Tips for setting up your
classroom!
By Nancy Remkus
“Earth Song Education”
It’s
a brand new school year. An exciting time to set up your classroom just the way
you and your students will like it! We all know how many hours we spend each
day between these walls so it is important to make it as welcoming and
comfortable as possible. Some simple decorating and organization at the
beginning of the school year helps the year to run smoothly. Whether your
classroom is large or small it will be your home away from home for some time.
Some paint, some paper, some staples or glue, can make for a great environment
for the year. And of course the most important ingredient is love.
My
classroom’s bulletin boards were all different colors, which had a hard time
coming together. So with the blessing of administration we painted them all
black which became a wonderful backdrop for all of the children’s work and
classroom information! (We used regular black
latex interior house paint. You can also use the blackboard paint which seems
to be a bit more pricey. If boards get marked up a simple overcoat of paint at
the start of the new year can bring them back to perfection. Mine have lasted
several years without a new topcoat) Other colors work equally well but I
really love the way color pops on a black backdrop.
Each
year we select a class theme-this particular year was, “Reach for the Stars”.
The children painted and glittered their own Styrofoam star to hang from the
ceiling. Each closet door was divided into three sections where children’s work
was displayed such as their self-portrait and a picture of their family. This
section remained theirs throughout the school year and was used to display
published work, art projects and anything you can imagine.
I
created my own earth alphabet for my classroom using pictures of things we find
in our local area for the children to relate to (such as ‘H h for Horseshoe
crab). There is a lot of learning that can be done when we combine and
reinforce ideas. This way the students were not only learning the alphabet and
their sounds but they were also becoming more familiar with the earth around
them.
We begin the year with lots of activities that
involve the children’s names. At the start of the year I make oak-tag name
cards for each of the children. I include a picture of the child on each. We
use these throughout the year. In this photo the children have sorted their
names in alphabetical order. We also chart them according to the amount of
syllables (chunks) and the amount of letters in each name (great ideas to
couple that activity with the book “Chrysanthemum” by Kevin Henkes) Name cards
can also be used for a host of graphing activities. During writing workshop
children can look to the board when they want to include a classmate’s name in
their writing during Writing Workshop. This has been an amazing learning tool!
A magnetic class schedule on the board changes each
day before the kids come into the room. It sure is incredible to watch them
enter and check the schedule each day. They memorize every detail and get a
real sense of reading for a purpose.
We use a pom-pom jar as our positive reward system.
When an individual or the class at large is caught doing something wonderful
they are asked to put a pom-pom in the jar. Working together for a single goal
brings cohesiveness and teamwork to our classroom. When it is filled I let the
children vote on a class reward. We have had bubble parties, stuffed animal
day, game day and much more. Mr. Frog guards the pom-poms and likes to change
positions day to day.
For classroom jobs each day we have a “Manager”.
This changes alphabetically everyday (which is an amazing way for children to
learn alphabetical order without even knowing it). The manager becomes the
line-leader, milk-helper, messenger, nurse-escort and table set-up helper for
the day. He/she selects names from a hat to help with door-holders and caboose.
I flip the picture over after each day. The children are SO excited to be the
manager.
Maybe this year you like to create a picture
dictionary with your class. They are a great way to learn content areas
words and reinforce initial and final consonant sounds while strengthening fine
motor cutting and pasting skills. These great collections come in both English
and Spanish and can be found in my “Teachers Pay Teachers” store.
It works
great to glue the pages into a blank book or onto construction paper to create
individual picture dictionaries that can be very helpful for a resource during
writing workshop time.
This makes a great cumulative and independent activity for literature centers.
At the
start of each school year I buy a notebook and divide it with index tabs in
sections of about 5 pages. I write each students name on an index tab. On the
first page of each student section I write their contact information-the name,
address, phone number and e-mail address of their parents. Each time I contact
their parents or they contact me, when I have a meeting regarding that student
with another teacher or specialist, when I notice anything significant with
their learning I date the margin and write it in this book. It becomes a great
resource for meetings regarding each student. It holds things that you’re sure
you’ll remember but may not in the busyness of each day. When I get a phone
call or make a phone call regarding a student, I grab this notebook on the way
to the phone.
I also
keep a file folder for each child in my desk. This is where I store their
ongoing assessment folders for reading, writing and math but I also place
significant pieces of their work that I may want to bring to the attention of
the parents or instructional committees.
Those are
just a few simple tips that have helped me begin each school year. I hope there
is something in there that might help you to have a great year! Good Luck!
Enjoy! And if you have a moment please visit my TPT store for some great
activity units for your school year!
All the
best!
Nancy
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