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Classroom Reveal from Sharing Kindergarten

September 5, 2016 by Mary Amoson 12 Comments

Check out my class reveal when I moved schools.

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! This reveal occurred when I switched school and had to move and redo everything.

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 view of my classroom

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?

Slide36

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.

Slide41

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.

Classroom Reveal from Sharing Kindergarten

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

Alphabet using Black Primary Colors

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.
Color Coded Tables Classroom Reveal from Sharing Kindergarten

Table Breakdown

Color code all the things

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

Peek into my room!

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.

Color Coded Classroom

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.

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Check out this classroom reveal

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.

Library time revealed

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. 

Make it easy for them to find a book!

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!

Check out this BOLD kindergarten room.

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

Cubbies for Kindergarten

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

Cubbies and book boxes and more color coding... oh my!

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

Shapes are up and ready!

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.ย 

Reading 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.

Loft and word wall space

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.
MORE Classroom Reveal from Sharing Kindergarten
Basket Organization

I store sight word station baskets and center baskets here.

Organized center baskets from Sharing Kindergarten
Topics of the Week

Our Minds are Growing

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

Tech Table set up from Sharing Kindergarten

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

Line Up Helpers REALLY do help.

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. 

I got to break up my line using these line up helpers.

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?

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Filed Under: 8 August, Back to School, Classroom Decoration, Organization, Teaching Tips

Comments

  1. Amanda says

    September 5, 2016 at 8:14 pm

    I love the carpet under each table. What a great use for those carpet squares. Your room looks fantastic despite the challenges you had!

    Reply
    • Mary Amoson says

      September 6, 2016 at 10:01 pm

      THANKS… I love the look too!
      That was a last minute decision I am LOVING.

      Reply
  2. Beth says

    September 5, 2016 at 9:48 pm

    Wow! What a beautiful room you have created for your students. Our classrooms are much smaller unfortunately but your seating options are amazing. The wobble chairs are fantastic, but very expensive at $70 each.
    Thank you for sharing! I’m inspired !

    Reply
  3. Gail says

    February 23, 2017 at 7:20 pm

    It looks great! I love the different kinds of seating. Did you have to buy the furniture ,etc yourself? I like the idea of two areas for lining up.
    How do those small tables work out? How do the kids access the the calendar and charts with the bookcase in front of them?

    Reply
    • Mary Amoson says

      February 24, 2017 at 5:53 pm

      Each school is different. My school provides desks, which were not what I wanted for my classroom because my kids almost never seat at an assigned seat!All the blue chairs and brown tables are theirs. I purchased the wobble seats years ago and adore them. The crate seats were a hand me down… along with all the black shelves. I LOVE MY TABLES. I use to have circle tables with I also enjoyed. These tables are beyond perfect for me and how I run my classroom.
      As far as calendar, the shelve is not very deep so they can easy reach the calendar with it. Ideally I would have that shelve pushed over, but plugs don’t allow that right now. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. natalie says

    March 3, 2017 at 7:10 pm

    You and your classroom have me in awe and completely enthralled. Even though I am an older teacher, I love hearing and reading what you are doing in your classroom. You are no doubt an awesome teacher. i want so much to learn to be better. Two of my Kinder co-harts have gone to flexible seating and myself and two others are contemplating doing so as well. It’s so hard to transition. We have always had tables where the students had their own places with their names, etc. I notice you have different seating but all of the tables seem to be the same height. Can you tell me how you manage your seating? Thank you and also for all that you have shared. You are a blessing.

    Reply
  5. Jennifer says

    April 6, 2017 at 7:30 am

    Where did you get the seasons, calendar, and weather cards??

    Reply
    • Mary Amoson says

      April 10, 2017 at 10:14 pm

      https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Black-Primary-2592617

      Reply
  6. Holly says

    June 27, 2017 at 3:37 pm

    Where did you get your student tables ?

    Reply
    • Mary Amoson says

      June 27, 2017 at 8:45 pm

      Worthington Direct

      Reply
  7. Molly says

    August 6, 2017 at 3:19 am

    The loft is amazing! Unfortunately our classrooms are not nearly as big as yours so there is no way I could do something like that in my room.

    Reply
  8. Kim says

    October 4, 2017 at 9:23 pm

    What is the fishbowl for? (Next to the calendar)

    Thank you!

    Reply

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