I have been eating, drinking, sleeping and dreaming around the preparation of my classroom this past week! I am pretty sure that I should have just moved a sleeping bag in for the night to save myself some time! BUT...I am proud to say...I am about four banners, a few labels, and one front door decoration away from having the entire classroom rockin' and rollin' for my sweet second graders next Monday! {OK, so basically...I still have some work to do but it is getting there...wait...is that the hallelujah chorus I hear?!?}
In all seriousness, it really hasn't been that bad and has actually been a tremendous amount of fun pulling it all together. I must say, I have had some crazy amazing helpers! About 10 of my cross country kids came on Thursday to cut and cut and CUT!!!! {They must love me is all I can say!} :) They were so wonderful and a few of them even came back on Friday asking for more! Are they CRAZY?!? And of course my super duper crazier than I am Mother has been there every step of the way! She is a craft genius and adds her little touch of spunk all over my room. At times I have to pull out the teacher voice on my own mother and say "No Mom...We are DONE!" I swear she has more energy than my 18 kids put together and would go for days! I just love her!
Now, before I show you pictures, let me just say... I. Need. A. CAMERA!!!! My dear old friend bit the dust a few weeks ago and I have been using the phone on my BlackBerry {a.k.a. "crackberry"} religiously! Although I love my dear BlackBerry, the pictures...well...not so much! So, please don't let the crazy lighting stand in your way of enjoying this little peek into my classroom and contrary to what you may see in the pictures, I do not actually have a layer of dust three inches thick surrounding my room. On some of these pictures, I swear the lighting makes my classroom look like is 100 years old! BUT...that is not the point now is it?!? :) So, enjoy these little snapshots of my teaching world and if you are planning to rock out with your students this year, I hope that some of my ideas can assist you in your decorating needs!
Classroom Tour
Our Guided Reading and small group math area! I am pretty excited about this cozy little spot and the fact that I have such a large area to display strategy posters and content vocabulary. I am using my glitter clothespins to hang posters, anchor charts, vocabulary words ect. to make it easy to change things up!
Up close and personal!
"In the Spotlight" {still missing a title} bulletin board that will feature social studies and science content words for the week. Yes, the camera actually "flashes" thanks to my mother! I told you...she is overflowing with awesomeness {wait...is that a word?} :) And no, the camera will not be flashing 24/7...180! It is a special occasion kind of flash!
Beboppin' Birthdays...Ready for my students' pictures!
Our math area:
The majority of my math instruction is small group {most of the time by ability level}. I supplement my instruction with math tubs and I also include something that I call "Pump Up...Power Practice". I will post more about this later. Basically, it is a drill and practice type of activity where the memorization of basic skills (addition facts, subtraction facts, time, money, place value) is heavily enforced and constantly reviewed. The students get to choose which manipulative (dice, dominoes, puzzle pieces, dice shakers, math chips, etc.) they would like to use to complete their activity. These activities build the students' confidence by enhancing their abilities. They love, love, LOVE to get pumped up about math during this time!
Student Work Area + Chapter Book Library
Our Classroom Library
Our little library has several parts. The chapter book rack that you saw earlier, books leveled by topic (in the colorful buckets), and our books in the spotlight (red shelf). I am using a clothespin checkout system this year to reinforce proper care and return of books in our classroom. The students will clip their clothespin on the basket that holds their book. When they are ready to return the book, they place it back into the correct basket and remove their clothespin.
I also have a leveled book library in my classroom. The students get to choose a new book each day to take home for nightly reading practice. You can download my book bin labels HERE!
Rock Star of the Week Wall
I still have a little work to do here, but you get the idea. The students picture will go in the frame and I will highlight some of their "Rockin' Work" below.
ipod Cubby Numbers
You can download these little cuties HERE!
Classroom Shots
My jammin' guitar is going to say "Rock and Roll in Second Grade"
A little peek at "THE RUNWAY!"
Outside Wall Display
The students will be creating their very own Hollywood Star to add to the wall.
Well...that is it! I am getting so close to being completely finished and ready to ROCK OUT! I hope that you have enjoyed the little tour of my classroom! Happy Sunday sweet bloggy friends!
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