My Classroom

Welcome to My Classroom!  This is my third year teaching a Young 5's class (similar to transitional kindergarten) and it's the third time I've changed rooms!  I enjoy planning where everything will go, setting up the room, and seeing it all come together.  I'm thrilled with the outcome this year so please come on in and take a look around!

The blank slate I started with...

Transformed into a wonderful classroom I love being in...

This room is the largest in my preschool so I'm VERY lucky to have all the space.  And I'm closest to the bathrooms!  Another plus!  If there's any downfall to the room, it's the fact there are three doors which open into three different hallways.  All these doors cost me some usable square footage but I enjoy the flexibility we have as we're coming and going throughout the day. 

Here's our Morning Meeting area and where we gather between activities.  The black and white dotted rugs from Ikea help to ground the space. I switched out my old calendar set for classic chalkboard decor that's been quite popular this school year.  I've used the teal dotted borders for a couple of years but wasn't ready to give them up yet so I decided to mix it with the chalkboard theme.  I love the contrast of the vintage look with the teal and have been very happy with the result.

The rocking chair was a yard sale find and I've got plans to paint it black and maybe add a colorful teal or red cushion to it. 

Here's a view from another doorway facing our Morning Meeting area.  To the left of the calendar board is the classroom library and our listening center.  To the right, you can see the teaching easel and our Question of the Day.  Click HERE to read how I incorporate the Question of the Day into our learning. 

Below you'll see my teacher table and Word Wall as I was starting to set up this area. 

And this is a look at how it turned out.  The Word Wall pennant banner was a favorite find from the Target Spot this summer!

To the right of the teacher table is our Alphabet Center and the Writing Center.

Math Centers are located along the wall near my teacher counter and supply cabinet. The empty baskets on the top shelf will soon have seasonal math activities. 

We all love the Art Center...

I'm happy with how adorable the color word cards turned out!  They're a Pete the Cat set from Teachers Pay Teachers that you can find HERE. Aren't they cute?

This double sided shelf houses the Block Center on one side... 

And the Science Center on the other...

I just realized I didn't take photos of the Lego table, sensory tub, Homeliving Center, or the Game Center.  Our Game Center is quite the hit since it's located in the classroom loft!  I will get some pictures of those areas and post an update at some point.

Oh, here's my fun Pete the Cat door! Of course, the idea was originally discovered on Pinterest but I'm pretty proud of how it turned out!

Thanks for visiting my classroom!

Ooops! It's Five for Fraturday!

Like every other teacher I know, my mind and body are going in a dozen different directions! Joining the Five for Friday party a day late but happy I can share a peek at my week!

Monday I went to my son's Curriculum Night.  He's a high school junior in his third year of French.  As the teacher rattled off information in French, I zoned out a little and simply enjoyed the décor of the classroom.   

 

It's officially preplanning so I spent the majority of this week working in my room.  It's still not done but here's a small glimpse where we'll have Morning Meeting. I added some chalkboard themed pieces this year but I kept my favorite teal dotted borders.  I really like how the teal pops against the black background and I love the simplicity of the alphabet line. It's all coming together! 

I was invited to lead a workshop at an Atlanta metro preschool on Friday. The staff of 38 teachers welcomed me with delight and excitement and hopefully left with ideas and inspiration.  We started with oodles of ways to learn names, discovered pumpkin activities across the curriculum, and had fun with our five senses.  Here's a few name activities I shared.

 

 

I admit it was challenging to fit a workshop in the midst of my preplanning but I was actually able to kill two birds with one stone as I used my new class list to prep some of the samples for the workshop! Here are the name clothespin clips and name unifix cubes we'll soon be using at school.

 

 My husband bought me some school supplies...

and, of course, he got GREAT deals!

 

 

I enjoy watching my Braves (win or lose) and my hubby is looking forward to college football season...but this still describes my family!

 

Click HERE to see what other teachers shared for Five for Friday!

Five for Friday - The BIG Room

I've missed the last few Five for Friday linky parties but am happy to share today! 

 

My preplanning doesn't officially start until Monday the 24th but I went in a few days this week to get a head start.  Here's what I saw when I walked in. 

I'm moving rooms again this year but I really don't mind.  I enjoy planning the layout and organizing everything.  I'm also getting what's referred to as "the BIG room" by my peers.  What teacher doesn't want more space? The room is great.  It's nice and big and gives me so much more space than I've had in the past.  But it's somewhat challenging as it has not just one...not even two... but THREE doors.  Oh, and those THREE doors open into THREE different hallways.

 

One major perk is that the BIG room has a loft area which I'm really excited about! In all my years of teaching, I've never had a loft in a classroom.  This one doesn't actually give you more space since it's not that high off the floor.  It's a fun little area and I know the kids will love it. I'm still deciding but it will either house the Listening center or a Game center.  Does your room have a loft?

 

 

Like most teachers, I've done my fair share of school shopping recently.  My neighbor and I made the trek over to Lakeshore and enjoyed a morning in teacher shopping heaven!   

 

My shopping list included journals and dry erase boards but I always like browsing the store to get ideas and inspiration.

 

Here are the journals I bought.  I used them successfully in kindergarten and now with my Young 5's class.  I love these journals! 

 

I was also lucky enough to go to Ikea with two of my coworkers last week.  We strolled through the entire store and found quite a few goodies for our classrooms.   We also ran into a couple of teachers from our school!  Wouldn't it be great if Ikea had a special department just for teachers?

 

 

As much as I loved Lakeshore and Ikea...there's nothing like finding a bargain at a garage sale!

 

I had been on the hunt for a small table to use in my art center.  Most of the little tables I'd seen didn't seem sturdy enough for classroom use so when the hubby found this one at a Montessori garage sale, I knew it was the one!  The table was marked $25 but since the sale was closing down soon, he negotiated and we got it for only $20.  What a deal! 

 

I'm making progress setting up the BIG room. The homeliving/dramatic play area is coming together just as I envisoned. I'm loving how the Ikea black & white dotted rug grounds everything and defines the space.

 

Here's where Learning at the Teacher Table will take place!  My word wall will be above the teacher table and the alphabet center is to the right side.  There's still LOTS to do next week but I'm happy with how it's turned out so far.

 

 Hope you have a great weekend! 

 

I'm going to a bridal shower for one of my bestest friends

and watching my son play in three hockey scrimmages! 

 

Life is full and life is good!

 

Click HERE to go to Doodlebugs Teaching and see more Five for Friday posts!