Classroom Tour

Welcome to my 2023 Classroom Tour. Who is ready to be back??? This is always like Christmas morning for me. I love being able to go back, start fresh, and take my time to organize and get ready for the year. Last year I had a camping/bear theme. I wanted to switch it up a bit without having to redo most of it. I decided to do black and white with a touch of lemons. The black and white are classic and I had already had that, the lemons brighten it up and for some reason put me in a happy mood.

Here is the video to get the full effect. Is it done? Is it ever? IYKYK right? I am always switching things up or adding amazing ideas that I find from fellow colleagues. That is such a fun part of our job! I will be going through certain sections and giving you the gist of they what and why behind it. Hopefully something inspires you for this upcoming year.

Entry

Walking in I wanted to decorate it, but also didn’t want to put too much educational items, because they can’t really access it during the day. I decided to put our achievements here. That way we can celebrate students, but also not have to stare at it all day. Especially those who are still working towards it.

I have always done sight word and shoe tying club! Sight words really unlock their reading in first, so knowing and learning heart/sight words are key! They get their name up on the board and a SMENCIL. For shoe tying club they get their name up on the board and get to spin the wheel for a prize. I HATE tying shoes. By first grade they are capable of tying their shoes if you teach them. I do not believe that is a teacher’s job, but I do offer practice shoes for them to practice on at school if they want.

A few years ago, a teacher posted on Instagram beautiful handwriting club to motivate her students to have nice penmanship. GENUIS! Once my students can consistently have nice handwriting, they get a special mechanical pencil and their name on the board. This year I am doing a student of the month. My schools in the past have done them, but my current one didn’t. Guess what? They just shared we would be doing it and I think it is great!! The picture frame is where their picture will go.

The metal paper sorter I have had for 9 years, and it is still in perfect condition. I put labels on it one year and regret it!! I mad nametags to cover it, and if they will stay taped it will be my favorite way yet!

Back Wall

Recently I made this life size 120 chart! I absolutely love this! Pulling them back during calendar time to teach patterns and place value. This can also be an early finisher activity.

I have a few boards to hang their work and the one in the middle that is low to the ground will have our phonics skill of the week. During the week they can write words they find or know that have that same spelling pattern. My students love this! The next week before I go over the new skill, we read each one and decide if they follow the skill or not! Each week we try to beat the number of words.

By my library I have scrapbook paper and paper clips to hold their work as well. I love to showcase and decorate my room with what they are doing each week. Next to the couch I have a basket of reading buddies.

On the other side of the couch is my calm down corner. This has some guides on the wall for calming techniques as well as a basket full of fidgets they can use to calm down before coming back to group. I let my students play with the fidgets during morning tubs, so they don’t want to go back there just to play.

Side Wall

On the top of my boards I have my SECRET STORIES. They have been one of my favorite teaching tools!! The first board is my writing wall. The 1-4 lemons will represent writing examples that we will go through, so they will know what the expectations are. The middle board is for math and the last board are types of sentences and the question mark will be filled in throughout the year with question words.

Front Of The Classroom

In the corner is my small group table with my materials behind me on the bookshelf. I have my alphabet and Secret Stories above my smart board. On the sides of my board are clips that I put our weekly posters on. Above my desk is our schedule, date, and our school rules. I have a blank board to the right that I will hang anchor charts on.

Next to that is my jobs board. The students love having jobs and I like the opportunity to give them the responsibility in class. I change them once a month and students know that if they aren’t doing their job, 3 strikes and you are out.

Door Side

Hanging on the door is a shoe organizer that I hot glued numbers into. This is where they will keep their headphones when not in use. On the cabinets I have their birthdays! I will take pictures of the students that have birthdays in that month and hang them up. More about birthdays and 1/2 birthdays HERE.

Welp there you have it! I still have a lot of work to do, and I love changing it to fit each class. Excited to start the new year! What is your favorite spot of your classroom?