One of my favorite parts of getting back to school is setting up my classroom! I love, love, love organizing materials and thinking of ways to use my decor to inspire my students. Here is a little peek at my classroom. I will be sure to post additional pictures once it is complete! Or, you can check out my classroom tour video right {HERE!}
I am beyond thrilled to be joining my sweet friend, Erin Klein, to share 10 tips for setting up your space. If you missed our Periscope on Saturday, no worries! You can check out my 5 tips right now!
...and here is another look...
Tip #1: Splash pictures of your students all over your walls and your room. It's a great way to make students feel comfortable and excited about being in the classroom environment. You can purchase inexpensive frames from Michaels or Hobby Lobby when they are running sales and paint them really fun colors. Then each year, all you must do is replace the photos. Easy and the kids absolutely go crazy over it!
Here is a look at one of our picture walls at RCA:
This is one of the biggest "take backs" from RCA. I love that other schools have incorporated their version of a photo wall in their school!
Tip #2: Create a V.I.P. area to reward your exceptional students. I found this idea on Rachel Lamb's blog and just can't get enough of it. Other teacher's love it too! Check out these posts {HERE}, {HERE}, or {HERE}, or watch my video to learn more about the V.I.P. area!
Tip #3: I had a "Desire to Inspire" my students each and every day. I didn't want decorations to be just that...decorations. I wanted my decor to be symbolic...to serve as representations of why were are here each day and what we are trying to achieve. These quotes did just that. Each month, we would reveal a new quote. We would discuss the meaning and how it could be applied to our lives inside and outside of the classroom. The kids would journal about each quote which was the perfect higher level activity.
I would even give them bracelets on each reveal to serve as a reminder of striving to be the best YOU that you can be! The kids LOVED these!
If you are interested in incorporating these quotes into your room, you can check my three sets out in my TPT shop!
Version 1: Original (includes quotes and rules)
Version 2: Chalkboard brights and pastels (includes quotes and rules)
Version 3: Chalkboard & white primary
(includes quotes, rules, note cards, and journal pages)
Tip #4: Surround your students with plenty of literature and resources that can grow and expand the foundation that you are teaching them. It is essential that we model and teach our students how to go beyond what we are teaching in the classroom. It's time for them to take control of growing their knowledge and expanding their learning. In order to do this, we must have reading materials readily available for our students...even if we don't "teach" reading. Let's be real...we all teach reading. Stock your classroom with reading materials that your students won't be able to put down. I promise...you won't be sorry!
Clutter free is the way to be! Cheesy? I know, I know! But...it is so important to keep your teaching space free from the clutter. If we want our students to be organized, we must practice what we preach. Schedule consistent "clean outs" and give away materials that you haven't used to new teachers or other teachers that will put it to use. It doesn't do you a bit of good just sitting in your room or closet.
Now be sure and head on over to Erin's blog {Kleinspiration} to check out her 5 sensational set-up tips. I am telling you, you won't want to miss out on her brilliant ideas! Also be sure to follow her on Twitter and Instagram @kleinerin. She always posts great ideas that can be directly implemented into your classroom.
Thank you for joining us! Happy decorating! :)
XOXO!
Great ideas, Hope! I'm definitely going to add more student pictures in my classroom this year. And you are right that the VIP table is a huge hit. One of my favorite things I did new last year!
ReplyDeleteI would love to try the VIP table in my classroom!!
ReplyDeleteI CANNOT wait to see your take on the VIP table! Perhaps the mad hatter's tea party!
ReplyDelete