Classroom Setup...with lots of photos!

I'm done!!!

My classroom is officially ready to go for our first day back at school next Tuesday.

A few things have changed from last year (you can see those photos by clicking here) and I think the kids will just love it!

Let me take you around...

This is the view as soon as you walk in to the room.  The table straight ahead is our snack table.

The children can eat snack anytime they are hungry.  They just grab their snack, wash hands, sit down and eat.

Sometimes the table gets full.  I simply tell children that it's like a restaurant:  sometimes you have to wait for a table!

 

This is the side where the shelves and sinks are.  My sand and sensory boxes are there.  The classroom library is at the back corner (with a beautiful lamp from Ikea).

 

Here is my guided reading/writing area.  I house a lot of my books back here, and since I don't have a teacher's desk anymore (got rid of it a few years back), that white drawer you see in the background is now my desk!

Student portfolios are kept on the shelf behind this table too.  The children can go anytime to get them (they are the white binders you see).

 

Here's a closer look at the snack table.  In the centre, there is a glass Lazy Susan on top of a mirror.  I have a glass that holds scissors (so that the children can learn to cut their own snacks open and not ask one of the teachers) and cutlery.  Once they use something, they know to wash it and then put it on the drying rack (at the end of the day I always go back and rewash it before putting it away just in case!).  Oh, and I love plants so I had to add a small one there!

 

This is the newest addition to my classroom....and it's, by far, one of my favourite places in the room!

I plan on making it provocation table, or place interesting things that the children bring in.  Right now I am going to add my seashells that I found on my vacation to Jamaica (I already added my seashells book).

I found this table at Value Village for only $15!

All 4 legs on the table were a little loose so my husband had to fix those, otherwise, a quick cleaning and it was in great shape!

The wicker chair is from Ikea.  I have to bring the other one in next week so for now I just put smaller chairs around.

I also found the mirrors at Ikea last year and finally found a great place for them!

(Just like plants, I love mirrors around the room!)

 

If you remember my art studio from last year, I had it on the other side of the room.  This summer I read a lot about FDK classrooms and searched many pictures and realized that moving the art area to a place full of natural light would be much better.

 

Here's another view of the art studio (complete with a lamp and mirror too!).

I'll add various glass containers full of beads, tissue, glitter, sparkles soon too!

Don't you love the mirror?

Another Value Village find...$15!

 

The Dramatic Centre has always been a popular place in my classroom.  All of the children love role playing so much that I moved this centre to the middle of my class and made it the focal point (it's also the area that is the largest since so many children play here).

Stay tuned for all that this area becomes in the next few months - for more information, you might want to check out my Dramatic Play Centres - The Complete Set.

I added a new tablecloth, real cutlery and, of course, the ceramic tableware from Ikea.

Many people ask me if all of the glass and ceramic breaks in the room.  We spend a great deal of time the first few weeks of class teaching the children how to properly handle all the materials in the room so luckily we haven't had any accidents!  Also, my floor looks like hardwood but it's actually a soft rubber so even when things fall by accident, they don't break.

 

This area is the Writing Centre.  It's pretty much the same as last year, I just turned it sideways to add more room.

The children are invited to write in any way, shape or form so a variety of materials, including my Vocabulary Flip Books, are here.

 

It's a little hard to tell from this picture, but these are mason jars filled with water and food colouring.

I love how they look in the light.  Not only is this area aesthetically appealing, we always seem to discuss colours the first few weeks of school and the children enjoy colour mixing and talking about the various shades they see.

 

I made this area my Math Centre - I really want the children to experiment with different math manipulatives and I'm hoping to replace this carpet with the Learning Carpet.

 

My ECE works daily with small groups of children so I wanted to give her an area where she can house her resources/manipulatives and have lots of space with the kids.

 

The blocks are on these two shelves around the carpet area.

 

Here's a picture of the front of my room, where my Bright Links board is.  I also post my Daily Schedule so that everyone knows what our day looks like.

To learn more about our visual schedule click here.

 

This is our classroom library.  Although a little small, I know that this area will be comfortable and quiet.  I added the doll house here as well.

 

I can't wait to see how the children love their new classroom next week!

 

Stay tuned for a HUGE giveaway to help you kick start your school year...coming VERY soon!!!