A new year, a new start.
There is always something I'm revamping. My major change this year was my classroom library. I'm also planning on tweaking how I do reading instruction after I read the Book Whisperer this summer (and didn't do a great job with Daily CAFE last year). I will have to post about that another time.
So I figured I'd do a post about how I set up my classroom this year...
There is always something I'm revamping. My major change this year was my classroom library. I'm also planning on tweaking how I do reading instruction after I read the Book Whisperer this summer (and didn't do a great job with Daily CAFE last year). I will have to post about that another time.
So I figured I'd do a post about how I set up my classroom this year...
I updated my classroom website, which you can read about in this post, and posted a Tellagami video on the home page to welcome my new students (I sound dorky but was over another take). I currently only have the free app version. We'll see if I'm willing to pay for more features. The Gami is below. I'm also planning to use Google Classroom this year and already set up my first assignment.
Physical Classroom:
Back of the classroom:
The library area was redone this summer. (Insert sigh of relief!) You can see more detailed pictures and read about how I organized in this post.
Math board - Includes rotations chart, vocabulary, and "I can" statements. The long pocket under the rotations chart is simply a place to hold vocabulary strips I'm not currently using. Here's more about how I revamped my math centers.
All About Me Poster - I have students complete these posters at the beginning of the year. Then I pull one out each week to feature and students share. Afterwards, other students write letters to them.
Writing Advice Board - Our school uses some common vocabulary for the writing process, which is POWER (writing process) & CUPS (editing/revising), so I displayed them but with colored arrows noting the difference between revise & edit. The pencil cans hold blue and red colored pencils to mark revising and editing so students can see the difference on their papers. Underneath these posters, I put my tired word wall.
Reading Challenge/Book Review - After reading The Book Whisperer this summer, I decided to implement a reading challenge. I am only asking for a book review when they are done with the book to be placed in their baggies (which will have pictures on them along with how much of their goal they have hit so far on a book die cut). That way, other students can peruse their recommendations and I can have students share/recommend books weekly.
Economy System Board - (no student pictures with their jobs yet, but coming soon once students have their jobs): You can read about my economy system here. It's how I manage my class, provide responsibility, and more.
Student Work - This is the board I use to change out student work. It's on a ribbon because the board can't take staples. I had to staple gun everything on there. Since I don't have student work yet, I put up quotes in the mean time. The stars are simply laminated die cuts (so I can write their names on them) taped to a binder clip.
Math Curse Bulletin Board - To see a more detailed version of this board showing students how their teacher used math during the summer, see my post here.
Front of Room - Nothing super fabulous. My class motto is always up front and center though: "If there's a will, there's a way." My teacher computer and document camera are set up to the right of the SmartBoard.
Front of room teacher caddy - Ever need colors or scissors when working under the document camera? I decided to have a little caddy with all the supplies I would need right by my fingertips.
Student Desk Set Up - This year, they are not allowed to keep anything on their desks except this water bottle. Yes, even pencil boxes must be inside the desks. Keeping it clutter free... hopefully. Their names will be written directly on the desks with Sharpie Paint Pen, which can be removed with a black expo marker (rubbed on letters & wiped off) or hand sanitizer at the end of the year.
Work on Writing - Work on Writing activities I use are written in my original Daily CAFE post. I feel like this is a good board even if you don't use Daily CAFE (which I continue to reinvent). It's a good place for kids to go to when they say, "I'm done" during writing.
Morphology Board - This will be where we note the morphemes we are studying for the week, which is our spelling and vocabulary this year.
Class Constitution - Our three class rules are written constitutional style on the paper. The Bengal Way is our school-wide character trait focus, so I put it here too.
Computer/Laptop Area - Our school got rid of the desktops and in place we received hp laptops. So, the space is more, but I had to think of a charging station. I used a desk file holder to hold the haptops and had the charging cords numbered. All the cords are tightly wound and tied off bunder the desk near the power surge (picture below). The computer wall has a QR code to my classroom website and other tech bits/reminders.
Close up of the hp streams in our room. I ended up switching to this desk file since it was not tiered. The cords are held by these cable clips, which hold two per clip. The stickiness is great, so be sure you know where you want to have them taped down! I have not attempted to remove them yet.
Teacher Station - This is also nothing fabulous. I don't use this area much, but need a place to store files, resources, district items, and have a place to toss my junk because I'm too lazy to file it away right away. I like to keep a bulletin of class pictures from all my past years and post pictures of my family. The file trays to the right of the picture is probably the most helpful item in this area. I store all the needs of M-F in the according tray for the week.
Class Calendar - I feel long-term planning requires a visual. When you say something is a week or two away, it seems like forever! But when you talk about how there's the weekend, other events, etc., students (hopefully) start trying to plan ahead and not procrastinate (a theme we discuss year-long).
Hall Passes - The front and back of the bathroom passes are on a soap, not sanitizer, dispenser. For any office, nurse, or hall needs, I have a little smiling puppy as the pass. The tag on the toy has "Hall Pass" on one side and "Remember to smile at people when you see them" on the other.
Tips for 5th - At the end of every year, I have students write up survival tips for the incoming 5th graders. Then I take their picture and have them pretend to hold their list. It's a good display outside my room for incoming and past students.
Character Trait Door - I wanted to incorporate our school's character trait focus on our door since we review what they all mean in September before focusing on one or two in a month. So, since I titled it, "5th Grade Citizens Go Places," I had the name of mountains, streets, highways, & places named after the traits we focus on. The first week of school I plan to take pictures of the kids driving, hiking, sitting around the campfire, etc. to place them in various spots on the door.
And here is my beautiful boy helping me out in my classroom. Love him!!! Don't worry, it is an old laptop from years ago that 1) doesn't work and 2) the district didn't even want back.
Back of the classroom:
The library area was redone this summer. (Insert sigh of relief!) You can see more detailed pictures and read about how I organized in this post.
Math board - Includes rotations chart, vocabulary, and "I can" statements. The long pocket under the rotations chart is simply a place to hold vocabulary strips I'm not currently using. Here's more about how I revamped my math centers.
All About Me Poster - I have students complete these posters at the beginning of the year. Then I pull one out each week to feature and students share. Afterwards, other students write letters to them.
 |
| The pocket with four sections underneath is a "note taking" sheet for students who are listening to the speaker. They note similaries, differences, interesting facts, & questions into the according boxes as they listen. They use this sheet to help them write a friendly letter to the student afterwards. |
Writing Advice Board - Our school uses some common vocabulary for the writing process, which is POWER (writing process) & CUPS (editing/revising), so I displayed them but with colored arrows noting the difference between revise & edit. The pencil cans hold blue and red colored pencils to mark revising and editing so students can see the difference on their papers. Underneath these posters, I put my tired word wall.
Reading Challenge/Book Review - After reading The Book Whisperer this summer, I decided to implement a reading challenge. I am only asking for a book review when they are done with the book to be placed in their baggies (which will have pictures on them along with how much of their goal they have hit so far on a book die cut). That way, other students can peruse their recommendations and I can have students share/recommend books weekly.
Economy System Board - (no student pictures with their jobs yet, but coming soon once students have their jobs): You can read about my economy system here. It's how I manage my class, provide responsibility, and more.
Student Work - This is the board I use to change out student work. It's on a ribbon because the board can't take staples. I had to staple gun everything on there. Since I don't have student work yet, I put up quotes in the mean time. The stars are simply laminated die cuts (so I can write their names on them) taped to a binder clip.
Math Curse Bulletin Board - To see a more detailed version of this board showing students how their teacher used math during the summer, see my post here.
Front of room teacher caddy - Ever need colors or scissors when working under the document camera? I decided to have a little caddy with all the supplies I would need right by my fingertips.
Student Desk Set Up - This year, they are not allowed to keep anything on their desks except this water bottle. Yes, even pencil boxes must be inside the desks. Keeping it clutter free... hopefully. Their names will be written directly on the desks with Sharpie Paint Pen, which can be removed with a black expo marker (rubbed on letters & wiped off) or hand sanitizer at the end of the year.
Work on Writing - Work on Writing activities I use are written in my original Daily CAFE post. I feel like this is a good board even if you don't use Daily CAFE (which I continue to reinvent). It's a good place for kids to go to when they say, "I'm done" during writing.
Morphology Board - This will be where we note the morphemes we are studying for the week, which is our spelling and vocabulary this year.
Class Constitution - Our three class rules are written constitutional style on the paper. The Bengal Way is our school-wide character trait focus, so I put it here too.
Computer/Laptop Area - Our school got rid of the desktops and in place we received hp laptops. So, the space is more, but I had to think of a charging station. I used a desk file holder to hold the haptops and had the charging cords numbered. All the cords are tightly wound and tied off bunder the desk near the power surge (picture below). The computer wall has a QR code to my classroom website and other tech bits/reminders.
Close up of the hp streams in our room. I ended up switching to this desk file since it was not tiered. The cords are held by these cable clips, which hold two per clip. The stickiness is great, so be sure you know where you want to have them taped down! I have not attempted to remove them yet.
Teacher Station - This is also nothing fabulous. I don't use this area much, but need a place to store files, resources, district items, and have a place to toss my junk because I'm too lazy to file it away right away. I like to keep a bulletin of class pictures from all my past years and post pictures of my family. The file trays to the right of the picture is probably the most helpful item in this area. I store all the needs of M-F in the according tray for the week.
Class Calendar - I feel long-term planning requires a visual. When you say something is a week or two away, it seems like forever! But when you talk about how there's the weekend, other events, etc., students (hopefully) start trying to plan ahead and not procrastinate (a theme we discuss year-long).
Hall Passes - The front and back of the bathroom passes are on a soap, not sanitizer, dispenser. For any office, nurse, or hall needs, I have a little smiling puppy as the pass. The tag on the toy has "Hall Pass" on one side and "Remember to smile at people when you see them" on the other.
Tips for 5th - At the end of every year, I have students write up survival tips for the incoming 5th graders. Then I take their picture and have them pretend to hold their list. It's a good display outside my room for incoming and past students.
Character Trait Door - I wanted to incorporate our school's character trait focus on our door since we review what they all mean in September before focusing on one or two in a month. So, since I titled it, "5th Grade Citizens Go Places," I had the name of mountains, streets, highways, & places named after the traits we focus on. The first week of school I plan to take pictures of the kids driving, hiking, sitting around the campfire, etc. to place them in various spots on the door.
 |
| Door with students in the various character trait areas. |
Parent Volunteer Bin - I love that parents can prep work for me knowing where I leave items and where to place them when they are done. That way, if they walk in during a lesson, it is not interrupted.
And here is my beautiful boy helping me out in my classroom. Love him!!! Don't worry, it is an old laptop from years ago that 1) doesn't work and 2) the district didn't even want back.
