Tour of My Classroom (It's a long post)

I can't say this enough but I think this has been the fastest summer of my entire life.  I have never felt like this before but it honestly feels like our summer was one week, maybe two.  But two months! No way!

Either way, the show must go on and when I get into "the mode" (you know that school mode when all you sleep, dream, and think about is SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL) no one can stop me.  I have been tediously researching home-like materials to add to my classroom.  Jenn and I have been scouring yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets, you name it!  I finally feel my classroom is ready to be shown off.  It took a lot of work and I know my style will change (give it until Christmas) and soon I will be changing things up again.

I am so proud of my classroom and I am so EXCITED to show the kids their new second home.  So without further ado (I actually had to look up how to spell that) I present to your our classroom.

First as you enter we have our welcoming hallway.  I have added framed photos of all the students to give that really homelike feeling (you will hear me saying that a lot).  Below the pictures the students are going to fill out a get to know me page the first week they are back.  The black space below the bulletin board is our new chalkboard wall.  The students will be able to draw, brainstorm, and even write their spelling words on our wall!

Here is a close up of the wall.  Jenn painted this and it took about five coats.


Our classroom Golden Rule, "Treat others the way you want to be treated."

Our new + improved science nook.  I recently bought the wooden end tables at a thrift stores.  They are the perfect height for the students to check out our microscope, field guides, and science related books.

Repurposing old items and making them new again!

We added this reading nook last year and I changed the theme for September to Bear Aware!  We have bears in the area and I thought the students might have generating some questions over the summer.

This is the student's art that we created last year inspired by the artist, Andy Goldsworthy.


One side of our play area.  I change our chalkboard saying up about once a month.


A new bulletin board with string for the student's to attach their own work.  Thanks Mrs. Austin for all your help!


Our peace chandelier from last year.  This is hung above our play table area.


This is our play area and on the top shelf is our atelier.  Atelier is a artist's studio (a word commonly used in a Reggio Emilia inspired classroom).


Birds eye view of our atelier.  These are goodies collected from many family members, students, and things found around the school.


The artist's tools.


The shelf in all it's glory.


The variety of shades helps students see the subtle nuances between shades in the same colour family.




These are my favourite photographs in our classroom.  These are images of my Great Grandmother's classroom in 1945.  She was a teacher in Kelowna and taught with Anne McClymont (which is a school now in Kelowna).  I think looking at these pictures reminds me of my roots and that teaching it's in my blood! haha.


Writing Centre.  Here is a place for the students to write and draw to connect with family members, friends, role models, etc.  We have a variety of papers for them to write on (cards, stationary, old valentine's cards, etc) and a bunch of different writing tools.


Our look-out bird watching station.  Here the students can observe our bird feeder that we have hung in the forest.  We also have this amazing birdhouse that has a glass backing so we can watch the birds nesting.


Our listening centre.


Calendar area and our community circle meeting area.


Our themed books on display.  For the month of September we have back to school collection, Robert Munsch, and Dr. Seuss.

Our classroom library.

Nature table and treasures.  The nature table replicates nature outside and the seasonal animals that may be in the area.  The students collect natural items from outside and add them to our nature and treasure area.

I love this view!

We have plants!  I don't have a green thumb but I am hoping I can handle succulents.  These are suspended from a branch and hung in our window.  I love that the plants aren't on our shelves and only needed to be misted occasionally.  Thanks again Mrs. Austin for creating this!

Our math area filled with power of ten blocks and "treasure kits" (tool boxes filled with counting tools)

My desk area... it's sort of boring but I hope to add more photos on the wall.

Here is our book bin storage for reading and some photos of the students.

Next to the shelf is this small basket filled with fairy garden treasures.  The students will take this outside and make a home in the forest for our fairy home.

New signs to wash our hands!

This picture is actually of Mrs. Austin that I took with my cellphone.  I am amazed how iphone pictures turn out when you print them.

I was truly inspired to create these spaces from an ecourse I took over at playful learning.  I highly recommend all of the ecourses offered on their website.