Kindergarten classroom tour

Wow! These past few weeks have been crazy with a capital C! It's been ALL about school. I've either been up at school with meetings, professional development, setting up my classroom, or I have been at home working on new pinterest inspired projects for my class. I have a love/hate relationship with the month of August. Hate it because summer is almost over, but love it because I can get back into my classroom and reorganize and decorate, a HUGE passion of mine!!
Here is what my room looked like when I came back after summer (not too bad because we have great custodians, who try and put your furniture back where you had it)

This year, I wanted to change up my room layout a bit.  Here is what it looks like now. 

Welcome to THE BIG TOP!

My welcome sign just inside the door.

View from the door.

My math tubs.

View from my desk area.

Computer area. Love, love, love the lollipops around the room- my sweet mom made those for me a few years ago! I have a lot of empty space on the walls right now that will soon be filled with student work and anchor charts.

Here are my students' cubbies above their backpack hooks.

Many years ago I started organizing my stuff for the week in daily tubs. This has helped me tremendously to stay organized.  I just love these tubs from IKEA that are large enough to throw in all the materials I need for that day. 

Word wall above the cubbies.

Reading Strategy posters behind my guided reading table.

Guided reading table and my desk/work area. 

Another view of my desk/work area. I'm lucky enough to have a lot of storage space for TE's and guided reading materials.  I also have a huge, walk-in closet; praying the fire marshal passes by my classroom on his next visit, it is pretty full! 

Here is the House Station and yes, I think it is SO important that Kindergartners still explore in this center.  They learn so many important developmental and communication skills while they are here, plus this year I plan on making it into other places like a doctor's office, supermarket and pizza parlor.

My classroom library.  I have TONS and TONS of books and this year I expanded the library that the kids can use.  I found these classroom library labels on Teacher's Pay Teacher's (a teacher's best friend) from the amazingly talented Reagan Tunstall.  Check out her store, she has so many great products and I also happen to love her because she has taught in California and Texas, just like me! 

 

I have two of these little wicker chairs for the kids to sit in and read.  This year my mom and I made some precious little pillows that they can use to lay on the floor and read. 

Here is a close-up look at the pillows.  My mom came into town for literally 24 hours and man, did I put her to work.  Thank you so much mommy- I love the way they turned out and was so happy to spend some time with you. 

This is my back wall.  The writing station is on the shelves and the blank wall will be covered with student work very soon! 

Math action wall and teaching board.

Science & Social Studies Station

My new behavior clip chart (pinterest inspired and purchased on TPT from Melissa Freshwater.  She also has a behavior reward catalog which is a great alternative to a traditional treasure box. Check her store out too!

ABC/Word area 

I plan on using the Daily 5 this year for the first time. This is going to be my management system- I just need to write a students' name on each clip.  This summer I followed a blog study on this book- I really think it is going to transform my language arts block.  If you have used Daily 5 in Kindergarten before, leave me a comment on how you make it work, I would love to hear your ideas!  Many of the teachers that participated in the blog study created materials for the classroom.  Head over to the Teaching Reef  because she has the most amazeballs Daily 5 unit for FREE! Yes people, it's free. Us teachers love a freebie.  

Another view of the class and close up of the student tables, aren't they precious y'all? Not as practical as a traditional square or rectangle table, but super cheerful and cute! I'm all about the cute, I guess that's why I teach a primary grade!

My teaching area.  This glider is so comfy that a former co-worker just about fell asleep in this chair during our planning period.  I guess it's a good thing she is retired now and can take naps whenever she wants! Haha!!

One of my outside boards.  I wanted to create a "family, fun photo booth" for my students.  So, at meet the teacher, I put out all sorts of props (sunglasses, clown noses, cowboy hats, feather boas, blow up guitars, mo-hawk wigs and the kids and their parents went to town! These pics turned out SO cute and I plan on printing them out and posting them up on the board.  A special thanks goes out to our awesome P.E. coach and art teacher for standing outside my room for 2 hours taking the pictures- they said it was the most fun they had ever had at meet the teacher!!

This is my main bulletin board for student work! 

Some first day fun student work! I made all the circle cutouts with my cricut and scrapbook paper. 

Obsessed with my new carpet from Big Lots! Love me some chevron!

I'm sure you've seen or even done a variation of this for your own kiddos on their first day of school.  I had each of my students hold this sign and took a keepsake photo that the parents will no doubt love.  Isn't this little girl precious? Thanks to my dear friend and co-worker Lesley, for letting me borrow your sweet daughter. Adorbs!! 

Well, that's my classroom peeps. I love me a good theme and am constantly changing things up, so stay tuned! I am so inspired by so many amazingly talented teachers out there and love sharing new ideas and learning from my peers. 

Now, I gotta go rest up and enjoy this 3 day weekend, a MUCH needed vacation after our first full week back with the little ones. I'm so glad to have that under my belt.  My kiddos are beyond precious, but Oh. My. Word. they are exhausting!!!