own classroom reveal thanks to you! (http://www.pinterest.com/breehdavey/)
I would love to use the brag tags with my 4th graders!
http://www.pinterest.com/cmarie423/
courtneymsteed@gmail.com
Also, I would love your Halloween-themed number sense math practice centers! holabre@hotmail.com Thank you so very much!
http://www.pinterest.com/lucylou2420
I would love everything. 🙂 Now i will have to look and post again.
I pinned the whole post! 🙂 I really like your seating arrangement with tables of 7. I'm not sure it have enough space in my small room but I am going to try it out.
http://www.pinterest.com/hatcherjill/
I would love your Rounding Through the Millions. Thanks!
Mlmkj81@gmail.com
Thanks so much! I'm excited to try out Rounding through the Millions. My kids need some help with rounding.
Your room looks beautiful! I wish I had an area outside of my classroom to display student work. I love to see what is happening in other rooms and for everyone to see our cute projects.
KinderIrick