At the beginning of the year I was presented with a very empty box-of-a-classroom. It was a bare canvas. Once the new furniture arrived, I spent many evenings thinking about how to best arrange it to suit my students needs. Our class has gone through many changes (and endless trips to Ikea) but I am quite happy with the result.
Students enjoy the building center. I have added plastic people and a tape measure for them to explore measurement. They practice their sorting skills of shapes when it's time to tidy.
This carpet is a perfect balance between "Arabic nights" and a cozy meeting place. We call it the Magic Carpet because it looks as though it's right out of Aladdin's book.
These cubbies posed the largest issue since the beginning of the year. Initially I had them outside the classroom but it was tricky to supervise endless trips to get water. I'm lucky to have a large enough classroom so I brought them inside and arranged them in a semi-circle. This had made supervision so much easier and it's a nice quiet, welcoming spot for students to settle in to the class and organize themselves before entering. It's especially nice so parents can be concealed and not cause a disturbance.
I've had a lot of success implementing a sign-in system to start the school routine. Students gather their agenda and line up to sign-in. It's a great opportunity for them to practice their name and we will soon use a secret password of the day that they'll have to write.
Our reading corner is complete with slippers, pillows and plants; make yourself at home! Documentation reminds students of the expectations for Read-to-Self.
I have to limit the hours that I spend inside the classroom. I could be in there for days reorganizing and never be truly happy. I have to remind myself that it's a work in progress and to enjoy the process.
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