Classroom Digs

Hey ya'll! I'm back with my Classroom digs! I've only taken a few snapshots. My room is still a work in progress (although we are back in full force). I'm waiting on my new rug and chair pockets to arrive. When they do, I'll do the FULL reveal - so stay tuned! Anyways...here is just a sneak peek. I've done a lot of things differently this year....painted, rearranged, changed my bulletin boards, etc. Here is what my classroom looked like last year. 

As you can see....my rug/whole group area was in the far corner of my room (under the large palm leaves). Here is what that corner looks like now...

It houses my classroom library! I added a large tree around my palm leaves for added detail. Students can sit on the bean bags and "explore" books! ;-) ha Yup, I'm corny! All my books are labeled with Reagan Tunstall's book tub labels and stickers (I no longer think the sells this unit). I spent most of the summer working on this and am thrilled with the outcome. 

Students are doing so well with putting books back where they belong. If you'd rather not do this method, check out an easier alternative {here}.

Here is my word wall that my most precious Dad helped me make. I used suggestions from Debbie Diller and April Larremore and was thrilled with the final results. Debbie says:

1) Make a border or a grid for the letters and words to go in. This is based on brain research she is reading about and how the brain sees in borders.

2) Make the vowels one color and the consonants another color.

3) Add a picture for the beginning sound of the letter. This applies to lower grades.

4) Make the words on the word wall in black and white. The words are easier to see this way and it is a  common color for words in print. I decided to put a border around the individual words based on the brain seeing in borders idea.

One thing I wanted to add this year was a defined writing space. While I've always had a writing board, students have never had a space they could go to in order to write (aside from their desks). I am so thrilled with the way this turned out! Of course the sweet little Writer's Eye posters came from Cara Carrol. :)

Here is my calendar/whole group area! I'm awaiting the arrival of my new classroom rug, furnished by Donor's Choose!

Here are just a few other random snap shots! Please check back soon for pictures of the end result. I cannot wait to share it with you! Don't forget to link up with Blog Hoppin' and visit again tomorrow for another Teacher Week '13 post! 

Happy Tuesday.