My Kindergarten Classroom

I'm finally back!

I had to take a little blog vacation. I wish I could say that I've been relaxing on some tropical beach, drinking margaritas and reading trashy romance novels. But I know you know what I've been doing, because you've been doing exactly the same thing!I've been teaching 5 year-olds how to walk in line...how to get their lunch tray to the table without dropping it...how to find the next black page in their journal...how to sit on the rug without being a "wiggle-bottom." And I'm exhausted!

But, as promised, I'm back with pictures of my classroom. As I was taking pictures today (with my horrible, grainy school camera), I realized that 12 days of school really takes its toll on a classroom! Things aren't nearly as crisp and clean...there are already so many smudges and stains and messes. Oh well..all in the name of learning, right?

So...Welcome to my room!

 

 

I'm very lucky to have lots of windows!

 

Here are the cubbies as you enter the room.

 
Here is my calendar wall. I've really simplified it this year. I'll go over my calendar wall and routine in detail in the coming weeks.

 
Here is Baxter--our class mascot!

We keep our Legos and other building toys in the green bins. 

Here are my shelves with many of my books and other supplies. The tubs on top are full of thematic theme stuff. The kids hang their backpacks underneath.

 

I've been collecting stuffed animal characters for a few years now...

 

 

Here's our sink. Sadly, there's no water fountain.

 

Here's my teaching table.

Here are the tubs I keep my materials for each day in. I bought them with my PTA money last year. Thank-you PTA!

 

I keep my guided reading materials in these drawers, sorted by reading group. (Although this year, I hope to do more individual reading conferences with books the kids choose themselves).

 

This is my "Ready to Read and Write" center. At the beginning of the year, it's a lot of fine motor activities and puzzles. As the year progresses, I add rhyming and other phonemic awareness activities. Then, I add lots and lots of onset/rhyme word work. It's kind of a hodge-podge, hence the name!

You may notice that my centers are color-coded. This helps the kids figure out what center they're at and which activities they can do. This is our green center!

 

Our ABC center is red! It has lots of letter/sound activities and ABC puzzles. I will go over each center and the activities in them in the coming weeks.

 
This is our classroom library. The tree is my favorite thing in the room! It's a cat scratch thingy I bought at IKEA two summers ago. (I haven't seen them there, lately. Maybe they've been discontinued?) I added the green circles made from scrapbook paper. They're attached with magnets, so I can change them with the seasons.

 

My books are sorted by theme and authors. I'm going to add more author boxes as the year progresses.

 

I also have leveled books and a shelf with seasonal or theme books.

 

Here is the stand I keep my poem charts on.

 

Here are our book boxes. So cute!

 

Here is my writing center and word wall. We will add our names and start adding words this week. I like for my kids to be as independent as possible, so I put out almost all my supplies for them to use (slowly, as we learn the expectations for using them!)

 

Everything is clearly labeled. (I'll make my labels available to download. Give me a few days!)

 

Ahhh...the most popular center in the room: The Art Center! Again--I eventually put out all the supplies for the kids to use independently (although I introduce them slowly. It will be a few weeks before we get the watercolors or glitter out!)

 
Here is my math center and my soon-to-be-filled Math Word Wall.

 

Here are tubs of manipulatives--easy access for the kids.

 
Here are the tubs we use for our problem-solving tools.

 

Little birdies hold student work.

 

My teacher desk...which I got rid of last year only to have it forced back on me this year! 

So, now that I'm settled in, look for regular blog posts again! I will post more problem-solving this weekend. And if you haven't posted a link to pictures of your classroom yet, be sure to do so. We would all love to peek!

I hope you all have a wonderful, peaceful, first few weeks of school!

Happy Teaching!

Comments

[Yvette Lopez]

OMG! I love your classroom! Thanks for all of the awesome new ideas! I love your tree!!! Great idea!

[Maria]

I love how organized your room is, I'm trying to get there myself! Thanks so sharing your ideas.

[Megan]

LOVE the color coded centers. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!

[Kathy]

I love the idea of organizing your materials for the day in those tubs. Where did you get those from?

[Elizabeth Hathorn]

Your shape unit was awesome, and I loved your room! Can't wait to show everything to the girls at work. We start shapes on Monday.
Thanks so much, Elizabeth

[Rebecca Gustin]

I love how clean and clutter free your room is!I would love to see you lesson plan format for a day to get a better idea. I currently teach in bush Alaska and need some inspiration. I have been on the computer all day learning and taking it all in. Thank you so much for sharing all your amazing ideas!

[Account Deleted]

Hai I'm so impress of your class arrangement can I know how big is the size of the classroom and I'm looking forward to see your other pictures..

[Holly]

I love the idea of color coding your center areas. I have been trying to figure out what I can do in my classroom and this is a great idea.

[Bianca Cardozo]

AMAZING... you trully inspire!!!!

[sapreet]

its so amazing it helped me a lot to decorate my class ,i want some more pics ,plz send me on my email
sapreet89@gmail.com
thankssssss

[Becky]

I was wondering the same thing Rachel asked...how are you hanging your poem charts? Love the stand. Did you make it out of PVC pipe or did you buy it?

[Amy Hanzal]

LOVE the book boxes with each student's picture on it... how clever!!! You have so many great teaching ideas! I am wondering if you have made use of digital cameras with your students to enhance reading lessons/instruction? I love the idea of kids getting their hands on digital cameras and incorporating them into lessons and am looking for new ways to do so!

Thanks for sharing!!

[Carmen]

Where did you get your book boxes for the kids?

[Pamela]

Where did you get the green bins that hold the Legos?

[SShephard]

I just heard about you today and am overwhelmed with what you have done. I got placed into a full day JK/Sk (27 kids!) kindergarten and am ill think about what I have to do. Older kids seem so much easier.
My first question is, how do you hold up your posters? I see the wire hangers but do you laminate your posters first and then tape them on? Do you put them on bristol board or construction paper? Thank you very much for sharing your ideas.

[Kim]

Where did you get your book boxes?

[Victoria]

Thank you so much for sharing your classroom with us! As a first year teacher it is great to get so many good ideas!

[Victoria]

Thank you for all of the great ideas.

[moultrie_debra@yahoo.com]

What did you make your book boxes out of. Love your room!
Moultrie

[Michelle]

Your room is beautiful! So many great organization tips! I am still getting used to my classroom, figuring out my rhythm as a new teacher. Can't wait until my summer hunting for new things to put in next year! Thanks for sharing!

[Melissa Cotner]

Hello! I love all of your wonderful ideas for organizing a classroom! Did you make the stand with your poem charts? If so, how?

Thank you!!

[Caroline]

I used your classroom photo of your book boxes for inspiration this year! I just wrote a post about book boxes and featured yours on it. Come by and check it out!

Caroline
Educator Designs

[Caroline]

Post is featured here...
http://educatordesigns.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-boxes-galore.html

[Kristina]

I love everything! How can I get a set of your book and manipulative labels?

[Angie]

Love your set up! I am a first year Kindergarten teacher this coming fall. I am in the process of setting up my room and I have been looking for primary colored totes (like the ones you have in your math center). Where did you get them from? The ones I find are much smaller than the totes pictured. If you could let me know that would be super helpful!