Over the last four years, I have accumulated a lot and have eventually figured out a system that works in my classroom, so I thought I would share a classroom tour! I also thought I would share some helpful info/resources that I have grown to love in hopes that a few of my fellow teachers out there could find useful. Enjoy!
What is your favorite online resource?
I love Scholastic Scope magazine. It is a monthly subscription of magazines geared towards kids and has the BEST stories and online resources to go along with them. It is a life saver and the kids love the stories! Our school pays for it for us, but I'm pretty sure it is reasonably priced.
How do you stay organized?
Organization is KEY when you are a teacher. I am constantly updating my to-do list and always try to make copies ahead of time if I can. I keep all my future copies behind my desk organized into 3 categories: THIS WEEK, NEXT WEEK, EXTRA. I also put extra copies in a folder organizer at the front of the room for the kid that constantly loses their copy. When kids are absent, I put their stuff in a folder for their specific class period in the back of the room, so they know exactly where to go when they come back. Each class period also has it's own turn in tray near my desk. The kids have an area of items that are exclusively theirs so that they don't touch my stuff - tape, colored paper, scissors, markers, colored pencils, stapler, hole punch, etc. It has worked really well for me the past couple of years.
What is your grading system?
My mentor my first year used a paper gradebook, so I followed suit. I like having a physical paper copy just in case. I put the original grades in that first, then transfer it to our online grading system.
What is the most fun thing about teaching?
Honestly, the kids are hilarious. Sometimes we just have fun and those are my favorite moments.
What is the worst thing about teaching?
It is the most exhausting and emotionally draining job at times. But at the end of the day, it is rewarding.
View of my classroom from my desk
View from the front of the room. I NEVER have my overhead lights turned on...ever. The kids have grown to hate them as much as I do. I love the natural light my windows provide plus my two standing lamps and Christmas lights. It makes the classroom feel warm and homey.
Classroom Library. The kids LOVE this area of my room because only a few students get to read here per day - I tell them it's a privilege, not a right. I've accumulated these bean bags, pillows, and blankets over the years and got the rug from Walmart. The kids also love the artwork and decor. It is definitely the coziest spot in the room.
My safe haven AKA my desk area. It looks cluttered, but each item has a purposeful place. My parents bought me this amazing chair a few years ago from a Billiards store. I love being able to sit there while teaching or having class discussions.
One of my favorite parts of my classroom - my personal bulletin board! I keep my calendar here as well as pictures of all my favorite people. It reminds me that I have a life outside of school, too. I have a couple of lamps over here as well to keep the cozy feel.
View from my desk. I have an Activboard and a document camera that literally saves my life.
Weekly calendar of objectives, lessons, and homework for the kids to copy in their planner and keep us on schedule. I am super OCD and like having this in the room to stay on track and model organization for the kids. My mom used her Cricut to make the words and I used masking tape for the grid lines.
My cluster**** of a desk drawer. No organization here, people. I basically am constantly grabbing and throwing things in here.
I love quotes and picked this up this summer at Michael's. I like changing this according to the time of year, books we are reading, or just a great song lyric!
