Classroom Reveal from Sharing Kindergarten

Welcome to my classroom reveal. My second home is my classroom. It is my happy place. This classroom isn’t perfect, but it was created by me!

Classroom Goal

But more importantly is what my classroom is to my students. First, I want this place to be their second home. Secondly, I need it to be their happy place. And, of course, I desire for it to be predictable, organized, and created for them in mind.

Work in Progress

But let’s face it… a classroom is a constant work in progress. Kinda like ourselves as educators… and exactly like our students as learners.

This year I was so blessed to be given the gift of Kindergarten again. {You can read about that here.} Although all my kindergarten materials were stored in a classroom that was 80% decorated and ready to go, I had to scoot down one classroom this year.

And we all know what a one classroom “scoot” means. It means weeks of work.

The Before Pictures

First, here was my classroom as it was left to me. The former teacher did an amazing job of clearing out in a timely manor and left me a a great blank slate.

Since I was already moving rooms and taking down all my beloved monkey decor… I thought why not do a total theme reset?

Classroom Challenges

Secondly, there are set up challenges to every classroom. This classroom is spectacular to me, but it has some set backs. Do you notice the lack of windows outside? Or cabinets? Or a sink? Well, I do not have windows, cabinets, or a sink.

This is nothing we can’t overcome in the classroom with some smart thinking and creative ideas.

The Classroom Reveal

So sweet friends… without further waiting… I present to you my Kindergarten Classroom 2016, a work in progress. My theme this year is Black Primary. Clean bold colors without a lot of fuss.

First, here is a view from the side corner looking towards our work space tables.

You can see my amazing new carpet from Lakeshore Learning called “Learning Shapes and Colors.” I truly loved my former “A Place for  Everyone” carpet that I had to leave at my former school.

Then, I knew a new school needed a new carpet. And this one is amazing. It has 6 primary colors with lots of shapes to hold 24 students. I can also call student up by their color or their shape! And this carpet is so visually appealing. I feel like it sets the tone for my classroom.

Positions in the Room

I positioned my students tables close to the white board and my the alphabet for phonics instruction. This is the one time a day I use direct instruction without fail. Now, I also knew I needed a bulletin board for my calendar. Placing the carpet next to that board was an easy choice.

Alphabet

Have access to our alphabet as shown below, white board, and Promethean board are vital for this subject. (remember I have no natural light for these pictures so excuse the darker picture.)

Breakdown of Seating

You can also see the color coded primary color tables.  Now, I have 6 tables to hold 4 students. The breakdown below provides us with 24 seats for my students. Since my class size is already at the state limit of 23, we don’t have much extra space!

1. There is a yellow table with wobble seats,
2. Orange table with chairs and Abilities Kore Cushion,
3. Red table with wobble seats,
4. Purple table with wobble seats,
5. Blue table with chairs,
6. Green table with crate seats.
7. I have the 14″ Kids Wobble Seats from here.
   
8. I also have a stack of blue chairs ready for others to grab and use as they feel the need to.

Table Breakdown

Here is a look at the set up for one of my color coded tables. I purchased these colorful carpet tiles last school year from flor.com outlet for a great price. I knew I wanted to incorporate them into this year’s classroom somehow.

Classroom Carpet

I have always taught in a classroom with carpeted floor, so I welcomed the look and feel of these colors under our tables. Since my students are not required to sit, having a color coded “space” is a great way to set movement limits as well. This is just another step I take for seating options. And another image.

Next is a glimpse from the diagonal corner looking towards the carpet, calendar, cubbies. This view allows you to see the crate seats and cushions a little better.

Calendar

Now, remember back to when I talked about calendar? One of my wall came with a bulletin board. Since I always display my calendar big and bold, I knew this was the correct spot for it. I incorporate as many standards and hands on learning activities into calendar as I can.

Here is a closer look at my calendar set up.

Classroom Library

My scoop seats are also off to the side, since this area has a duel purpose for library  and reading to self area. The library is under my calendar.
And each bin is labeled for easy student use. These are the bins I use for my library.  Here is an additional view of this area. And you see see those chairs waiting for students if they need them. 

Not Brand New

Remember how I said this classroom reveal wasn’t perfect? Lots of sweat went into this room. This black shelf as well as my cubbies were a hand me down shelves which I painted in the middle of July outside in the sun. They were UNDER a house. So they had to be vacuumed, wiped down, dried, painted, and touched up in about 100 degree weather. But look at them now!

You can see the cubbies on the far left spot… the spot most other classes would have cabinets and a sink. 

Classroom Reveal of Cubbies

Here is a closer look at this area. Each student has a color coded basket to their table color. You can also see the trash bins, table supply bins, and such on top.
We also hold some of our book boxes on the top of my shelving. I like to spread these out so when we need to read to self, everyone isn’t running into ONE directions, but instead they are scattered out.

Book Boxes

Only the purple, orange, and red bins are here because their table colors are closer to this area. I store the blue in the front of the room close to the blue table. The yellow and green are closer to the loft. This is a small attempt at crowd control. Check out the set of Really Good Stuff Bins I use for book boxes.

Shape Posters

On the wall space above, I have our shape posters. Since school has started we created some fun charts about shapes I posted as well. 

On the other side of the calendar I have a loft. 
Loft

What classroom reveal would be complete without a loft? This was also a hand me down dorm loft. I had my hubs cut down two by fours to the right side at Home Depot. Then I sanded them down, painted them, and screwed them together. This extent the sides of this to be safer for students. We use this to house our kitchen play area.

Word Wall

You can also see the word wall overlaps this space as well. We add our words to the word wall weekly, so it is a work in progress.

My white board area is shown here.

Basket Organization

I store sight word station baskets and center baskets here.

Topics of the Week

I also post the topics we are working on to the side. I erase and write on this area weekly. This is the border I selected to decorate my room and create this area with. 

Technology Table

My technology table set up remains the same. (You can find out about this here.) I have 6 stations, assigning each person a slot, color coded KidzGears Headsets, and the app guide in the middle. Then, I also have groups ready to go on that white sheet of paper that is flipped over.

Lining Up Helpers

The last thing I added to my classroom has these Really Good Stuff  Classroom Line Up Helpers. Here is the first part of the line. 

And here is the second part that curves around the blue table. 
I just have TOO MANY kids to ask them to stand in one line. There isn’t enough space from the door to the wall for 23 bodies to stand. I used these stickers to break my line into two and get up out the door so much faster.
I didn’t put these down until after we learned the traffic flow patterns for this room. We are two weeks into using these circles and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my perfectly IMPERFECT classroom reveal.
I love it and I can’t wait to make it even better as time goes on.
What was your favorite place in my classroom?