This Year's Classroom Tour

Well, here it is...the last day of the year.  I have been sitting with beginning classroom reveal pics on my phone for about five months.  This school year has been crazy busy.  (But really, aren't they all?)
Before school starts back from winter break.  I wanted to show you this year's classroom design and layout.

We'll start with view for the door as soon as you walk in.   My classroom is pretty small and there is not much wall space (curse you accordion curtain wall).  I have to be smart how I use every square inch of my class.
We have desks and chairs.  However, throughout the day students have the flexibility to work away from their desks.  They often choose to work in the floor with clip boards and cushions.

Also, as you enter my room I have some bookcases that serve as a big part of my storage.  My sweet mom (bless her heart) sewed all of these curtains to hide the supplies on the shelves.  (I found the fabric at Hobby Lobby and I bought the chalkboard from Pottery Barn Kids.)

 By the way, if you are interested in making custom pennant banners for your own classroom, click here.

My teacher desk was a new addition this year.  I was completely inspired by School Girl Style's design for a colorful classroom.  (You can click here to check out Melanie's post.)  My favorite part of the post was the teacher desk.
I scouted out this desk at a local antique shop.  I painted it white and added the tassel bunting.  I loved how it turned out.
Since the bunting is made out of tissue, I was afraid that it wound not be durable enough for my classroom.  But, I'm happy to say that half way through the year, it is still perfectly intact.

For some extra storage, I grabbed this metal cart at Target.  I used various sized jars to house some supplies.  I made a file out of this cute tote (that I also found at Target).

To make the tote into a file.  I added file rails, which can be found at any business supply store.  I also added some hanging files.  Since it's so easy to access, I keep my copies for the week in this file tote.

About eight months ago, I got an interactive whiteboard in my classroom.  So, our magnetic whiteboard is (sort of) serving a new purpose.  I still use it to write on.  But, I also use about a third of it to display our calendar (click here to learn how I made a custom calendar) and some anchor charts.

I made these magnetic clips to hold the anchor charts.  I bought these clips at Target's dollar spot.  I hot glued some magnet strips on the back.  It was a super easy project.

Another new addition to this year's class set up is a word wall.  I haven't had a word wall in several years.  I decided to give it another try.  But, unlike my old word wall, I wanted one customized to my classroom colors.

I made this simple watercolor word wall and coordinated it with my library labels.  

The classroom library was another newish addition this year.  Of course I've always had a class library.  However, this summer, I decided to reorganize my library and level it.
(To read more about my classroom library redo, just click here.)

If you would like a free set of my leveled library labels, click here.

I do a lot of instructing at our gathering area.  I have a easel on wheels (not pictured) that I use for teaching lessons at our gathering area.  I find, students listen better when they are physically closer to their teacher.
Some other tools in my gathering area are my Apple TV and my interactive whiteboard.

I found my polka dot rug and pompom pillow at Pottery Barn Teen.  The slipper chair and red cabinet are from Target.

Also, in my gathering area are two small magnetic whiteboards I use to display class jobs and our agenda for the day.

The final stop on my class tour is the main storage hub in my classroom.  I have these three huge wheeled cabinets.  Judging from their original color, they are probably from the mid-70's.  I painted them and arranged them to make a faux closet for extra storage.
I keep all sorts of things in (on and behind) these cabinets, including all of my monthly math and literacy centers.
I used the same clips that I magnetized for the whiteboard and hot glued them to the cabinets to display student work.  Like I said before, I am very limited on wall space.  Adding the clips turned these cabinets into great place to show off students' work.

Teachers and students spend so much time at school.  It's really important to create a space that is functional and organized.  The biggest tip I can give you as you think about your classroom design is, don't be afraid to get rid of things.  Often times, less is more.

There you have it, my classroom reveal.  Better late than never. ;)
Have a happy New Year!

Make a Custom Banner for Your Classroom

I just wrapped up a huge classroom redecorating project last night (two days before our new school year started).  I'm not going to lie, there was lots of painting, reorganizing, and obsessing over various elements in the classroom.  There is a reason I do not redecorate very often, it's a lot of work.  Plus, it can be expensive.
One way I saved a little money was by making my own pennant banners.  I love the way they look and (as it turns out) are super simple to make.

Here's what to do...

First, decide what colors you want your banner.  I went with watercolor shades of rainbow colors.  I used digital paper, instead of scrapbook paper or construction paper.  (That way the computer does all your measuring for you.)
You can find digital paper online for free.  I got what I needed at teachers pay teachers.

After selecting your digital paper, insert a sheet on a power point slide.  (You can use any computer program that allows you to crop pictures into shapes).  I use power point for everything, so that's what I went with.

After placing the paper on the slide.  Crop it by selecting crop to shape and choosing the triangle (or whatever shape you want your banner to be).

After cropping the shape, it should look something like this:

You can adjust the size of your shape easily by setting the dimensions or dragging it to the size you want.

After creating all the shapes you need for your banner, print them.  Then laminate and cut them out.  After cutting all your shapes, punch two wholes for ribbon stringing purposes.

Next, string all the triangles onto a ribbon.

Once you've strung the triangles, you have an adorable custom banner for your classroom.

You can make your banner as long or short as you want.  You can make it with any colors or patterns you want.  You can even insert text or clip art.  These banners are really easy and fairly quick to make.  If you've been thinking about using this type of decoration in your classroom, you should definitely give making your own custom banner a try.

Have a great week.

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Customize Your Class Calendar (Plus a Calendar Math FREEBIE)

Calendar area in my classroom has gone through so many different  revisions.  I'm always looking for a way to display materials in a cohesive and organized way.    My current calendar was inspired by the supremely creative Babbling Abby at The Inspired Apple.
Last year she posted a painted canvas calendar she was using in her home school classroom.  I loved the idea, so over Christmas break, I stocked up on canvases, black paint, and velcro and then went to work.  (My daughter loved it so much she helped me make a canvas calendar for her playroom).

To make a canvas calendar, paint your canvas any color(s) you would like.  Do a little measuring to create the lines.  Print and laminate your calendar pieces.  Then add velcro rounds to the back of the calendar pieces and the canvas.  You can also add mini clothes pins for additional display options.

 I decided to add additional components to my calendar area.  I created a 120 chart.  Of course, all of the numbers are attached with velcro which makes it is easy to remove them to do various 120 chart activities.

I used small goodie boxes to make holders for the number of days straws.  We track the number of days in each month on the tally canvas.  I found dry erase paper in the scrapbook paper section at Hobby Lobby.  I used the dry erase paper on the calendar (numerical date) and on the tally mark canvas.

 Two of the canvas serve as focus areas.  There is a math focus canvas and a reading focus canvas.  There is enough space for a couple of anchor charts on each canvas.  When the anchor charts come down, they go in binders that students can look through for review.

I use touch math with my students.  I have the touch numbers in my calendar area for easy reference.  If you are interested in a free set of these touch number posters, click here.

Some of the materials I use are not posted.  I keep a tote on the shelf under the calendar that holds additional calendar pieces, a model clock, demonstration coins, pointers, calendar instructions for a substitute, and more.

There you have it, the calendar set up in my classroom.  Using the canvases made it so simple to create a set of materials that all go together.  The canvases are light weight and easy to mount.  Since I'm using a bulletin board, I just used several thump tacks and a little hot glue to hang everything.  If you don't have one long bulletin board, I'm sure they would be just as easy to hang on other surfaces.
This project was well worth the effort.  I love that I have the flexibility to customize the display to best suit my students and to make it work in my space without looking too cluttery.

In addition to the classroom calendar area, my students also get independent practice with various calendar math skills using our monthly Calendar Connection booklets.  Each month students complete interactive printables covering calendars, counting, number representations, coins, time, graphing, word problems, place value, and more.  If you are interested in using my Calendar Connection packet with your own students, you can try it out with my Calendar Connection {A FREE Sampler}.  
The free sampler is a great snap shot of the full Calendar Connection.  You can find both packets at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Happy Monday!

Classroom Organization Blog Hop (Organizing Centers and Student Choice)

There is just something about the weeks after the holidays, I am in total organization mode.  I think it's mainly because of all the new stuff that enters my life for Christmas.  I really feel the need to clean out and organize, both at home and at school.  Now is the perfect time for Primary Powers' Organization Blog Hop.

I'd like to share a few details about how I organize the literacy and math centers in my classroom.

There are so many ways to successfully organize learning centers in the classroom.  There are totes, buckets, bags, and bins to provide homes for centers.  There are schedules on pocket charts,  clipboards,  smart boards, and on posters to help students know where they need to be.

There is not just one perfect way to organize learning centers.  However, I have an effective way to organize learning centers and to give students CHOICE at the same time.

Two words . . .  center cards.  Center cards are my key to organizing centers and allowing students choice.  

Basically my centers are housed in clear plastic shoe boxes.  In each box you will find a bag with all the center cards and any other necessary materials.  The recording sheets are also in the box.  The last component is the center card.  

The center card has a list of all the students in my class and which center is in the box.  They are laminated so students can mark on them with dry erase markers.

I do not put lids on my boxes.  The center cards rest on top and make it very easy for the students to identify the center. 

Pictured below are my literacy centers.  I usually have 10 out at a time and change them monthly.  The center cards are labeled by letter.

When students complete centers, they mark through their names on the center card.  (As you can see, we are getting close to the end of the month.  Almost all the names are marked.)

Since students are keeping track of which centers they have completed, there is no reason for me to make a schedule.  They can see which ones they've completed and which ones are left to do based on the center cards.

My math centers run exactly the same way.  But, instead of being stored on shelves, I have them in a large cabinet.

Again, the boxes hold the center pieces and any other materials, as well as the recording sheet for the center.  For math centers, the cards are labeled with numbers and student names.

If you would like a FREE set of these center cards to try out with your own students, you can click on the picture below.  Even if you do not want to let go and allow students to choose their centers, these cards are a great visual for young learners to keep track of their accomplishments.

Thanks to the talented Ms. Cara Carroll at The First Grade Parade for the center card idea.  So simple and so effective. :)

Now, head over to Angela's blog to learn about how she organizes her library.

A Peek Inside My Class and Two Freebies for Yours

Back to school means many things to teachers.  Probably at the top of our lists is organizing and putting together our classrooms.  I always want my room in decent shape before I can even think about planning.

It dawned on me that I've never really shared pics from my classroom.  Each year I do some tweaking, editing, and rearranging.  These pictures reflect where I am today.  I'll live with it and probably make changes.  But for now, this is what my class is looking like . . .

Here is my new (and hopefully improved) calendar.  I relocated it to my magnetic whiteboard.  The actual calendar is from Carson Dellosa.  I liked the black background to go along with the chalkboard calendar piece I created.  It had a zebra trim on it that I cut off to better go with my decor.  

I'm also using a simple calendar connections daily packet to supplement the skills that are not on display on the calendar wall.

If you would like a FREE copy of the chalkboard calendar pieces to use in your classroom, click here.  

I also made a new alphabet to display above my whiteboard.  The cards also have a chalkboard theme.   (A link is at the bottom of this post.)

I incorporated more chalkboard elements this year because of this chalkboard I found on sale at Pottery Barn Kids.  It's learning on the wall at the entrance to my room, near the students' mailboxes.  I plan on using it for a Star Student display later in the year.  The tote bag has my recess goodies in it.

Here is a shot of my desk.  I have a lot of shelves behind it.  My school is pretty old and there's no built in storage, plus there is a (let's just say) not so attractive curtain wall.  So I've lined this wall with shelving for much need storage and to block some of my view of the curtain.

I do quite a bit of instruction at my gathering area.  Here you'll always find a basket of books for read aloud.  There is also a basket of pillows students can use during The Daily 5.  

I do not have a Smartboard in my class (insert frowny face).  However, I do have an Apple TV.  We do any work with the Apple TV at the gathering area.  My easel is also in this space.

Currently student work and some math anchor charts are hanging on my one large bulletin board.  Under the board is many of our Daily 5 supplies.  On the far end, in the canvas totes, is the Word Work activities.  The center shelf houses the students' book boxes (Multi Purpose bins from the Container Store).  The closest shelf has old school cassette players, personal cd players, and books on cassette and cd for Listen to Reading.

This is my class library.  The books students choose for their book boxes are in the clear totes (also Multi Purpose bins from the Container Store).  The top totes hold some of my book sets from small group reading activities.

In efforts free up some floor space, I did some editing this year and now only have two computers.  It is really important to have plenty of floor space during The Daily 5, math centers, and literacy centers.  I tried to plan so that my firsties could spread out.

The quilt hanging behind the computers was the jumping off point for the colors in my classroom.  I've had it for several years and still enjoy it.

Below are a couple of whole class pictures.  As you can see, I try to keep things pretty simple.  My goal is for the space to feel welcoming, calm, and organized.

I guess that's the end of today's tour.  If you would like a FREE copy of my class alphabet, you can click on the picture below.

*You can also click here for a D'Nealian version of this same alphabet. :)

I'll leave you with a couple of pics from some recent big days for our little family.

My daughter started first grade this year.  She is again blessed with a wonderful teacher.  

She turned 7 this week too.  We celebrated with a Fancy Nancy themed birthday party.  It was super glam and so fun.

I suppose that's it for now.  If you are still on summer break, enjoy.  If you are back to school already, best of luck with your year.
Thanks for stopping by.