Sorry I have been absent from the blogging world for two weeks, the first two weeks of school have put me in over my head busy.
As stated before, this is my fifth year in the classroom, but my first year back in public school since student teaching, first year teaching fourth grade after four years of primary/ECC, and my first year having to do Marzano, data tracking, and state standards.
Needless to say, I feel like a first year teacher all over again.
There is SO MUCH to do in the intermediate grades, I was either staying at the school late getting organized and ready for the next day, or running errands for hours after work getting what I need, OR printing/laminating at home till late at night, to only get to work early the next morning to do more work.
Seriously, who stays at school till 6:15pm on a Friday? Me, that's who.
I am not hear to rant, and I am definitely preaching to the choir.
But I do LOVE my fourth graders. They are CHATTER BOXES though, if anyone has any chatterbox tips please let me know----
I had to change their desks after day 3. But if talking is my only behavior problem this year, I'm fine with that. They are a great group and I'm so excited to go through this year with them.
Below is my classroom reveal. I waited to take the pictures until the end of the first week, I finally have all the kids stuff out after adding four new kids to my roster and losing one. Plus, it looks more realistic to what it looks like most of the time. Including my messy desk. If it's organized and clean, I must be dead.
Looking from the back of the room. This was the desk arrangement AFTER day 3. I had them in groups, but I immediately realized that was a bad idea.
Looking at the room from my desk.
Taped to to the top, I have their class number, name tag, Marzano scales, and behavior punch cards--which we will start Monday.
My board, I wish my Promethium board wasn't in the exact middle, it cuts down on my white board, but I'm getting better at using it.
The left is the daily schedule, also where I will need to write What we are learning in each subject and how we will learn this.
The right has the weekly schedule to help the class remember important information of the week, like if there is a test or need to bring something special to school.
Sources:
Schedule {here}
ABC Chart, that I just ADORE {here}
Closer up of my weekly schedule, Marzano Learning Scale, bulletin board, and the mail center. I'm not sure what I'll do with that bulletin board yet...
During the day the student's cold lunches also go on the table.
Which also, I was shocked that my students had never heard lunches referred to as "Hot Lunch" or "Cold Lunch."
I didn't realize this wasn't used at every school?
Underneath are three bins that hold the student's backpacks.
Back of the room: their cubbies and book boxes {from Ikea}
Above the sinks are frames to hold the essential questions for the four main subjects for each unit {to come Monday Made It}
The mat on the floor was a find from Walmart that says Be Awesome Today, I couldn't pass it up!
My classroom library and reading center:
My reading area with my t-shirt pillows, the kids loving having the pillows to read with!
Rug from {Ikea}
My in progress writing center. Right now it serves more as a place where students can escape the chatter to work more quickly or read.
My behavior management and classroom jobs. Both will be started on Monday. I've never used the clip system, so I hope it's successful. I will connect it with their punch cards. As they move up, they get more punches on their cards, in addition to earning it throughout the day. When they fill it up, they get a choice from the treasure box.
To move down: two warnings, they have to move down one and it's teacher's choice for consequence, two more warnings and it's parent contact.
I only have 12 jobs because a lot will have two students at them.
Sources:
Class Jobs {here}
Clip System {here}
My small group table..full of supplies and assessments. I still need to get storage for the coloring supplies and I spent most of the day assessing my students. Organization is low on the priority list.
Behind is my word wall and a drawer organizer from Big Lots.
Sources:
Word Wall {here}
My desk, no apologies :-)
Right when they walk in. Homework bins and calendar.
Close up of the homework bins I made {bins from Dollar Store}
I like that I kept it separate…and I just realized I was supposed to bring the "In Class Work" bin home this weekend to grade…boo.
This used to be a plain wall, but I stapled butcher paper and border to the wall to make another bulletin board!
For our first week, we focused a lot on how to be a successful student. The students answered questions:
What can you do to be successful this year?
What will Mrs. Alexander need to do to help you be successful this year?
What do you expect to learn in 4th grade?
School is important because…
In the hallway:
And what's better and more reassuring than finding wonderful notes from my kiddos.
Happy Friday friends, I'm headed to bed.
