2013 Pre-Student Classroom Tour

Tuesday is tour day. Really you don't need a tour to see the classrooms in our school. They are pretty small but serve our purpose. This year is the first time I haven't had a real theme for the classroom. I was just hoping to use up a lot of things that were being stored. It has worked out pretty good.

This is the bulletin board outside my classroom. The only time it isn't student built is at the beginning of the year. The students love to find their names on the board to make sure they belong here. I am the last room in the hall and closest to the playground. I like it here - too far for people to visit often but close enough we can sneak outside for fun.

This is the view as you walk inside. I love my tables. They are great for group work and don't take up as much room as 28 desks. Plus they are green - my favorite color. Our computer center is also there. I have six computers available for student use at all times. I have my small book shelf in the corner. I wish I had room for a proper reading corner but survive with this shelf. We have a great school library and so only need a few books in the classroom. It works.

This is our cubby space. When our rooms were built, we we given space for 24 students but I have had up to 28 which required some creative "cubby-ing". The students keep all their supplies on their own shelf, boots below and coats in the middle. I like how they are hidden from the door so if it gets messy over there, no one, besides us, knows.

This year I put my Guided Reading/small group table in the cubby area. No one is at the cubbies during teaching time and so this should work out great - if I can stand the smell of gross winter boots long enough to sit there.

This is the cleaning station and the drinking fountain and the pencil area. I love having a fountain in my room but I have to have rules otherwise there are people walking there ALL THE TIME and I hate when people wander. I just wish the water was colder. Washing up for lunch is a cinch since we have a sink. While some students wash the others are working. Saves a lot of time. I sharpen a ton of pencils each day. I don't allow students to sharpen at all and no sharpening happens during class time. If their pencil is dull or breaks, they drop it in the "Dull" can and grab a new one from the "Sharp" can. It works great.

This is MY space. My desk, teaching guides and small file cabinet are right here. I love it right near the window for sunlight or fresh air but I can also keep an eye out at the door and the room. My office is heavenly. It is used for testing by our para pros but also holds A LOT of storage. I can also redo my hair in there and no one cares that I spray hairspray everywhere. There is a desk in there and a VERY comfy office chair, too. I have been known to spread a blanket out during uncheck and take a little power nap.

In our school, we are required to post objectives for Math, Reading/Language, Science, and Art each day. They must be written for students to understand and evaluate. This year I have taken more space and made an Objective Board. At the beginning of each class, I refer to the objectives and let the students know what our goals are. Then, at the end we evaluate together to see what we have accomplished and what we need to work on. I really like it but it has taken a long time to get in the habit of it.

My working board is low and easy for students to write on. I love that there is plenty of space right here for floor work. I can also post our working vocabulary and refer to it easily. 

That's the tour. It seems a lot bigger in pictures than in real life. I like this room. It is uncluttered and clean - at least until the kiddos arrive in two weeks.