2012-2013 Classroom reveal...FINALLY!! (Better late than never right!)

Hey Blog Buddies!!

I know its been a really long time since I last posted but like most of my teaching friends, school has started and so has the mayhem. We have just finished our official third whole week of school and I still don't quite feel like I have found my footing this year.  Nonetheless, I told my awesome and faithful 21 followers that I would upload pics of my classroom and so here they are.

Disclaimer: These pics were taken on the first Friday afternoon of school right after my lovely 32 4th graders left for the weekend. Please excuse the things that are out of order or my piles of "just in case" things I have already accumulated!

This is the sign that appears on my door as students enter the room...Thanks Pinterest for the inspiration!

Here are my cups "buckets" used for the Bucket Fillers activity

This wall includes my Class Jobs, Star Student of the Week, Character Counts poster, some tools we use in our classroom and our class Brownie Points!

 

Here are the class occupations up close and personal!!! I found the frame from Teaching in Flip Flops' blog and I added all of the class job information to them

This is my first mini-library/reading corner...I'm so proud of the way it came out. It looks quite comfy don't you think?!?! It totally matches my room theme.

Reading/English Language Arts wall

Our behavior tracking system...I did away with the color cards and now my students just move their magnet numbers instead.

The beginning of my math wall...humble beginnings I must say... I'll be adding student work and Anchor charts as the semester progresses.

                                Social studies wall and "N.F.L." Never Finished learning Charts

Our Writing Focus Wall (Looks kind of busy already...I'll be taking some of these posters down AFTER Back to School Night!

The classroom view from the entrance. Gotta love our "hand me down" mismatched student desks! (The desks took some getting used to but I'm thankful for them)

                                                         A view from the Library cove!

 

A Place for EVERYTHING???...Uh Will My Classroom EVER Be FINISHED?!?!?!?

Hey everyone!
OK...I feel the need to express a tiny amount of frustration with my classroom and classroom supplies with you. Here is the issue people...I have been in my classroom for the last 3 days  trying to put my  life  classroom back together after the summer break. Apparently, I had amnesia of how long it was going to take to finish decorating and organizing my room. Right about now....I'm feeling EXHAUSTED and OVERWHELMED! Not to mention I have to sit in a 6 hour PD tomorrow which means no classroom time for me.

I know what you're thinking? "That's how ALL teachers are feeling at this time!" Yes, that is true, however, this time I'm officially on organizing overload! You see, this isn't a normal "class set up" year for me...A few nights ago I was getting one of my personal professional development fixes through blog hopping and pinterest-ing. And I ran across this pinned picture:

Well that pin lead me to an article that led me to write this post. I was magically inspired compelled  to become more organized this year (both at home and at work) after reading an article entitled "7 Habits of Highly Organized People". (Of course I have posted the link to the article HERE, because I would just hate for YOU not to be magically inspired compelled to get organized too!)

To make a long story short (and in an effort not to lose one of my AWESOME 19 followers because of a ridiculously long post) I have been going crazy organizing things and spending lots of money investing in living an organized life for myself and for my students. The part that jumped out at my in the article was having a "place for everything". Arguably, the hardest part of my organizing endeavors...You mean to tell me that I have to get rid of my ever-loving "junk drawer" or "teacher piles" of paperwork?...You mean I can't have a stack of "one day this will be useful" or "I will use that item in a lesson"? All of that was taking sooo much longer than I thought and for a minute I had to ask myself if all of this extra organizing, labeling, color coding, bins/tubs buying will all be worth it...And the answer to myself was YES! It will definitely be worth it!During the year,  I will be less stressed (which will make EVERYONE happier)...and if nothing else, my students may even learn something about being organized as well!

As mentioned earlier...my classroom is not done yet, but here are a few class pics to show you where the mayhem began last week...Can't wait to show you my finished and MORE ORGANIZED classroom in a few days!

P.S. I LOOOOVE the color of this fabric but it has been my worse nightmare trying to staple it to the walls. I tried to be wise cheap with my spending and the fabric that I bought already has a few holes from all the pulling and stapling I was doing (that will quickly be covered with Anchor Charts)..In this pic, I was trying to do a little design with the fabric to cover the holes (it didn't work) I will be sure and show you this wall in my classroom reveal pics later...

 

That's all for now...

God Bless you all!

Have a wonderful rest of the week!!!

 

-Miss Milton