Tour Our CLassroom!
Welcome to our classroom! Below you will find pictures and descriptions of various spaces within our room. This is what my classroom has looked like in years past. Although most of it is the same, I have added a few tables for social distancing. Some cloth items have also been removed, but in general, this is very similar to how my room looks. I hope you enjoy getting a peak into our classroom.
Below is a close-up picture of our carpet area, which is where most of our whole-group lessons will take place. Each student will have an assigned socially distanced spot on the carpet. Most lessons I teach involve students sitting and listening on the carpet first, followed by independent practice around the room. You might have noticed the blue pocket charts below the board. These pocket charts will serve as my 'word wall', which will eventually hold words as students learn them. Students can grab words as needed to help them write words correctly.
Here is a picture of my Guided Reading table. This is where I teach reading lessons to smaller groups of students. I will also use this space for small group instruction during math and writing. My favorite addition in the last few years has been the crate chairs. They serve as both chairs and extra storage for books! Behind the table are the red browsing boxes. Each student has their own box to store their personal books that they will read throughout the year.
This is a close-up picture of our classroom library. Over the years, I have collected thousands of books which I store in bins. Each bin is organized by theme to make it easier for students to locate their favorites. Some of the bins include: Dinosaurs, Fancy Nancy, and my personal favorite, Ms. Benson's Picks. Each morning, students have the opportunity to read and explore books in the library. On Fridays, students are allowed to pick 3 books from the library to keep in their personal browsing box to read throughout the next week.
I have many comfortable places for students to work such as a futon, chairs, bean bags, and pillows. Below is a picture of a special reading cubby I made a few years ago. It's the perfect size for students to curl up and read a good book. My favorite new addition is a reading nook I made out of an antique vanity. It's the perfect place to to read. Students can set their browsing box on either side of the seat for easy access to their books.
Below is a picture of my students' cubbies. Each student is assigned a cubby to store his/her school supplies. The biggest challenge every year is to keep each cubby organized!!
Below are a few pictures of my art area. Within this area, I have ample supplies for students to draw and create. Students usually have time a couple times a week (or when we have indoor recess) to use these materials. This area is also used when I need to test individual students, since it's pretty quiet and secluded from the rest of the classroom.
Here is a picture of our writing corner. Though students will write in various places around the room, this is the area where they can access any writing materials they may need such as paper choices, blank books, markers, correction tape, and letter charts. I also have TV trays tucked away in the corner for those students who like to stand when they work or a sitting desk for those students who like to sit on the floor as they write. My students absolutely LOVE to write each and every year. I can't wait to see what books they will create.
Here is a picture of my math shelf. This is the area where I store my math tools, counting collections, and math games. I have worked very hard this summer to make my math materials accessible and organized for students to use. I am excited for students to begin using these items to make math easier and even more enjoyable.
My newest addition, the Calming Corner, is going to be used as a place for students to calm down. At the station, I will have a bucket of items for students to use to alleviate stress and high-pressure emotions. There will be a timer located at this table so students know when it's time to return to the group. This space will be used as needed. I'm hoping it will bring peace and calmness to my classroom this year.
There you have it...my classroom in a nutshell! I look forward to utilizing each of these spaces throughout the year. Now I just need all of my students here to make my classroom really feel like HOME.