I've been back in my classroom more frequently the past few days. I've really transformed it (and I have photos to prove it!). I mentioned in a previous post that I'm completely changing the setup of my room. Last year was my first year in this district and I was an add-on classroom. I didn't inherit ANYTHING. So when I was setting up my room last year I didn't know what furniture I was going to have (it came throughout the summer, and some of it even arrived after school started). This year I know exactly what I have and I kept a lot of notes about what did and didn't work last year.
The first major change is that I moved my meeting area to the corner opposite the door. This way I can see who is coming in and out (I couldn't last year) but the children will have their backs to the door and will be less distracted. Another benefit of this is that I have a lot more wall space now to set up my calendar and all the other morning meeting materials we need.
Here you see my favorite poster of all time! Its such an old poster of Rules for Good Listening, but 7 years ago I got this from another teacher. He put a name tag on the desk in the picture, and Gab was born. Gab sits by the meeting area and helps remind the kids how to sit properly and to do their best listening. Gab has become like another member of my class and the kids really take him seriously. We even sometimes have 'Gab contests' to see who can sit the most like him!
I also moved my small-group table and my computer. Last year whenever the phone rang I had to leap over tables and shelves to get to it before I missed the call (and had to then hear my name called over the intercom for the whole school to hear). I decided to move my computer by the telephone and connect it to the small group table. It's right next to the meeting rug. I think I like it. (Pictures soon!)
Here is my ABC/quiet work space. Do you like my Chicka Chicka tree? I got it here. I was lucky. It was on sale the day I went!
I put a lot of my ABC and Sight Word games up high on a shelf. I can pull down select games and add them to the lower shelves for student access whenever we start studying a different topic. I hope this will help the kids stay on task during workboard time.
I read Debbie Diller's book Math Work Stations this summer. I LOVE the book. It's a wonderful resource for ideas to supplement your core math program. I'm going to give her management system a try this year too. I don't know why I didn't think of this? It's the same workboard system we use for Reader's Workshop!
I started by cleaning and purging my math materials. I labeled them and organized them into one central place. Then I set up the work stations area. I put numbers on each box and on each cubby on the shelf for easy clean-up. Since my shelf isn't that large and cannot accommodate larger containers, I put numbered folders that can hold any papers or books needed for each station. I'm still not done putting supplies on the math shelf. I have a bunch of things at home that I got over the summer that will fill the bottom shelves.
I'll have more pictures soon. I'm nearly done setting up so I'll be able to focus on planning. Eventually I'll be able to post some of the planning templates that I made.
