Where is Happens Wednesday

Ok.  I know it is really Thursday, but yesterday was a bit crazy and left me no time to blog.  I did snap some pics today.  I cringed a bit when took pics of my table - but that is the reality of my classroom right now.  I just don't have the time to take care of my table when I am dealing with new kiddos (and boy do I have a few to take care of!)  Anyway, on to the pics! (quality isn't great - I was just in a hurry! Sorry!)

My bulletin board outside my room.

This is a little closer view.  Each kiddo has their own square with stikki clips.  I can easily change out projects without changing out the whole board!  Don't ya love the Chicka Chicka trees?  Idea is from Deanna Jump!

View from my door.  This isn't a great pic because the chairs are up, but I wanted you to be able to see the whole room.

This is my writing spot.  The green baskets are some of my leveled  book baskets.

My unfinished word wall.  I think this will turn out great when finished.  My circles I use have somehow walked away.  I'm sure they will turn up soon.  I printed out all of my words and mounted them on different colored bright paper.  I'll post a pic later when this is finished.

My reading corner.  All the buckets have labels that match the labels in the books.

My spot and my guided reading spot.  Right now this is the catch all spot until we can get our routines established.  Sorry about the afternoon sun!  I do not have a desk - not enough room!  After looking at this picture I feel the need to clean up my spot tomorrow!

Our mailboxes.  My sweet hubby made these 15 years ago.  They have traveled to three different schools and up and down several flights of stairs - many times.  (They are heavy!) 

My Smartboard.  L.O.V.E it!  I have had one for about 8 years now and I can't imagine teaching without it.  I do have a chart stand too but it is pushed into the back closet to make room for my darling in a gait walker.  That is her chair you see on the carpet too. It is actually a stadium seat.  Her trunk muscles aren't strong and she tires easily so this gives her a spot to lean back on.

My calendar/morning meeting spot.  I do calendar on the smartboard too - but I think it is important for the kids to have this resource visible all day.  The blue shelves hold station (center) supplies.

A view from the back of the room to the front door.  Yes that is a fire place.  It is original to the 1940's room.  When I went to K in this room the shelves next too it had glass doors on them.  I wish I had them back.  I can only assume the 'fireplace' was put in to give the room a cozy feel.

A closer view of my fireplace.  The colorful squares will be for our friends and family pictures.

One of my focus walls.  I couldn't get this one to turn around for some reason! Sorry!

So, that is it.  Thanks for looking around!

Linky Party!

Always in First Grade is hosting a linking party.  This one is to share our classroom photos.  I have a few from the beginning of the year that I can share.  If I find any more I will post them later!

This is a view of my room from the front door. 

This is taken from the back part of the room facing toward the front door.  You can see my word wall, storage drawers and front closet.

This is also taken from the back part of the room.  This gives you a better view of my fireplace. Yes, I said fireplace.  It is not a working one and as far as I know it never has been.  The building was built in the 1940's and this has always been the Kindergarten room.  I have a feeling it was added to feel homey. When I attended K in this room the shelves next to the fireplace were enclosed with glass doors. Wish I knew where those were!  The bins are each student's book bin.  They keep their current GR book in there along with other leveled books they choose.

This is my Writing Spot. I have a polka dot theme in my room and all of my stations (centers) are called some type of 'spot'.  This is looking in from the front door.

This is my Reading Spot.  All of my books are labeled by type.  The students match the label in the book to the label on the bin to make sure the books get back where they belong.  Most of my labels came from Jessica Meacham's website.  If you visit her site be prepared to stay awhile - she is awesome!

This is My Spot.  This is where I hold GR groups and math groups.  This is also functioning as my desk.  I did not have enough room in my classroom for my desk and all of the station (center) areas I needed.  I really haven't even missed it that much! On the shelves are my guided reading supplies.  I have 2 three drawer crates that have a drawer for each group. These hold books we are working on and my notes.

This is my Poetry Spot and my mailboxes.  My awesome hubby made these for me 14 years ago.  They have traveled to 3 different schools and to 4 different classrooms. (Up and down several flights of stairs he wants me to add!) They are huge but I wouldn't trade them for the world!
I have more recently started to do my poetry on my smartboard.  This allows me to make the poems more interactive and also to link to relevant web sites where the kids can explore.

This is my student meeting area.  I LOVE my carpet.  It is so much better than what was in here before!  The yellow is a bit hard to keep clean, but I manage!
We meet here for everything, Reader's workshop, Writer's workshop, Smartboard use, Morning meeting, Station time (centers) ....  The blue shelves to the left are two shelves back to back.  One side has math stations the other has literacy stations stored.  You can also see my Smartboard.  I recently found out that it is very hard to live without my Smartboard.  My projector went out and I was left without one for a period of time.  It felt so lost! 

This is the last picture I could find.  It is of our calendar wall.  I have considered putting this info. in a smartboard file, but after having lost the use of my board for awhile I am glad I haven't done that yet.  I may some day, but for now the kiddos really love manipulating everything in this area.







That's it!  That is my room!