Classroom Tour

I think I am feeling like a lot of teachers and I am struggling to love my work as much as I used to. There is a ton of pressure, lots of added responsibilities, there is less importance placed on education, the students are more difficult to engage...yadie yada ya.

I don't want to spend any time griping on the negatives of the job, because unlike lots of teachers I am truly dedicated to the job and will do whatever it takes to make this work! I am hoping to find a new energy in my classroom this year and really connect with my students. My 2015-2016 school year goal is to remember why I started teaching to begin with, and then get better from there!

I have been spending weeks thinking of ways to get more excited about getting back into the classroom. I am employing strategies like: building a much more fun wardrobe (cute clothes make me want to go somewhere to show them off), trying a new style of teaching and completely flipping my classroom, and also changing the physical decor. I am excited about some of the decorative changes I have made so far...and I think my classroom is *essentially* ready for students!

Here is a tour of what I have been working on for the last week in my room:

Let's start with my desk! The biggest change for this year!

I am working on more of a "paperless" and "minimalist" approach to my work. Paper and clutter on my desk is one of the biggest factors in my classroom stress, so I thought I would try to cut it out all together! I used to have a huge, L shaped desk and I took half of it out. Now I am left with this very small desk and hopefully I will be able to function with this and only this.
*Disclaimer: the other piece of the desk is in storage across the hallway. Nice and close if I break down, panic and need it for security!*

The view of my classroom while standing behind my desk. 

I love my B letter block and the tiny sugar skull! The black magnetic easel board is an old product from Creative Memories. An oldie, but a goodie! The containers holding my pencils and supplies are actually kitchen containers from Target! Cheap and multi-functional!

Right next to my desk, in the front, is my SmartBoard and I added this faux bulletin board.

I saw this idea on Pinterest (duh!) and had to copy it! It's just white butcher paper, but cute borders from Target. I added some of the paper flowers I got from Party City last year and some banner labels from Teachers Pay Teachers. The banners came out much smaller than I thought, so I will probably end up re-printing them bigger. They say "Espanol 1" on the left and "Espanol 2" on the right. The hanging folder pockets are also a bargain find from Target and I hope to use those for absent work, student documents, etc. I still love my little cart! An Ikea knock off, found at Sam's Club. Perfect for toting supplies with me from room to room, or letting students have access to my supplies (when I feel that generous).

A close-up of the banners...still want to re-do them. From Teachers Pay Teachers.

The entire classroom, when I am standing in front by my SmartBoard.

I am going to keep the students in rows and in pairs this year. I think that's the most effective seating arrangement for my teaching style as well as for my students. I wish I could make collaborative pods work, but it's just a recipe for disaster with my students chatting and distracting each other. I did angle the outside rows to help students engage with me and focus on the SmartBoard. 

New addition: my Meme wall. I just can't resist these funny, classroom related memes 

The students probably think I am a total nerd, but that's okay with me! I love the meme posters. The milk crates hold folders that have the unit packets, vocal flashcards for games as well as the scan tron sheets for my iPad app. The chair to the right of the table will not stay there long. That is my "Hot Seat" and my favorite classroom management tool! The students dread it, but that's what makes it effective! (More of Hot Seat later...)

Turn in trays and student supplies.

This year I moved the student shelf to the back, near the table with the milk crates. I thought keeping all of the "paper work" grouped together would help students. Also, it will encourage me to get more steps in having to walk all the way across the room, right? I found that little chalkboard sign at JoAnn's and am going to use it for no name papers (yes, believe me, no names really happen in high school!) I hot glued little white clothes pins on the bottom of the board and will just hang papers there when they come along.

Chalkboard quotes, pre-designed from Teachers Pay Teachers.

I was already missing all the colorful posters hanging around the room, so I threw in these chalkboard quotes to help brighten things up! Plus, if students are staring into the distance, at least they have a healthy dose of motivation staring back at them!

The Rules poster.

I found this idea on Pinterest as well and wanted to make my own because I thought the hashtags were funny next to each rule. I wanted something hanging that wasn't a "NO this" and "NO that" type of poster. I thought this was the perfect middle ground...we will see if it hits home with the kiddos when they come in! #keepingupwithteenagers

That's all the decor changes I have made so far in the room! There are some very small details I need to add still (table cloth and dry erase poster board), but for the most part the classroom is ready to be filled with eager students! Let's be real about the eager part...I will be lucky if they are awake the first week of school!

Let me know what you think of the room or if you have any suggestions! 

What are you changing in your classroom this year?

Things are gearing up in this Little Life!