I have set up a writing center in my classroom. The word wall I call our "Heart Words" because we know them by heart. I placed my word wall low and when we begin to add words I will write the words on post-its and stick on the wall. That way students can come up and take the words they need and can place it back on the word wall when finished.
My word wall up close.
This shelf sits in my writing center. In the frame I listed "Writing Topics" and added the lamp and plant to give a "comfy" feel. The shelf is actually 2 small shelves placed back-to-back. I used the fabric to cover up the shelves. You will notice in my pictures that I used fabric on all my shelves to cover the items. It makes the room look less cluttered and "out of sight, out of mind" for the students. My students aren't distracted by everything around them!
I bought this cute pencil themed furniture from Hobby Lobby! I used the coat hangers for my book bags, and the shelf as part of our library collection. Fits so well in my classroom with the primary colors.
Here is an up close picture of the book bag hangers. The furniture looks like pencils.
My reading center. The theme of my classroom is DREAM. My books are are labeled and organized by topic. As you can tell, my students' favorite reading spot is in the tent. They love it!!
Here I have 2 shelves that I have placed back to back and placed fabric on. I have a reference sheet for "I-PICK" good fit books for the students when in the classroom library.
My guided reading center. The shelves behind the bean table are still a work in progress. I am not ready to start groups so I haven't organized the materials. I will update the pictures when I do get it organized. As you can see on the back shelf I have a tank for our class pet. Believe it or not our class pet is a snake! I never thought I would be the type of person to own a snake! However the kids love it and they get so excited when he decides to make an appearance. He is a corn snake and this is the 3rd year I've had him. His name is "Who Dey" which my husband named after his favorite NFL team, the Bengals.
Behind the fabric is tubs that I placed on top for storage. Again, I wanted my room to look less cluttered so I hung the blue fabric with stars above the students' lockers. I placed velcro at the bottom so that I can get behind the fabric and it keeps it secure. Right above the students' lockers I have black dish tubs that I got from the dollar store. They fit perfectly in each little cubby hole and those tubs will become students' book boxes for The Daily 5.
I am all about organization so I label everything!!
My little teaching area. I found a cheap round table from Hobby Lobby and covered with pretty fabric. I placed my ELMO (document camera) just above the table on my desk so I can work at the table and display on the screen for the students.
My Daily 5 and CAFE display area. I found my posters for each on TPT. They are super cute! For my daily 5 display, when the students get started doing each of the Daily 5 components I will take pictures of them doing the activities and place around the coresponding poster. I am attending a conference this September in Orlando that is hosted by The Two Sisters of the CAFE and I can't wait! I have read the book and love it and am anxious to begin implementing in my classroom this year!
My CHAMPS board for classroom expectations.
Calendar. We do Every Day Calendar. I purchased a locker organizer from Wal-Mart (blue thing hanging to the left of calendar) to organize my calendar materials. Easy access!! Below the calendar I have posters with all the students pictures and speech bubbles. We have a question of the day and there are dry erase markers in the green basket hanging to the right under the calendar board so students can write in their speech bubbles.
Well that is the majority of my classroom!
