My Superhero Classroom 2015 and Ready For Meet The Teacher Night!

I found some awesome ideas on Pintrest/a blog for meet the teacher night! It really helped me get organized! Here we go! 

During Meet The Teacher Night, I had my class web page up on the smart board to show the kids and parents what was there. It was nice to show the kids while parents were filling out paperwork.

I am really happy with the way my room arrangement worked out. Every year my co-workers come into my room and they swear it is bigger than the rest but it isn't. It is just the way I lay out the room. The rugs help with creating 'areas' which makes the room seem bigger than it is. 

 Station 1 was where the kids would pick either a pink (girl) or blue (boy) sticky note where they wanted to sit and write their name on it. There was a info sheet on the students desk for the parents to fill out. Then I took them to Station 2 while mom and dad filled out the info sheet. 

I got the idea for the 3 drawer caddies on Pintrest! I loved the idea of having materials for math, spelling and other activities put away so they couldn't play with them, yet close enough to pass out quickly. 

My spelling word wall is my biggest project this year. I am using a new teaching method in spelling I learned in PD, which focuses on sounds. My word wall is by sounds and patterns instead of the alphabet. It is taking some getting used to for me!

Station 2 was on the table with the lamps. On this station I let the kids pick out a name badge (which has their name, emergency contact info and if they were bus, daycare or parent pick up) I use these for the first few weeks of school until I get it all down. 

Station 3 was along the wall I had paper grocer bags with a supply list stapled to it. The list was a custom list for my class the eliminated some unnecessary items from the district list and added more frequently used items in our classroom. 

One of my favorite things about this new arrangement is that somehow I have this huge area for my "mini kitchen" that I never used to have before. Its behind the chart, but it's nice. After all we need a mini fridge, microwave and plenty of teacher snacks!

Here is a closer shot of the desk caddies! Love this idea! 

Station 4 was on the round table. It had a packet with student names on them. Inside was a laminated business card with my class website, and all contact info, and a two page note explaining homework and expectations etc. This was a take home packet for parents to read since most parents have multiple teachers to visit they are short on time. 

Another School Year Another Room

It has proven difficult to keep up with this blog, my school website and school. Now I am adding graduate school this fall to the mix! I am excited to learn more, I love college! I am returning to grad school for my second master's degree, this one in reading. Looking forward I am considering a reading specialist position and who knows what lies ahead of that! I did not manage to post much at all this past school year except my room! I am not one of those bloggers who is coming up with new games or activities, not yet. I am a hard core pinner though and I get most of my ideas from Pintrest! Who doesn't love Pintrest! My room is my own creation inspired by others! So as we approach the new school year, which is weeks away, we have yet another theme this year! There is always something to keep us on our toes! This years theme is Superheros! I have big plans! I have learned so much each year about classroom design that you can see my room getting better every year and maybe a little more organized. This year will be no exception. Right now all I have is plans so I will share as things begin to be put together. A lot of new stuff is going on this year, new curriculum in some areas, new team members, new theme and we are starting interactive notebooks this year! I attended three workshops that have me ready to tackle word walls, interactive journals and spelling this year! More to come!

Summer is almost here!

Keeping up with a blog has proven to be difficult and almost impossible! This school year has been very challenging and there has been no time for new ideas. This summer I will have more time to blog and will be adding ideas for the new classroom theme for the next school year! The countdown to summer is on! Six weeks left!