Sorry I’m so late in my classroom reveal this year, been awful busy. Anyway, this school year I wanted a new look. A new “rockin” look! I spent a lot of time and money focusing on the layout of my classroom. My big summer goal was to revamp my classroom library. Last year it was organized and functional, but was not as inviting as I would have liked. Your class library should be the focus point of your room and should make students want to go grab a book and read! My layout last year had my library by the door and on the hard tile floor. Not at all what I wanted, but I had limited space and no other options last year. This year I moved all of my computers to the others side of the classroom, got rid of bulky furniture that I no longer needed, and Opened up tons of floor space. I ended up moving my library to the center of my room and now looks SO INVITING! Here is a look at the new reading space.
I used the organization library labels from Maria Monroe at Kinder Craze to sort all of my class books. Each book in the bin has the matching picture so it’s easy for students to put away their books. They just have to match the picture on the back of the book with the picture on the bin. Simple as can be! I can’t wait to see how much time this saves me, since I won’t have to constantly put books away and organize them. I also bought a rug so students no longer have to sit on the hard floor, but instead can sit or lay out on the comfy rug. There are also three bean bag chairs and pillows that students can cozy up in and read a good book!
My next goal for the summer was to redo my computer area. Last year my computers were sitting 3 on one table and 3 on the other facing each other. It took up so much floor space this way and I couldn’t see what all my kids were doing on the computers at all times. So this year, I have all computers lined up and facing the wall, to open space and allow me to quickly monitor my student computers from a glance. I also added computer expectations and rules above with my new product Computer Rules Classroom Display.
For my word wall this year, I decided to place it on my back wall in between the windows. This is a great place for it, so all students are able to see it. I am in love with the black backdrop, and the bright neon colors popping on the wall. I also love how one of my students told me that it would be helpful if I pointed out what letters are vowels, so I ended up putting a star on the corner of the vowel big pictures for student future reference.
On the wall out in the hallway, I decided to go a little simpler this year, since it would only be out there for open house night and a week or two after. I took old records, and push pinned them into the wall, they actually spin in place! Then I ordered two decorative plastic rockstar backdrops from Oriental Trading for the sides.
My math wall this year has Tunstall’s STACK GUided Math posted. I also used Maria Monroe’s Domino Number Cards 0-20 to go around the top and down the side. I kept up my addition strategies cards from last year and moved my 100’s chart over to the math wall. Now that all of my math resources are in one place, it is much easier for students to look for information and tools they need.
I also printed and made new magnets for my students. Each student gets assigned a number for the year, and every time they leave the room individually they can mark where they are leaving to. This makes tracking where my students are at, at all times, very simple and quick. (I also make putting the stars back in order at the end of the day, and straightening up a bit, a class job. I call it my board cleaner job!)
For student birthdays, I used A Star Was Born by Bubbly Blonde on TpT. I edited my students birthdays on music themed labels and then placed each students name under their birthday month. I love this quick and easy reference display. I placed it by my computers, because student birthdays are their passwords for logging in. How handy! When it is a student’s birthday, I give them a birthday card that we sign as a class, a Laffy Taffy stick on a guitar cutout, and a small inflatable guitar!
Open House Night was an epic success this year. My classroom was very organized. I learned so much from last year, that I felt this year it went as smooth as possible. I set up different centers in a clockwise direction for students/parents to follow. First, they picked up a student handbook. I created this flipbook with any and all information possible for my parents to have handy throughout the school year. Then students and parents, found their seat and looked through their ROCKSTAR Binders. Next, they put their community supplies into labeled bins. Third, they filled out a transportation sheet, that tells how students get home each day of the week. I have this available for free here, just click on the picture below. Fourth, I made a class wish list and put different items on guitar pick cutouts. If parents could, they took a wish list item to bring in at their earliest convenience. Last, they gut a treat (Pop Rocks, that said “This year is going to ROCK!”) and made sure to say hello to me before they left.
Enjoy and Happy Teaching!
