Practicing What I Preach

The custodial staff finished cleaning my room, and the technology department was ready for me to decide where I wanted my new computer center, so, earlier than planned, I returned to my classroom:









In my post about classroom themes and decor, I suggested that teachers arrange their room furniture BEFORE hanging up paper, posters, and learning tools, something I still do even though this is my third year in this particular classroom.  Center locations have to be tweaked and adjusted this year due to the new computers: instead of laptops, my students will have keyboards and monitors that fill up two center tables instead of one; the computers must be located at an appropriate network point; like my other centers, I don't want my view of the computers blocked by any displays or tall furniture when I'm working at my own desk or reading table; and the computers must be away from both our sinks and water fountain.


I first set up my students' desks and chairs near the SMART Board, one of their favorite learning tools:







Then I situated the large bookshelves as dividers between centers, making sure they didn't create blind spots:

I'm able to keep my calendar/story time center in the same corner as last year:

With the big furniture in place, and as our wonderful technology staff started setting up my computers (the center will be to the right of our circle/storytime area), I decided to set up the bulletin boards that won't be damaged by sunlight over the last month of summer vacation:

Later this month I'll return to the classroom to finish my word wall, math display, center tags, locker/cubbie tags, and of course, open up fresh boxes of crayons.  My classroom plants will brighten up corners, and I'll need to pull workbook pages and fine tune my lesson plan templates, wash and re-hang curtains, and set out learning materials and tools for my next group of Super Stars- so much to do!

(First curricular theme: COLORS)