Room Tour!

Classroom is complete! I had a lot of fun rearranging my classroom for the upcoming school year. Changes with having two grades led me to want to switch up my whole room! I am so happy with the results!

 I'm trying to incorporate some "flexible" seating this year. This gives children more freedom in choosing where to sit. There's so many benefits from this! It gives children more responsibility for their own learning. It also allows them to be comfortable, and add variety to the day. I was sold on the idea when I thought about my own life. When I'm working on paperwork, I am most focused sitting at my desk at home. But, when I'm reading a book, I would much rather curl up on a couch! By allowing children to choose where to sit (during some activities!), it helps them do their best work!

So.... (drum-roll please!)....here is the 2016-2017 classroom! I love the openness and the bright colors! I feel like it just screams kindergarten!

This is where we will do small group lessons. With having two grades, this is where most of the instructional learning will take place! A perk of small class size is definitely the dynamics of being up-close and personal with the students during lessons. 

This is our free-time area. After the students are finished with their independent work, they can come over and pick an extra activity to do. These will be switched up twice a quarter, but right now it includes reading with a partner, drawing, puzzles, magnet letters, and writing numbers. They can always observe our class gecko too! For those of you who haven't met our class pet, his name is Dude and has been going strong in kindergarten for one and half years now! If you look really close, I'm sure he's smiling for the picture. 

This is my favorite addition to the classroom! I turned our past rest-time cabinet into an adorable cubby! Doesn't it just make you want to cozy up with a book!

These are other places where students can do their independent work. I used crates to make stability balls for times when students need to move while working! I'm predicting that this will be a big hit with the boys, as they always seam to have extra energy to spare! Students can also kneel on rugs and work if that seems more comfortable to them. The center totes have classroom supplies that students can use, or they can carry their pencil boxes around. 

These mats are the area that we will have our whole group meetings (another one of my favorite additions). It'll kind of work as home-base in the classroom. The baskets behind are the student's individual places to store their stuff. They are responsible for keeping them neat and tidy. They'll also keep track of their own independent work, and what they need to do during spare time. 

Book area! I changed up my bookshelf for a better view of the picture books. Beside it is our favorite tote of reading buddies! And of course, the tent it making it's third year appearance!

I've already been informed by one student that she will ALWAYS work in a desk (we'll see about that!). But, it is always an option. Sitting upright at a desk is a wonderful way that many student's focus. There is also two standing desk for students who are tired of sitting (don't we all get like that!). The fluffy purple circle chair is also a new addition, straight  out of my middle school days and stored in parent's basement! I see turn taking in this comfy chair's future! Way in the corner is my desk with a nice empty board! Why is an empty board nice? Because I can't wait to fill it with my student's artwork! 

That pretty much sums up the room! Now it's just missing one thing, students who are eager to learn!