Classroom Project Progress

Happy August, friends.  August is the month of back-to-school here in Iowa, so here's a little re-cap of the progress made in my home away from home - Room 91.

Earlier this week I spent another day in my classroom checking things off my master to-do list.  We go back to work one week from today for a few in-services before students join us on the 14th.  With each project I complete, I get more excited to have my new fifth-sters in my room - I hope they will enjoy being in this room as much as I do!  :)

I have really enjoyed making as much as I can for my room rather than buying everything or handwriting all of my labels - I'm by no means an expert, but I am liking the way it's turning out.

This is on my front white board.  When there is work time in my room, I will put up the cards of approved activities for them to work on when they are finished with the assigned task.  So far I only have 8 tasks, but I like that I can make more if I need to!  So easy, insert a square shape on a word or powerpoint document, insert your text box, clipart if you want it - print in color, cut out, back on card stock, laminate and slap a magnet on the back = EASY PEASY.  :)

Last summer I decided to make the switch to fabric on my bulletin boards - hello, best decision of my life.  {Kevin says I exaggerate, I have no idea what he's talking about...} Anyway, I really have loved the dark fabric with bright colors.  It makes everything pop.  I also feel really lucky to have one accent wall in my room - all classrooms in our building have one wall that is painted a color (green, yellow, orange, purple, or blue) - it really adds a lot to the room. 

This is my side whiteboard and it has housed 3 different things during the 3 years I've been in this classroom - but I think the 3rd one is the charm.  I basically re-created a big page out of my kid's planners - each section is a different subject and we will fill out our "planners" together as the day goes on.  I'm hopeful that this will allow for accountability for the kids and we will be able to scaffold throughout the year so they will be able to do this with increasing independence by the end of the year so they will be ready for 6th grade {and life!}

I found this on a blog or something a long time ago and I wish I knew where so I could give them credit.  I changed it up a bit so it fit the language we use in our classroom and then made it in my classroom colors.  I uploaded it to Vistaprint {LOVE} and it came in the mail a week later.  It hangs in the back of my room and serves as a reminder to the kids, but more importantly to me - I need reminders that we do a LOT more than just learn to read and do math from time to time.  :)

This is my back table and our mail station.  It's not a great picture, but here we go: the mailboxes are shoe organizers from Target.  They were expensive {$25 each maybe?} however I bought them my first year teaching, I use them every single day, and they're still going strong - so they were definitely worth the money in my opinion.  My philosophy with most things - but my classroom specifically - is to be as frugal as possible and only splurge on things you are confident will last for a LONG time and be used frequently.  You can see two of my labels on the wall pointing down to the two baskets - one is the "in basket" which is where kids turn in notes to me, office, etc.  One is the "outgoing mail" basket.  I put corrected papers or anything that needs to go home in there and then whoever has a moment (a kid done with work, a para-educator in my room or myself) just puts the papers in each student's numbered mailbox.  It works for me.  On the side of the table are two other baskets (one is for turned in homework and the bottom is for missing homework forms) and then a basket of highlighters because my kids have to highlight their name on all assignments prior to turning them in.

Each Friday my students have Responsibility Recess for the last 15 minutes of school.  It is a privilege and not a right, which serves as a nice little piece of bribery throughout the week.  Students lose Responsibility Recess for not turning in work on time or making inappropriate choices repeatedly throughout the week.  I am admittedly terrible at remembering who has lost Responsibility Recess throughout the week and I needed something to help me out.  *Enter this little gem.*  Each student has a number (lovingly created and cut out by my friend Allie - she's AMAZE-BALLS) - when they lose their RR, their number (which is a magnet) will be taken off and put on the back.  One look at this frame and I will know immediately who owes me time during Responsibility Recess.  Problem Solved.  Awesome.

This corner is in serious need of a little TLC, but I took the picture to show you another splurge I made for my room.  That lamp is excellent.  It matches the colors of my room perfectly and is exactly what I've been looking for.  I spend a lot of time with my kids around this space whether it's teaching mini-lessons, reading aloud to them, or having class meetings so I wanted it to be cozy and fun.  I'm going to move that poster up a bit so it's not blocked and then I have a few other posters to put up in the blank space above the table.  I'll have to take an "after" shot.  Because probably nobody but me cares - but whatever.  :)

Alright, I think that's it for today.  I'm off to spend more fun time with Sam, Maicey & Kaitlyn today.  I hope you all have an amazing day!