Saturday, August 25, 2012

Classroom Pictures 2012-2013

My classroom is finally done! Hahaha...is a classroom ever really done? No.  However, I'm at least ready to show you what my new group of first graders will see on Monday morning.  This is my home away from home...
I chose to go with a polka dot theme but limit my colors.  I attempted to keep black as my base with my colors being blue, green, and pink.      
This is the view from my classroom door. 

...and this is the view if you turn a little bit to the right :)

This is the center of  my room...my carpet area.

Here you see our listening center and carpet area that is in front of the Promethean Board.  On the back wall  you see my word wall and word family posters.

This is the back area of my room.  Our CAFE board and math vocabulary board. 
If you look close, I have another carpet area in the back left of the room.  This is where my classroom library is.  You can also see my assistants desk in the corner and our classroom hooks.  I'm not sure how I didn't get a better picture of this area.  

I'm diving in this year with CAFE! So excited. 


Our morning calendar area.  The 2 column graph will be part of our morning routine. It will work as a yes/no graph. Above the board I have my classroom numbers.  You can find those HERE

To the right of our calendar I have my literacy station choices on a magnetic board.  If you look close on the top left square you see one clothespin.  I plan to write class names on each clothespin and move the clothespins around as needed.  Since everything clips or is magnetic, I think this will help me make changes easier than in the past. 

Our school will be studying one country each month this year and this "culture corner" will represent some of the things we are learning.   Additionally, I am so excited to be participating in a post card exchange and this area will also be used for that. 

This cute little bookshelf was a beast to put together! It will be home to my desk supplies and lesson plans.  Once again, I have ditched the big teacher desk and will be using my small group table. 

I was trying to see the view from the eyes of my first graders when I took this picture.  My favorite part of this area is my new polka dot cushion  for my wicker chair.  To the left I have my birthdays displayed. You can grab them for FREE HERE

This is home to our clipboards.  Each student has one.  After school gets started and our routines are in place, I allow a lot of movement when working.  Students take their clipboards and are allowed to find an alternate spot in the room to work.  This worked well for me last year.  It's amazing the ones who you think would not be able to handle such freedom, they are the ones who find a spot and work the hardest. 

I really just wanted to show off my cute bow on my student folders :) Janah from Door Decor by Janah makes all my bows because she loves me :).  If you haven't checked her out you must!

I found black and white contact paper and used it to cover this paper organizer.  Before it was multi-colored.  I really didn't feel like painting anything else and I think the contact paper worked great!

My craft drawers.  I plan to make cute labels for each drawer that say "create", "dream", and "inspire". 

These are my crate seats from last  year.  I recovered them with this fun black and white print.  Quick Tip: I just placed new fabric over the old...there really wasn't a need to pull off the old fabric.  I think the whole makeover took about 15 minutes. 


My wicker chair and polka dot cushion.  

Culture Corner...see the flag? Someone put it there. It wasn't me...really! I can't figure out who it was.  They staged it nicely didn't they? 

This is the sign outside my classroom.  Created by none other than Janah at Door Decor by Janah

This is a bow on a lamp...I'm telling you, a few simple bows make all the difference. 

My leveled readers.  I used old boxes from IKEA from last year.  They were a little beaten up so I covered them with black Duck Tape and I think they should last for at least one more year. 


This is home to my listening station.  My headphones are in the round green containers and the books for the listening station are in the bottom 2 containers.


This is my work area. I also covered the top counter with black and white contact paper.  I even made the mailboxes myself.
I have drawers for each month. In these drawers, I put the items used in that particular month that really don't fit in a folder or notebook.  I have used this type of storage for 3+ years and it's the best way I have found for random items...butterfly net, bells, large craft templates, play props etc...

This is my new beautiful carpet from Lakeshore! I know it doesn't match even a little bit but it's new, and it's mine, and I adore it.  More than that, I am pumped that each student will have their own space that they can actually see.

My pencil cups (sharp & dull) and my storage drawers (scissors, glue, dice, cubes, makers, colored pencils).

Pencil cups.

This is the view of my small group table/desk area.

As we learn the sounds that letter combinations make, I post the visual in the room and we read these daily just like we read our word wall.  You can find these sound circles HERE

This is how I display our daily specials.  



My table baskets.  You can read more about them HERE if you would like. 

These containers hold my teacher read alouds.  If you follow me on Facebook, these are the containers I was searching for from Dollar General.  As you can see there is still one missing at the time the picture was taken.  The easiest way I have found to sort books that I know I will need to read and/or teach with, is by month.  It's not a perfect organization system, but it allows me to put my hands on the book around about the time I need it.

Daily baskets. "I need more time.", "I'm finished.",  "Daily Sentence Editing", and "Daily Math Journals".  After I check over the daily journals, they go right back to the basket and are ready for the next day.  Check out both links - practicing these skills each day makes a huge difference. Promise!

This is a close up of my word wall and word families.  You can find these alphabet letters HERE

I hope you enjoyed this tour of my room. I would love your feedback :) 

Here are your quick links:
Polka Dot Alphabet {Black and White}
Sound Circles {Blue and Green}
Scallop and Poklka Dot Alphabet and Number Line
Polka Dot on Black Alphabet
Polka Dot Birthday {Black and White}

32 comments:

  1. super cute. Where did you find the awesome contact paper?

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  2. Do you have a printable for your specials chart! I love it!
    Thanks
    Danielle

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  3. Love it!! Your room looks wonderful!


    Aimee
    aimee@vanmiddlesworth.org
    Pencils, Books, and Dirty Looks

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  4. It looks great! I love your new carpet!!!!

    Amy
    Krazy About Kiddos

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  5. Your room looks great!

    Kara
    Spedventures

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  6. Looks good!!! I know what you mean by 'Home away from home". Sometimes I think my classroom is more organized than my own home! I even clean my classroom more than my home. lol!!! Too funny!! Love it!! Stephanie

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  7. Love your classroom! So cute! My favorite part is the culture corner. I'm big on incorporating different cultures in my teaching.

    Check out my new blog! First freebie coming tomorrow!
    Pixy Stix and Teacher Tricks

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  8. So cohesive!!! I'm jealous of that. :) Your room looks great and your students are going to love it when they walk in. I am going to check out those learned letter combos now. I've been wanting them but lacked the motivation to make my own.

    Brenda


    You Might Be a First Grader...

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  9. Everything looks fantastic!!!
    Elizabeth

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  10. Your classroom looks great! I don't have a teacher desk either and I love it! I love how you used the IKEA boxes! Great idea!

    Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher

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  11. I love the way everything goes together :) There are so many great resources on the walls for your students!

    Jenny
    Luckeyfrog's Lilypad

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  12. I love how you have some square and some circular tables. Everything is so well organized and decorated. I would love this room as a student!

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  13. Yes! Would love to "borrow" your Specials chart! So cute!!! And maybe they would stop asking if I had that display... :)

    Thanks!
    JennyB
    One Berry Blog

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  14. Oh my goodness! Your room looks great! I love how everything is organized!

    A Pirates Life for Us

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  15. Looks wonderful! I like the idea of covering your paper organizer with contact paper. I'm going to use that idea for my student mailboxes!

    Sara :)
    Smiling In Second Grade

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  16. Your room looks amazing! I love all of the polka dots. I have polka dots in my room too! =)

    Did you see the polka dot stuff at Dollar General? They were on the same aisle as the book tubs. They had some cute boxes. =)

    Heather
    Heather's Heart

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  17. Amazing! Your room looks amazing! I know your first graders feel cozy and excited about learning in your learning space.Thanks for sharing.

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  18. This is how your classroom looks like? Wow! It’s wonderful! Your first-grade students will definitely become more motivated to study. Kids love to have this kind of environment! You make them learn in a fun and exciting way. What I love most is the carpet that you have. It’s visually appealing! The kids would love to go in that area, and just by sitting there, they will be able to memorize the alphabet. Nice one!

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  19. I agree with Leigh. The carpet really is a great addition to the room. It’s attractive, fun, and educational. Just be sure to clean it often, since dust might linger there and cause health problems to the kids in your class.

    Brain Ventris

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  20. I have been searching for cute CAFE headers! Do you sell yours in your TPT shop? Please let me know how I can get them! I decorated my classroom with lime and blue & pink with black backgrounds. Super cute ideas! 22.lrosloniec@nhamail.com

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  21. Beautiful classroom! I'm getting so many ideas for next year. Do you have your pencil and storage bin labels for sale? It's nice that they have the pictures on them. Thanks!

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  22. I think I have just found the answer to a serious problem. What to do with student work that is not finished?!?!! You know most of the time they shove it in their desk (black hole) and it's never seen again. I'm going to try the turn in baskets. I especially like the one "need more time." I'm so glad I found your blog.

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  23. wow! I am so impressed with your creativity! I am returning to the classroom after not having "my own classroom" for awhile, so, I really appreciate your sharing of such great ideas! I just joined TPT and know I will visit it often through the year! Thank you so much!

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  24. Randi,

    I found your sound board on Pinterest and I LOVE it! I will definitely be doing that this next year. It is a great visual for the little ones. Thanks for sharing! :) I love your room.

    Mrs. Thompson
    Adventures in Teaching (A First Grade Blog)

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  25. I love your room! Where did you get your shelf and plastic storage containers for glue, scissors and cubes? I have been looking for one!! Thank you!

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  26. Where did you get your shelf and plastic storage containers for the supplies? The classroom looks great!

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  27. How long does these product last? Ie the student tubs? I did something like that and it didn't last the whole year

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  28. The darling circle labels w glue, scissors, etc..where can I purchase those? Love them!

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  29. I'd love to know where to get those adorable circle labels, too :-)

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  30. Love your classroom! Great ideas! Where did you find the storage tower for your supplies ie. scissors, glue, dice, etc?

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  31. Is there a link where I can purchase/download the sharp and dull pencil labels? Your room looks great:)

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