Long Time No See

Wow, what a year?!?! I can't believe it has been so long since I posted in my blog. I am going to do better to keep this updated. I had a great year in my classroom last year. I absolutely love teaching fifth grade and enjoyed the students I had this past year. As I gear up for a new year, I am debating on leaving my current school for a few reasons but I love to reflect on the design of the classroom.

If you've been following the blog.....which how could you because I haven't been on.......I was a founding teacher at a charter school in Henderson, NV. The doors to the school opened the Wednesday before school started. All of us teachers hunkered down and got our classrooms ready. My theme last year was chevron and polka dots. I am doing this theme again. It was bright and lively without being gender specific or too matchy. The kids loved it and I got many compliments from parents throughout the year.


This was my classroom when I walked in. A complete blank canvas. Lots of middle school desks (even though I had my students all day) and file cabinets. Our days opened so late that I didn't even have my husband to help me move things, I just jumped right in and started moving things where I wanted them.



Another blank room shot



And another, lol. Love my Vera Bradley bag I got last year. It is a versatile hold everything type of bag!





Look at this board space!!! Two full size boards. You CANNOT beat this!



Here is one of my  boards. In my school, we have to display data, I used this as my data wall. I used cloth bought from Walmart to cover the walls. We did not have any cork boards so this added a splash of color.  If you go to Walmart and tell them you're a teacher, they will give a standard bulletin board size.

Another bulletin board shot. I LOVE the color pink but I realize this is torture for my fifth grade boys. I try to mix it up color-wise.

My ELA board. This year, I am either teaching only ELA or going to teach third grade so I would do the same. Having a wall for each subject is may way to put organization in the classroom.

Here is where I started my Social Studies wall. Realizing it was a bit bare, I opted to put a red background of butcher paper and then changed the theme monthly based on what we were learning.

My classroom libaray is something I am VERY proud of. I have spent countless hours designing an organized system for finding and checking out books as well as countless dollars on buying entertaining books for my students. My collection is amazing! I ended up moving the desk from the front of the room to the other side of the board. I like the desk upfront so I can sit my own things down while I'm teaching. I'm notorious for placing my papers down and forgetting where they are.

Here is my in progress desk corner. I love family pictures in my desk area as well as a clean area. 

This is my finished math board. I thought this year it was such a pop of color and I was able to take things down when necessary.

Another shot of my library. I use shoe boxes from Target to hold my chapter books and baskets for my picture books.

My finished desk, computer set up and all.

My view from the back of the room. I always put the schedule up at the beginning of the school year and a common board with my daily objective, standards, I Can statement, etc. 

The view in my room with desks in place. The sun is hitting the room but you seriously cannot beat the view!

What is your theme going to be this year?