Classroom photos....and the secret to sanity?

I finally, finally, finally have classroom pics! I still need to tweak a few things and add a little here and there, but you'll get the picture.

First, my hallway bulletin boards.  I take tons of pictures and I'm super excited about keeping up with this board!


I used glitter chevron scrapbook paper! Glitter really does make everything better!

Writing Center: I keep student journals in those little drawers and Post It notes in the pink baskets.

So I had my math wall here. I would love to have it take up the entire white board but the ethernet cable hookups are right in the middle of the board. Drives me crazy. So after I took this picture I decided to move everything around. 

I moved all my math items to another wall. My math and reading tubs go into those cubbies. I moved my cubbies to this wall and I'll finish putting all of my reading items here. Also on the to-do list: find a cute and comfy chair for this area!
I need to hang up all of my numbers now as well as the rest of my math odd and ends. I stuck the border up with 3M in the corners and one 3M sticky in the center.

Our I Can statements will go here. I made the banners on my Silhouette!


I have one chevron candle. I keep checking for Hobby Lobby to get another set in so I can have two candles. The hanging file is from Mardel. I place items that need to go home in these folders. Each student has their own folder.

I've got reading and math station items stored in these bins. I staying super organized this year so I don't have to go searching through boxes. Just to the right you see a rolling book cart. These books are leveled and I use them in my small group instruction. 

Table caddies and books from our Journeys series. 

Each caddy has scissors, glue sticks, dry erase markers, and Post-Its inside. 


SECRET TO SANITY

I think I have figured it out! Every year we have to take everything off of our walls and pack everything. Then we have about a week to start from scratch again and put the whole room back together. We can't use staples in our walls and when the air gets turned off on weekends and holidays anything that is stuck on the walls with blue sticky falls to the floor. This summer I thought- why don't I put things I know I put up every year on foam board and then use 3M velcro sticks to hang it?

I FEEL LIKE A GENIUS!
Maybe y'all already knew this trick? It takes a little prep time but my writing goals, writing board, and math stations board are all on foam boards. At then end of the school year I just pull the board off of the wall. Then in August I can stick it right back on the wall!
I glued my writing goals onto foam board with E6000 because students will be hanging clothes pins on it. But I used velcro dots to stick items onto my math centers board. That makes it easy to move pieces around.


11 comments:

  1. Your room looks so sleek and organized!!!! I love the colors you chose.
    Connie Anderson:)
    www.welcometofirstgraderoom5.blogspot.com

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  2. I love your writing center posters! Did you make them? : )

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  3. I love your Instagram board. What a great idea with those First Day School pictures!


    Krystyn
    Ms Richards's Musings

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  4. I'm doing Journeys, too. It's my first year with the program. I was so excited that the leveled readers came in those plastic containers! Our old series just had them bundled for us to sort and store. I love how clean, streamlined, and organized everything looks.

    Brenda
    You Might Be a First Grader….

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  5. I *LOVE* your Instagram board!! I am totally pinning this! :)

    Cindy
    Teach With All the Colors of the Wind

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  6. It looks soooooo pretty! I love it all darlin'.

    Mels

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  7. What a beautiful, well organized classroom. I LOVE the Instagram bulletin board idea. What a great way to show off your class. BRILLIANT!

    Cindy
    Granny Goes to School

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  8. Thanks for linking up. I love your color scheme. I can't believe you can't use staples! That's crazy! I think your board idea is genius!
    Jessica
    Tales of a First Grade Teacher

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  9. Gorgeous classroom! I love it. :)
    Do you have a past post that explains how you run your math centers? I'm intrigued. :)

    -Gayla
    Teach On.

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    Replies
    1. Gayla! Yes- I have a post right here http://rowdyinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/2013/09/tweaking-my-guided-math.html

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