School starts tomorrow so I'm all set up! Just inside the door. Our nine ways to solve a small problem. From the door looking towards the meeting area. It's hard to see, but my guided reading table has a rainbow on it. We call it the "rainbow table". The meeting area. And look at my cute windows! Close-up of my oh so cute brand new carpet. From the meeting area viewing the front of the room. My library is in the corner under the tv. The front of the room. My desk. Mailboxes and Word Wall. From the front of the room viewing the back.
Cute idea for the windows! I always have kids staring out them but I hate to pull the blinds- great solution. Also, I love the rainbow on the table... very creative and I am curious to know how you did it.
Do you play the guitar? Do you work at a brand-new school (or close to it)? Your room looks quite new.
Special: The signs are P A W S, our rules Positive attitude, Act respectfully, Work smart, and Safety first. I just put 3 sentences about what they mean to me on the posters. If you scroll over you can see the rest...I didn't realize they were too big to fit without scrolling.
Thanks everyone! The room is approx. 4 years old. It is in the newest part of our building built in 1975. I put butcher paper over the table and outlined it to cut it to shape. Then I took it home and colored it with crayons for an hour while I watched Ellen. Laminate and tape down all around the periphery (or the kids will rip it). Voila! Jazzy, the desks have nametags and then our version of Positive Behavior Support. They have little paw pictures for each of our rules and I will initial them when I notice them doing something that fits with one of our rules. They are supposed to get a prize when it is all filled out.
Oh, and yes I play the guitar. I'm self-taught, so I'm not awesome, but I'm good enough for 6 year olds. They love it! Especially on the first day... I love that I know they all go home and get to tell their families "My teacher played the guitar for us!"
I love your table, makes me want my kidney table back!! What did you put on the windows? Does it still let light in? We look out at the playground-quite a distractor. Awesome job!!!
Love it!! Where did you get? I love your poster for the ways to solve a problem with the frogs....do you have a copy to share? Where did you get your carpet...i absolutely love it. i think they are the best to deal with assigned seats
Oh so cute!!! seeing your room makes me want to teach so bad! I still have till Fall 09 before I student teach!! Oh. BTW...Lovin the guitar!
I wish I could play the guitar. That would be so awesome! My friend plays the ukele (sp way off) in his room. It's too cute!
BethMI: I bought "window film" at home depot for the windows. In the afternoon the sun would blare right in and get hot and make the kids squint so I always had the blinds down last year. The light does come through beautifully so when my lights are off the whole room seems to glow. I love it. The carpet was from Lakeshore or something like it. It has 25 pictures, exactly the number of kids I have, so they each get their own picture to sit on! Thanks for all the nice comments! This is the happiest I've been with my classroom. I guess it takes a couple years to really figure it out.
Wow, great job! Your room looks wonderful! It makes me very excited to get into my room and start decorating.
Miss R You get the cleanest classroom award!!!!!!!!! It looks great. Hope your first day is wonderful!
Your room looks amazing! School doesn't start until Sept. 3rd for me, and I haven't really started setting up my room yet. I hope that when I'm done, my room looks as organized and neat as yours!
I loved looking at your pictures! Would it be possible to see a close up of that "problem solving" wheel? Can you explain how you use it, or how you have your students use it? If you find a copy you can share, that would be great! I also tried reading your posters that go across some cabinets... I think I saw something about "My Attitudes, What I Show"... They look like they are 'affirmations' that kids can tell themselves. How do you use those? Again, thanks for sharing your photos and thanks for answering our questions!
What a great classroom! The window film is an awesome idea. I had a student last year who would hang from the windowsill and gaze outside and there was no budging her. We finally had to cover the windows with paper. I would much rather cover them with something pretty that still lets in light! I sent the link to her current teacher, just in case the windows are still an issue!
Wonderful room! I love it! How did you color each arch on the rainbow so perfectly? I want to do this to my kidney table. Also, how did you fit it in the laminator? Would I need to cut it in two sections? Sorry, one more question...(I can't help it, I love your ideas) Did you give your window measurements to Homr Depot or did you have to cut it yourself?
I love your room. That was a great idea for covering your windows. I have a frog theme in my room if you find a copy of problem solving wheel could you please share it. Have a great first day. The children are going to love your room.
The posters are the I.B. attitudes and Learner profile. They are words like "creativity" and the first grade team put a kid friendly sentence under them as a kind of definition. We use them all year and the kids know many of them by the end of the year...just talking about the kind of people we want to me and using those words when we notice them doing something good. I'll look for the frog and come back here to see who wanted it.
I measured each side and split it into six parts, just marking a little line. Then I measured the middle and split it into six parts with a little line, then I eyeballed drawing a curve from end to middle, end to middle (does that make sense?) that was the hardest part. I cut it in half so each half was 23 in. and it just fits into the laminator! I can try to be more detailed if you need more help! Home Depot just sells the film and I cut it to my specifications. It was $20 for everything you see there, so kinda expensive. Off to school!
I LOVE your room! The table and carpet are supercute!!! Where did you get the shelving/bookcase in the first picture? I'm looking for something JUST like that!!!
I love the window film. My room is right next to the playground. Seriously my windows look right out onto the playground. There is actually one of those basketball things with four different numbered slots for the ball to come out 6 feet straight out from my window. My blinds are always closed unless it is raining. Is the film removable? I'm trying to decide whether to ask for forgiveness or permission.
windows General question about the window- did anyone ever try acrylic paint to create a window decoration? Does this still allow the sun shine in? I checked out the price of the window sheets and it was a little out of my budge (I have 6 windows I want to cover) Love any feedback.
I love the room!! I would love to cover my windows, but I think they are too big...but what a great idea! I also love the rainbow table; it is very inviting! I hope that you are having a wonderful first day!
Very Cute! Where did you get your 'nine ways to solve a problem sign?' I really like it. Can you post it or send it to me?
