Classroom, Sweet, Classroom: It's Back to School We Go!

Happy Monday, my sweet friends!! Whew! What a whirlwind past few weeks it's been. I've gone back to new teacher training, set up my classroom, starting blogging, and started back to school today! I couldn't wait to show you all my *quaint* little learning space.

I started working in the school I am at now back in January 2012. I was {thankfully} able to switch districts in the middle of the school year and when I did, I was put into a HUGE classroom with tons and TONS of space to move and groove in for Reader's Workshop, freedom to have small groups in lots of nooks and crannies, and a nice sized classroom library with a full-blown comfy couch. This year, however, we all moved classrooms and my gi-normous space turned into Martha Stewart's dream come true: A tiny space, with lots of crap and no storage {did you pick up on the sarcasm?!}. With very little wall space {due to a pod set up, and partitioned walls without doors}, creativity is a must. However,(#1) I am very thankful to have a job , and  (#2) that I was able to get everything in my room organized and fully functional for my kids

So, here goes. My own little piece of the educational world. Welcome, friends. 

This is the first thing the kids will see as they come into the classroom. This is where my "Secretary" will tell me who is present and who is absent each day. Every afternoon, the "Secretary" will move everyone back over to the absent side. If you'd like to download these numbers and "Absent" & "I'm Here" headers FOR FREE, check out this post. 

This is the sign above the filing cabinet right as the kids walked in. I wanted to make the Pinterest-crayon-art-thingie {because everyone else was...but you know what your mom always said about "Everyone else doing it..."} but had no idea what the crap I'd do with a melted crayon-piece-of-art-thing, so I modified it for my liking. haha I used my Cricut and cut out an "F" from contact paper and placed it on the canvas. I simply melted the crayons over the "F" and then once the wax dried, I peeled the contact paper off and WAH-lah! A crayon-art-thingie-with-an-F-and-giant-girly-bow! :)

This is what you'd see if you were standing at the filing cabinet checking in. 

My transportation signs...I thought they turned out SO precious! If you'd like a copy for yourself, check them out here!

My "Morning Meeting" area

My teacher desk area...I have a teacher's desk this year!!! WOOHOOO!!! Thrill above all thrills!!

This is where I will write my daily/weekly standard. I will also put my Reading {copied on yellow paper} & Writing {copied on pink paper} Common Core Vocabulary Posters on the board that correlate with each skill/standard we are focusing on for the day/week so the kids are always seeing the vocabulary word. If you like the Reading Posters, getcha some {here}, or the Writing Posters {here}! I store the other posters not in use in the green & blue folders you see to the left of the standard's board. 

 

This is our tweaked version of "The Daily 5" since I am control freak and want to make sure each kid is getting specific skills they need  I like coloring coding things! ;o) I put magnets on the back of each rotation code and just move them around each day. The kids love it, and TRUST me, they know when they miss  Fluency or Word Work. Watch out, now! 

Here is my computer area.  I am so BLESSED with a husband that understands all things technology! If he had not set up my computers, then all of the cords would be still wrapped up in the rat's nest that they were in and I'd be found rocking back and forth in the corner. Sucking my thumb. And crying. The end. 

**I use the cupcakes as a visual when I teach writing. I will always have 4 student samples and we'll talk about which sample is the "Sprinkles" sample, and which is just the "Wrapper" sample. It's a great visual for them to connect something yummy with the details they add to their writing. Plus, it's a fun writing activity when you get to eat tiny cupcakes, too.

My Classroom Helpers Chart & Student Number List

{I found it's ridiculously hard to always keep up with the kids' numbers, especially when kids move in the middle of the year, or don't show up the first day, or get new kids during the middle of the school year, then it messes with the order, so I just laminated card stock, and will write the kid's names on this with an Expo, and arrange as needed!}

Small Group Reading Area {The "VOICES" set is from Ladybug's Teacher's Files here for free!}

I used my Cricut to create name tags and then cut vinyl numbers for the name tags. I used heavy duty Velcro on the back to attach them to the desks. This works for several reasons. One, name tags get destroyed easy and don't stay taped to desks. Two, sometimes you need to do a "switch-a-roo" with seating arrangements, and it's just as easy to un-Velcro numbers and move them to the next desk over. 

...and finally my cute little pencil cups! If you'd like these labels, check them out for FREE here!

I forgot to take a picture of my Word Work stations, but they are located in shelves below the white board, just in case you were dying to know {which I knew you were! ;o)}. 

What does your "Home Away from Home" look like?? I'd love to see! Leave me a comment to check out your cute little room!!

Until then,

"THE" Room, Part 1

So since today is the first official day of my blogging life I would like to take a moment and say to all of those that are reading this, I'm sorry. You might get sick of me quickly with all the jumbled up blogging madness genius running through my little brain!

The entire time I was working in my room today and sitting through a meeting, all I kept thinking about was blogging and what my first "official school post" would be, and if someone would read it, or if I should take pictures, and would I have time to blog, and on and on and on...

So, here I am, making finding time {priorities, people!} to blog about my sweet little classroom.

Let me explain to you my classroom history: It CHANGES frequently! I have never, since the very beginning of my teaching time {5 whole years ago}, stayed in the same classroom. Each year, I lovingly throw all my crap put all of my things into boxes, and ship it next door or down the hall.

Last year, when my husband and I moved from Kentucky to Louisiana, my husband found out how much I hoard classroom materials of a treasure cove of classroom resources I have managed to come across!

So, a year later, a state later, and 3 classrooms later {yes, I've moved to 3 classrooms in 1 school year...that's a different story!}, I can finally say I am making this classroom mine, and can hopefully turn this room into my own little polka dot sanctuary.

Since the kids aren't coming for 2 more weeks, I still have time to finagle things around a bit, but this is what I've managed to accomplish in a few days {and a tireless summer creating materials like a mad woman}.

Because there is limited wall space {we have pods...ummm...Yippie?!}, I like to use the fronts of as many magnetic surfaces as possible. I am going to use these numbers printed on card stock with a magnet on the back to assign jobs. CLICK on the picture to directly link you to my Leopard & Zebra Classroom Themed classroom signs at my TpT store!

Put these up above my desk area...have blank space, will use! I LOVED how they turned out! :)

{Check out these "Asking Questions Posters" Posters at my store by clicking on the picture!}

OH MY WORD! One of my most FAVORITE things I have now are my 6 Traits "VOICES" headers I got HERE, from Ladybug's Teacher Files. SO CUTE and I am very excited to utilize them on a daily basis in my classroom during writing. It's a GREAT reference point for students each day. Whenever we touch on a specific trait, I'm going to put on a sentence strip something we learned about that trait and add it underneath each heading! :) 

My writing center is also something I'm looking forward to using more often with my kiddos this year! I have *some* things added, but really not a whole lot. Also, since my classroom is small and I'm trying to maximize my space, I also have the bottom row as part of my library! :)  

Here is my library {I'm going to post on how I have it set up this year soon...I L-O-V-E it and I KNOW it will function well with my students and their learning!!!}. Yes, notice the gaping hole in my wall...that's my neighbor. Yup. ALLLLL-righty then. :)

AND the other half of my sweet little library... :)

Well, that's a brief introduction into my third grade classroom. I have lots of things marked off my list, with a couple million more things left to do before the babies show up! :) 

Until then,