Classroom Layout

I recently moved into a classroom that is double the size of my previous classroom and it has a storage closet... YES!  I feel like I have moved from a one bedroom apartment into a penthouse.  The problem is I have a problem making decisions.  I have worked in my classroom four days slinging furniture all over the room; trying to get everything just right.  The result: My bulletin boards look great... the room is a mess.  Until today.  I think I have it.

I am lucky to work in a school district that believes in small class sizes.  My second grade roll has 17 students so far.  That might be big to some teachers, but coming from my old school where I had a homeroom size of 26, 17 is a blessing!

I had my desks arranged into five groups of four.  I noticed that I still had six extra desks.  While staring at them and maneuvering around the extras, I decided to make another group of 4.  That's when it hit me... four desks, but only three students to a group.  The extra would be for daily activities that I will put in ahead of time.  No more passing out 20 papers, construction paper, glue bottles, etc. every time we switch activities.
The extra desk also allows for group projects to have extra work space and students with a personal space issue to sit by him/herself yet still be in a group.

Yes, I realize that for my "Get out the supplies you need from the materials desk" idea will take preparation and planning ahead.  (My mother is laughing at the thought of me doing anything ahead!)  Smooth activity transitions and more time for fun lessons will be my incentive for planning ahead.
Classes start next week!  Hopefully this works!

P.S.
I have name plates, print and cursive writing cards, and little laminated paper books that are taped to each student's desk.  The books are to write their AR level.  Each time they move up, they get to change their number.  Pretty exciting!

Poetry Centers

Fourth Grade Poetry Unit
from my Fall Semester of Student Teaching

Haiku

Reading for Details

The Crocodile's Teeth, Parts of Speech

Mac-a-Lena, Listening

I Am Poem

Diamonte Poem

Colorful Snowman Poem

We used wallpaper samples, construction paper, and scrapbook paper to make snowmen.  For kindergarten, have the big, medium, and small circles pre-cut and let students choose their parts.  Older grades can trace circles onto paper and cut themselves.  

Glue the parts together then cut out or draw faces, arms, scarves, hats, buttons, etc.  I wish I had a picture of one of my students' snowmen.  They did a great job!

(I did not write this poem.)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7klrz9jcjcl5kar/Colorful%20Snowman%20Poem.docx

Perimeter

Perimeter Questions  (also from student teaching)
geared for 3rd-6th Grade

Reading Response Projects

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

We held a literacy camp for 4th and 5th graders a few years ago.  Our group read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor.  I highly recommend this book to upper elementary/middle school students.  The after-reading projects we did can be used for any book.  The students loved the book and projects.  They exceeded our expectations.  Push your students.  Allow them to be creative.  Teach them different ways to express themselves.

I found some of my students teaching lessons today.  I taught 1st grade Reading, 4th grade Language, and 5th grade math and science.  I scanned these in, so they are not editable.  Feel free to use them as they are or as inspiration for your own awesome project.  

Where the Wild Things Are (1st Grade)

We're Going on a Bear Hunt (1st grade)

Skippy Jon Jones (first grade)