Classroom Organization - Part 7

I see then end in sight! I'm almost done with my classroom. I finished my word wall, behavior chart and rules. I just need to decorate my door, set up my student work display area, label and organize student folders/binders, finish my welcome back banner and put together first day kits. Yeah, that's all (I'm tired already thinking about it!) Here's a few pics of what I've done so far..

Writing Center Supplies

Student Mailboxes & Folders

Classroom Rules & Behavior Chart

Word Wall

Classroom Library (minus a few labels)

Hopefully Thursday I can show the whole class photo when I'm finished. Please forgive the awful photos. My camera died on me and I've been using my phone....

Rules, Rewards and Consequences Chart and RON CLARK!!

Wow!! What a GREAT first day back to school. I'm almost finished with my room (YAH!!!) , I got to see all of my amazing co-workers today, and I met Ron Clark at our convocation. He was so inspiring!! He reminded me about the real reason why I teach. He was gracious enough to sign my book and take a photo with me.

I going to step on my soapbox for a minute... Anyone can teach in at an "easy" school. It takes heart, passion and determination to teach kids from the "wrong" side of the tracks. I am determined to make a difference for these kids. That is where my heart is and that's where I've always chosen to teach. I know God has led me here because this is where I can make the greatest impact. I believe that the children deserve and need excellence in the classroom just as much as students whose parents have money. I wish they had excellent funding as well :)

Well enough about that...

I was also inspired by Deanna Jump's Core Standards charts and decided to do something similar with my classroom rules (the ribbon was the cutest thing ever!) I made six charts and will use ribbon to connect them. I hope it will be just as cute. You can get them from my store by clicking the link below.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Primary-Classroom-Rules-274384

Well, we have a full day of training tomorrow and I'm going to try to sneak in a few minutes in my classroom. So until later...

Classroom Organization - Part 6

We're back at school officially in the morning and 7 more days until the kiddos show. I'm a little excited to meet my new students. I have a nervous pit in my stomach because I think I may have missed preparing something for the first few days. I just finished my behavior chart. I so love what Babbling Abby did with her rockin' behavior chart. I put a little twist on mine because we have a safari theme. Take a look...

Click on the picture for a printable version. I cut out each sign and put them on construction paper before laminating everything.

I am also working on my writing station's editing pencils. I went to Michaels and found a cute pencil organizer and decided to use color pencils for different types of editing. Take a sneak peek at the cup labels...

But more on that tomorrow....

Phonogram Cards

I'm in blog love! I recently came across Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons Blog post about phonograms. Since I've moved from 3rd grade to 2nd, I really need 2nd grade resources.

I love DJInkers and Mrs. Lemons organized her phonogram cards so beautifully! It's a great resource. Check out her blog and snag a copy :0)

Classroom Organization - Part 5

Another day at school and yes 3 completed projects (CHECK!). Today I started on the next 3 projects. Please forgive the photos I took with my phone today.

Project #1 Topic Boxes
In the spirit of "de-cluttering" my classroom, I need to finish cleaning out my file cabinet. I decided to organize my reading files into topics. Each topic is placed in a box from the container store and labeled with the contents. I like to keep activity pages, sample projects and lesson plans for that topic in each box. Below is a photo of how they are organized.
In addition to topic boxes, I like to organize month boxes with "themes" for each month. I keep a calendar with important dates in the box also. On the outside of the box is labeled topics that I usually cover during that month. I'm going to add a back-to-school box and a year-end box.

Project #2 - Read Aloud Books
After discovering Interactive Read-Alouds by Linda Hoyt, I complete changed how I organize my "Teacher Stash" of books. I am separating my books into magazine file boxes that are labeled with the topic.
I keep these books behind my guided reading table for easy access and lesson planning.

Project #3 - Organize Worksheets and Papers
I came across an idea on a scholastic teacher blog from Nancy Yang and decided to organize my daily papers in magazine file boxes. I will also keep these behind my guided reading table for easy access.Well that's a wrap for today... I can't wait to check these things off my mile long list. I'm already looking at organizing my portable workstations, classroom jobs and behavior management board. Well that's for another day.

Classroom Organization - Part 4 (Whew!)

I've been in my classroom this week and it seems the more I do, the more there is to do. Why do I have the urge to do a million projects now??? I had all summer - go figure!?! I didn't go to school today and had the opportunity to blog stalk. Of course this added about 20 projects to my already enormous list.

Project #1 - Word Wall
I was inspired by an idea from Oceans of First Grade Fun and I've made word family cards for the word wall. My classroom has a chalkboard that I'll be using for my word wall. I've divided the word wall into 4 sections: The parking lot (new words) A-Z Boxes, Blends and Word Families. Here's a photo although it's a long way from complete.


I plan on using the vowel pockets to keep word family cards and display them as we come across new words. I tried to color coordinate the word families into long, short and r-controlled vowels.
Click on the pictures below for the word family cards.









Project#2 Writing Center
I was inspired by an idea on pintrest to revamp my writing center. I'm almost finished with the models of each type of work and just need to label the writing supplies and editing pencil cups (each colored pencil is used for a different type of editing - capitalization/red, spelling/orange, punctuation/green, etc).


Project #3 Status Chart
I worked this summer to find clipart of every menu item on our lunch calendars and create magnets for our lunch menu choices. It turned out to be really cute. Just my luck the cafeteria decided not to do lunch count this year :( Sooo I decided to make that area and attendance board to keep up with students entering and exiting the classroom. I'm laminating the cards and student photos and putting magnets on the back to use on the side of our file cabinet. Here's a copy of the labels
Yaaawn....I'm sleepy
Well that's a start. Hope to complete these projects tomorrow and start on the next few...

Classroom Organization - Part 3

Well I'm back at it today. I really liked the idea of having table signs for each group. Since I'm going with a African savannah safari theme this year, I made one for each one of my tables. ( I totally copied this idea from Mrs. Lemons Second Grade Blog). I have banners in my room with the animals and made group signs to match the banners.



I had to make smaller circles to fit onto my table tubs. Each group is a different color and number. The graphics are from DJ Inkers. Click on the picture below for a copy...


Since the groups compete against each other to get table points, this year I'm going to use marble jars to keep a running tally. Groups earn points for working collaboratively, correct answers and being on task. The first group to fill their jar gets to have lunch with the teacher and/or a lunch treat. I'm also going to decorate the jars with these table signs as well.

Classroom Organization - Part 2

I have been reading some really great blogs this week. I was very interested in teacher blogging do's and don'ts on the TeacherWife Blog. I know I really shouldn't post more than once a day but I couldn't help it :)

Here's another tip that I promised I would post. I needed to make sure that I do Brain Breaks with my students so that I could make the most of their short attention spans. I've seen teachers use brain break sticks and was inspired to make cards on a ring that I could carry with me or place near my elmo. While I was at it I started working on sight word chants also. I saw the same idea online with popscicle sticks in a can. I can't wait to do these and other interactive word wall activities! Click on the pictures below for the activity cards.

Enjoy!!

Classroom Organization - Part 1

Well, I went into my classroom to work today and began organizing. I needed a way for students to enter the classroom, take lunch count and attendance at the same time. My team teach has a file cabinet where he handles lunch choices. I created a similar system and added a section for where I've gone. I taped off the file cabinet using painters tape into sections : "menu choice 1", "menu choice 2" , "lunch from home" and "where I've gone". I'm using magnets to move their photos around so they can make lunch choices as well as inform me of their status. Click on the school lunch picture to get a copy of the lunch choice magnets.

I'll post pictures soon!!