Here is another post for IBHD :)
The only pictures I currently have of my classroom are from Open House, so my classroom is not always this well decorated. Honestly.. I am terrible at switching out student work on the walls, so if anyone has any suggestions or things that make it easier to switch student work I would like to hear them :)
My room is an odd shape. It is mostly like a square but then one of the back corners is chopped off where the other 3 classroom connect to form a separate room called a pod.
This is the wall you first see as you walk in. It's the monkey wall! As you can see through that window is where all four classrooms connect to form the pod. This board is very difficult to decorate because it goes so high, and my computers are usually located back here.
Next wall is where all my cabinets are. Also I have 3 sliding whiteboards which have shelves located behind them. These are the coolest things! One of the boards I have all the students names on magnets for missing assignments. Each subject has their own number and if that number is beside a name, that student knows they have a missing assignment. On another one I have my monthly calendar where I write events or important dates down.
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Then we move to the front of the classroom, where you can see my bookshelf for my library off to the right of the picture. I have purposely left a lot of space up front because this year I had many students who wore glasses, so I allowed them to come sit up front to take notes.
Here is my side whiteboard, which is beside my desk and behind my podium. It's very handy. This is where I write any announcements or homework for the day.
Here is my wonderful window outside with more cabinets underneath. This is the wall that gets switched out the most because it is the easiest. On the counter there are binders with the students writing... this past year I had an ephiany about their writing that gets hung up on the next board you will see. I decided that this year when I switch out their writing from the board I am going to assign students to put the papers in sheet protectors then put them in binders by the months/topics. Then when it's time for Open House I just have to pull out the binders and set on the counter for display!
Finally here is my back writing wall. On the left board I have colored cardstock paper stapled up with paperclips on them. Each paper has a student's number on it, that way they know if they're number is showing they are missing the assignment. Below that are my student cubbies... still trying to figure out how to keep those nice looking...
Since there were no pictures of my desk set up I'll explain it here. :) I was so excited to find this new way to set up the desk. My students are in groups of 6 but not the traditional way. They are in mini U shapes. Here's what it looks like
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So four students are facing front, and the other two are sideways. Since I have 33 students I had to push in the two sideways desk to keep a clear walk way, but it worked out well for the group. It made it easy for me to check on things because I would just go and stand in the middle of the U.
I am very excited about next year though... I'm switching over to tables!! This class wore me out with digging in desks, so I spoke to my principal about switching to tables and how I thought it would help with attention and organization. She agreed and is giving me tables. I'll have to wait until August to see them and set it up, but I know I'm going to have groups of four. :)
Well that's my classroom! I hope you enjoyed the tour!
