Teacher Week: Classroom Tour

I'm linking up with blog hoppin for teacher week!

 

Today is the 'ol classroom tour. I love looking at other teacher's amazing classrooms so this is going to be my favorite day.

 

Before I begin with mine, keep in mind that our students don't come for another two weeks...so my room still has some polishing until she shines just right, but here is what I have so far.

 

Photos are taken on my phone...so quality is not so much. sorry!

 

 

Here is where I house all my word work activities.

 

This  is my door going out into the hall. I have my helper for the day chart, behavior clip chart, how we get home chart, and baskets for BEE books.

Here's a look at ALL my cabinets...aren't they amazing? And every single one of them is jam packed FULL!  

Here is where I organize papers. This is where students turn in completed papers and where they come to get new clean paper in different forms.  

Just a quick shot of the back of my classroom. My teacher assistant desk is on the far left then I have two tables for small groups.

This is a peek at the front of my room. My desk is on the far right, along with my Letterland alphabet chart with each character, my birthday board, calendar, and book case to hold student book boxes.

Here's where I teach calendar. Letterland users...if you look at the far right you will see  how I organize my Letterland character cards for live reading and spelling. It makes teaching this so much more efficient. I highly recommend making one. All it's missing is the Letterland header.  

I gave myself a lot of room to write those I can statements this year!

Here's my math wall and how I am organizing my math tubs this year. Did you notice how all of my tubs are mismatched? I worried about it for a split sec before Nickers (my husband) put a stop to my spending. Oh well, maybe next year. I did print off new labels though.  

I also changed my alphabet this year. Instead of having a separate word wall that my students NEVER used...I combined my alphabet chart {which they use a ton} along with my word wall. Now everything is at the front of the room. I'm so excited about this change! 

And I love those hand signal cues! 

Here's the reading area. Needs a rug or something. And maybe oooonnnneeee more book shelf.

 

The rest is a work in progress. I don't think I'll ever be done tweaking and perfecting this room. I'm sure you all feel the same way.

 

Thanks so much for visiting! I can't wait to see your sweet home away from home too!!!

Spelling City

I have been working on my Spelling City account and I have just completed typing in ALL 45 units of our Letterland spelling words. I plan to use it during Daily Five where it can be used as a word work activity but mainly it is a tool for students to use at home while practicing their weekly spelling words. There is a great feature on the website that will actually give the students a spelling test, where it calls the word out to them and they type in the answer. There are also lots of fun educational, spelling games for them to play that while having fun they are LEARNING! If you haven't checked out this FREE website you should definitely pay it a visit. And for those of you who DO use Letterland {which btw if you don't it is a program that you absolutely must look into for teaching phonics and spelling} then here is how you and your students can access the lists. I mean why should you type in all those words when I've already done it and am MORE than happy to share?

Let me know if you like the site or if you use it a different way in your classrooms.

Teaching Spelling the Organized Way

My goal every year is to be more organized. I started with spelling this year and LOVE how I have it organized. No more searching in 10 different spots for activities that match the week's spelling pattern. Our school has adopted Letterland but you could do this with any spelling list or phonics program.Here is what it looks like:

I used an empty crate and hanging file folders.

Each hanging file folder is labeled with the unit number.

Then I fill the folder with any and every material that I own that will help me teach the skill. I took pictures of two of the units that I teach. It contains the words that I use to sort words on the pocket chart, decodable readers that I matched with our Scott Foresman basal, and word work activities that students can use during Daily Five or literacy centers. The examples that I have shown are from a Mailbox magazine, and blogs (Cara Carroll {the first grade parade} and Abby Mullins {the inspired apple}).

I also made a small labeled manilla envelope to hold my word cards used for word sorts and small group activities. That way they won't get lost in the folder. 

I have two crates that I use for the entire year's worth of spelling and word work activities. I keep both tucked away in my closet and only get out what I am using. Nothing gets lost or forgotten about. Let me know what you think and if you have any other great ideas!