Around My Classroom

For lack of anything else to write about, I am going to give a tour of my classroom.  I'm sure it will be fascinating to all.

Let's start with the view from the four corners. 

Corner #1- View from the Reading Corner

The trapezoid-shaped tables in the foreground are where I work with my 3rd graders on math, writing, and reading comprehension.

Corner #2- View from my desk

The divider is needed for when I have two or three groups going on at the same time.  Without it, my students spend all their time looking at what the others are doing instead of focusing.

Corner #3- View from the Reading Skills area

Very little happens at the round table in the middle of the room.  It is normally used to hold supplies that I will need for a lesson or project that day.  Also, my parent volunteers sit there when they come in to help.  I LOVE my parent helpers!

Corner #4- View from the doorway

One of my favorite things about the divider is that it blocks the 3rd graders from seeing who walks by in the hallway.  They are so curious.

Math Meeting

Every morning, the 3rd graders start their math lesson with the Math Meeting.  We work on the calendar, time, money, and skip counting.  This takes up the first 15 minutes of math class.  They have conquered telling time this year! It's very exciting.  We worked so hard on it last year and this year it has finally clicked and they are so proud of themselves. 

Reading Corner

Reading Skills

I feel like I spend so much of my day here.  This is where we work on phonics and fluency.  The white tubs on the left hold the math curriculum.  We use the Saxon program.  The bulletin board in the background holds some of the phonics rules that we work on.

Mr. Morton

Mr. Morton is a School House Rock video on subject and predicate.  I borrowed the lesson idea from Laura.  My students loved it and I think it was pretty effective.

Stuff on the Whiteboard

On the left I put up signs for the different steps of the writing process.  The students move magnets with their names on them to whichever step they are on.  In the middle is a number chart.  Very important for all math lessons.  On the right is a subject and predicate poster.  

"Big Kids Side"

The 6th graders sit here for reading and writing instruction. The 3rd graders call it the "big kids side." 

Sink and Job Signs

On the far left, out of the photo, is the door. To the right of that is where the 3rd graders find out what their jobs for the week will be.  I never noticed how crooked and sloppy it looks.  I'll definitely be fixing that on Monday.  I am so glad that we have sinks and drinking fountains in our classrooms.  I don't know how I'd get by without it.  Underneath the sink is the Go Bucket incase our school is in an extended lock down.  I think it's purpose is self-explanatory.

Doxie Calendar 

This was a gift from my parents.  One of the 6th graders has made it her job to switch to the new page everyday.



 Rules Board

The five white papers with the yellow faces represent the five numbers, or levels, that students can be on during the day.  Hopefully, all the students show outstanding character throughout the day and are able to earn 5s, instead of 1s. 

Touch Math

Does anyone else love Touch Math as much as I do?  There is a Touch Math strip taped to the top of each table where the 3rd graders work on math. 

My Desk

Ugh! Just looking at this picture makes me want to organize this space.  The scissors stapled to the wall were part of last year's Halloween costume. Chrystal, Laura, and I were Rock, Paper, Scissors. 



Meet the Doxies

of the house.

Ava

I rescued her from the AZ Humane Society in March of 2009.  She weighs a whopping 7 pounds on her fatest days. Her energy level reminds me of a two year old.  She is always on the go and ready to play. Her interests are chew toys, playing fetch, barking at anything that moves (and some things that don't), cuddling with anyone who will sit still long enough, eating random things from nature, visiting her grandparents, hanging with her big brother Gabe, and following her mom around the house.

She loves to...

dress up for Halloween.

run full speed to get places.

ride under the passenger seat in the car

and hang out in the woodpile when we go camping.

Gabe

I adopted him from the AZ Humane Society in June of 2007.  He is also known as Gabey Baby, Gabe the Tank, the Gabester, and Love Bug, but he prefers to be called Mr. Gabe. His interests include eating anything, having his belly rubbed, playing keep away from Ava, going on long walks, staring at his mom, visiting his grandparents, waiting at the window for his peeps to come home, sleeping in, and barking at strangers. He is very talented at jumping on our high-top dining room table and feasting on whatever he can find up there. Nothing makes him happier than realizing someone left a door open to one of the rooms with a garbage can.

Gabe also enjoys...

playing in the creek when he goes camping,

and then wrapping up in a warm blanket and sitting around the campfire,



flaunting his Petsmart Degree,



striking a pose for the camera,

and taking a car ride with a good friend.