Spring Cleaning the Classroom

It is that time of year, again.  Towards the end of the year, I start getting anxious for the next year and start to think what I could do to improve.  Starting things ahead of time, will allow me time to get out all the "kinks" since I still have students to test my new ideas on.  The following is how I have kept busy...


Thanks to the inspiration of Mama Jenn, I revamped my Calendar Math area.  I lack bulletin board area in the front of my classroom, so I used corkboard (from Hobby Lobby) and covered it with cloth.  Then placed it over the white board to create a makeshift bulletin board. 


Underneath the Calendar Math area, I have added a Nonfiction section to my classroom library.  I used to store all my books in boxes and told myself I would regularly switch them out.  Unfortunately, I would find excuses as to why I couldn't switch them out, so I decided I would try to put all of the books out.  The kids love this section. 

New Calendar Math Area, New Non Fiction Library Area,  New Read/Writing Easel

Also pictured above is my new Reading/Writing Easel.  I am in LOVE!  I took on a second job teaching morning tutoring and Saturday school so I could purchase it.  Arriving to school at 6am everyday was totally worth it! 

Fiction Picture Book Section

Above is my Fiction Picture book section.  Collecting those blue containers from Dollar Trees was no easy task.  I still need more to accommodate all my books.  So for now, this will have to do.  All of the books have stickers on the cover that match the sign.

Fiction Book Area

I have decided that next year, I am going to use more of the Sterlite Plastic Shelves because they are easy to assemble and store.  I think my days of buying bookshelves are over.  I purchased white and gray, but I think I like the gray ones better.  I may just spray paint the white or use it somewhere else since it looks out of place.


My camera was not cooperating.  I was only able to get 3 shots before it stopped working.  When I get a new camera, I will post more pics from different angles.  My library has actually changed since I last took these pics.....ha....a teacher's work is never done =)  

Trash to Treasure

It's true what they say, "One person's trash is another person's treasure."  I can not believe that today was my first visit to Goodwill.  Two words can describe my visit," TEACHER OVERLOAD!"  My brain was going a mile a minute trying to come up with excuses as to why I needed these things in my classroom.  I decided to start small and purchased this metal thing for $1.99. With a quick clean and spray paint, I ended up with a book holder. 

I don't even know the original purpose for this metal thing but it was worth 1.99.

Let the transformation begin!

The finished product!  I can use this for books or magazines.  It is also equipped with a handle!

I can't wait to go back.  You never know what Goodwill has in store for you!

New Treasure Chest

I have used the same cardboard treasure chest that was left in my room by a previous teacher for a couple of years, now.  Although I like the look of it, it is starting to fall apart.  Originally, I wanted to go with an authentic looking treasure chest that was made of wood, but I wasn't crazy about the weight and bulk that would come with it.

My recent trip to Ikea ended my search!  It is light and can fold-up for easy storage/move.  It is big and can store prizes that are oddly shaped.  I would of rather something blue, but I have a feeling the kids will love it. 

Toy Box from Ikea

New Storage for Center Activities

I am in organization mode the last six weeks of school every year.  I like to reorganize my room and set things up the way I want it next year.  Even though we have to box up everything over the summer, at least I have an idea and the pictures to help me assemble my classroom for next year.

I hated my old way of organizing my centers (which can be viewed in an earlier post). I wanted my activities easily accessible and quick to view at a moments notice.

I purchased the shoe bins at Walmart for a dollar and spray painted the tubs' lid red for Math and blue for ELA.

I labeled each tub with the skill and then listed the activities that were in that tub.  There are about 3-4 activities in each tub.  If I were to do this all over again, I would just type the skill, laminate the cards, and then with permanent marker write the activities in each tub because sometimes I add a new activity to the tub.  If it does change you can always erase the permanent marker with a Magic Eraser.  It comes right off!  (So, much for permanent...huh)  Each label has a red star that means, "Don't touch" (for the kiddos)

I got smart and applied my label idea to my ELA tubs (since I did these second).  Each label just has the skill, I still need to write with permanent marker the activities in each tub.  The red star on the label means, "Don't touch" (for the kiddos)

These ELA activities are strictly my Treasures activities.  Treasures is our reading adoption.   Each tub has a red dot on the label that means, "Stop, don't touch" (for the kiddos)

Spray painted the lids and basket (which was a purple color, not the scheme of my room)

I used spray paint for plastic.  

Since I was using a large portion of my shelving for my center activities, I needed more shelving.  Instead of buying a bookshelf (that will fall apart in a year), I decided to make my own out of cement blocks and wood.  I can easily store this over the summer by taking it apart (unlike other bookshelves I have in my room). When I move schools, cities, states, I can leave behind my cement blocks and just take the wood. Moving from Texas to Louisiana, the bulky bookshelves were a hassle to move.       

The tubs with yellow lids have scissors, highlighters, and Magic Erasers.  These used to be behind my desk, but I like that they are easily accessible and I don't have to stop my teaching just to get to them.  My white tubs have my math manipulatives.  I am thinking about spray painting them red to go along with my color coding theme.  In my apple basket I have my dry erase markers, which I love that are by my dry erase board.  I have "Star Pencils" for kids who are amazing, on top of my stereo is a basket with stickers and then my GONG.  Which my mom got for me because we couldn't stop playing with it at Lakeshore.  

Primer on wood

Working hard after hours!

I only painted the sides that you would be able to see.  I bought wooden stars and tape that will stick to cement to decorate the blocks with.  Maybe I will do that next year.

I'm Sick!!!

Sub. Tub

Last year, I had one tub with a variety of worksheets in it for substitutes to use incase I had to call in sick. However, I felt it wasn't very organized.

I changed this problem by getting a 3-drawer organizer and labeling them: ELA, Math, Science/Social Studies.

Next to my Sub Tub, I have my classroom schedule, list of students, explanation of rules/procedures and 3 days worth of student work packets (incase my students need to be split-up into different classes, if a sub does not show-up).

On top of my Sub Tub, I have a basket filled with incentives (behavior tickets for the Treasure Chest drawer held on Friday and stickers) and a red bag with first aid supplies (band aids, contact solution-for teacher use).

Center Activity Storage

I store all my centers under my desk in gray tubs that I purchased from Wal-Mart.  I store the individual activities in large envelopes or ziplock bags.  (Unfortunately, not everything can fit in the tubs.  I store things like large foam dice, piggy banks, bowling games etc. in my file cabinet.)

I write the skill that the activities are in the tub cover.

Wall of Words

Word Wall

As we learn a new word, it is added to the wall.  This is my wall for ELA words.  I printed the words out, pasted them on red index cards and then laminated them.  

The ABCs are from Mardels.  I added a blue dot to the vowels.  The letter "Y" gets 1/2 a blue dot, since it is sometimes a vowel.

Pictured: Word Wall, Listening Center, Directions for the Listening Center, Computer Center, Dividers for the Computers (I got the foam boards from the Dollar Tree and spray painted them.  This helps with behavior.

Pictured: Close-up of words, notice the blue dots for the vowels

Math Center Tubs

I use the same Center Rotation Chart for Math as ELA.  


The only difference is I will not use the COLOR groups for math so much.  (Remember the COLOR group is the homogeneous group-students with the same abilities, students with similar needs).  


WHY?  With math...the abilities of my students vary with each skill we learn.  So, it is harder to group them because one may understand tally marks, and not addition, but they may understand time etc.  The groups would change everyday.  To fix this dilemma, I will pull random students from each group or I could just pull the whole NUMBER group to the small group table.  It all depends on their needs for that particular day.

Here are pictures of our classroom math area.  On one side of our rolling storage shelves, we have our math tubs.  On the other side, we have our math manipulatives.

ELA Center Tubs

Here is where my students get their ELA Center tubs.  The leader will take the tub to a specific location in the room.

*Pictured Above: Center Crowns, "Think Tub", Center Tubs, Center  Mailboxes)*

Tub with a Sad Face= This is called the "Think Tub".  When a student is not following directions during center time, they must complete an ELA worksheet instead of having the privilege of working on a center activity.  When they finish the sheet, they put it on my desk and return to their center.  Students do not ask me if they can go back to centers (b/c I will be in a small group), they know to do it on their own.
Blue tub that says, "Center Crowns"= This is where we store the crowns for the leaders.  From 9am-10am we have a whole group reading lesson.  At 10am, I pass out crowns to students who were doing an amazing job participating and following direction during that time.  One student will receive a crown for each NUMBER group.  The job of the leader is to get the center tub, pass out supplies and put center tub away.  In addition, they need to monitor the progress and behavior of their group.
Black tubs with pictured labels= Pictured are four of the five center tubs.  Centers: Library, Word Work, Spelling, Reading, Listening (not shown-this tub is in the center location already), and Computers (no tub needed)

Last year, the students kept a"Center Folder" to hold all their center work.  I did not like that because I had to rummage through the desk to get it, work that had glue on it would get all over and the folder would get torn-up quickly.

This year I tried something different and love it!  I got two letter mailboxes from Office Depot.  I numbered the slots, so I wouldn't have to rename the slots every year.  The students put completed center work in their mailbox.  

Flower Pens!

I felt like every time I started the timer to DIBEL a student, I was racing to find a pen.  By putting a basket of FLOWER PENS on my small group table, I always have a pen!

Flower Pens are awesome because you never walk away with them.  Plus, they give the whole area a home-like touch.

How do you make Flower Pens?

1. Get fake flower, green floral tape, pen, hot glue gun, rubber cement (Hobby Lobby)
2. Cut the fake flower so all you have is the top and a small portion of the stem.  You will need this small portion of the stem to attach the flower onto the pen.
3. Position the flower at the top part of the pen and wrap the green floral tape around the flower stem and the pen.  Go over many times for support.  Wrap the green floral tape around the whole pen.  It should be tight.  Leave the ink part showing.
4. For extra durability, I hot glue the top part, where the Flower and Pen meet and the bottom part, where the green floral tape ends.
5. For extra extra durability, I take Rubber Cement and lightly glaze the green floral tape which has been spun around the pen.
6. The green tape will be sticky for awhile, but it will eventually dry.
7. Start writing with your new Flower Pen!

Supplies for Small Group

Supplies I Use in Small Group

These supplies are stored in the canvas bags hanging by Command Hooks on the wall.  I switched over to the hanging bags (over plastic storage drawers) because it was off the floor and out of the way.  

All those canvas bags came in one package at Hobby Lobby.

This bag holds dry erase markers.

This bag holds our Puppet Erasers (You can get them at the Dollar Tree)

This is how you use a Puppet Eraser.  It is perfect for cleaning dry erase boards and the kids love them.  =)

Since I progress monitor at my small group table, I store my progress monitoring books here.

I keep an ABC chart, Blends and Digraphs Chart, Hand Clappers (working with syllables-Dollar Tree) and Pointers (From ReallyGoodStuff or Party City during Halloween season).  We use these fingers to point to the words when we read.

Literacy Workstation Rotation Chart

Literacy Workstation Rotation

 -Six centers

-2 rotations in 1hr. (30min. centers)

-Each student is a COLOR and NUMBER

-NUMBER GROUP:  Heterogeneously working in centers
           Students are able to assist each other when they are grouped with different abilities

-COLOR GROUP:  Homogeneously working in small group
           When the teacher calls a color group to her table, there will be one less person in the number group.  In conclusion, there will only be three people working in a center at one time.  This helps with the behavior. =)


Teacher Rotation Charts

Teacher's Rotation Chart (for Tuesday)
I hang these sheets behind my small group table.  I rotate the centers by moving them up. 

Teacher's Rotation Chart (for Wednesday)

Teacher's Rotation Chart (for Thursday)

Teacher's Rotation Chart (for Friday)

Map of Classroom with Centers Labeled 

Small Group Area

Here is a picture of my small group area.

 Key Components to my Small Group Area (shown in picture above)

 Organization Elements
1.  Literacy Workstation Rotation Chart
2.  Chair Pockets (home for white boards)
3.  Canvas Bags on wall (home for teacher's supplies)
Teaching Elements
1.  Pocket Chart with Phonics Cards
2.  Phonics Flip Chart
3.  Sound Boxes with clip (mounted on bulletin board)
4. Vowels Poster
Behavior Management Elements
1.  Lamp
  **How does this work?  When I am sitting with a reading group, I turn on the light.  This means the rest of the students (in centers) are not allowed to interrupt the small group lesson by asking me a question.
2.  Stars Graph
  **How does this work?  When the whole class is doing an awesome job in centers they can earn stars.  They have 1 hour (that is how long center/small group time is) to earn 20 stars.  When they earn 20 stars, they have earned a prize.  (Possible prizes: free-time, treasure chest, whole class bingo games)

Parent/Teacher Communication Binder

Problem?

How do I organize...

~communication with parents?

~conference forms?

~student data?

Solution!

I organize this information in one BIG binder.  When I have conferences, this is ALL I need because everything is in here.  This eliminates the problem of searching multiple places in your room collecting documents.  The following picture is how I keep it organized.

As stated in an earlier post, every student has a number.  I purchased dividers that go up to 30.  Each student has their conference forms, report card copies, notes and other important documents behind their number.

Organizing Lessons and Copies

Keeping yourself organized is one of the best things you can do to improve classroom management, in my opinion.  I feel like I am constantly learning from other teachers.  I accredit most of my organizational strategies to those amazing teachers out there who are always willing to open up their "school box" to a wandering teacher.

The following are strategies I use behind my desk to keep myself organized.  The students do not have access to this area.  

*Notice*

As you notice in my pictures, I label EVERYTHING.  You never know when someone needs to find something in your room.

This table is located behind my teacher desk.  Pictured above I have: daily, organizational drawers for worksheets, my treasure chest, "Sharp" and "Dull" pencil cans, staplers, tape, printer, hole puncher, Parent-Teacher Communication Binder and Lesson Plan binders.  I use this stuff everyday.

I organize my daily worksheets by days of the week.  I get it ready on the Friday before the  next week.  I feel more prepared this way.  I organized it by day of the week instead of subject area because....if I were unexpectedly absent, a sub could easily take the work from the drawer of that day. 

If I could only take one thing away from my classroom, this would be it.  For the past 3 years,  I have saved every lesson plan, worksheet, and art project.  Every week I add to my binders.  The most valuable thing in my room!!!

I love to be prepared because you can never predict the next paper shortage or next time the printer will break.  This is where I store up to 6 weeks worth of lesson plans and copies.