Summer Makeover

   I know some might think I am crazy, but I cannot express enough how much I LOVE teaching summer school! My two teammates and I have volunteered our time for this week and a week in July. It is the perfect scenario. Three hours of small groups with kiddos that are excited to learn in an environment that is not as crazy and loud as the school year. We have three literacy rotations and then split our kiddos into a math or writing group. My writing kiddos have been writing an informational piece based on what they have learned about ants. We are finishing up our final drafts tomorrow so pictures and our activities to come soon!

   The other great thing about summer school is I have my afternoons to work in my room. And good thing we decided to have summer school because they decided NOT to paint my classroom. All of my bulletin boards, anchor charts, and decorations had to come down the last day of school. So I have spent the last three afternoons putting everything back up with a makeover. It's out with the camping theme and in with chevron and polka dots! Here is a look at my library corner to the left of my Promethean board before...

Wow! My walls actually look nice in this picture. Not so much in person. There are so many holes and peeling paint, but nothing a little decorating cannot fix!



Here is my classroom library with my Literacy Focus wall and in the corner you can see my Science Focus wall. I just realized...what is that pink box on top of the floor cabinets??? I will have to take a look tomorrow.

Here is my Science Focus wall that I am planning on putting our projects and vocabulary.

I know this picture is not the greatest, but the yellow sign at the top says "Our Focus" and then I have my Literacy letter circles hung with twine. The two green pocket charts will house our vocabulary and F.A.S.T. spelling words. The green sentence strip in the middle says "Anchor Charts". This is where we will hang all of our charts we make together.

The books in my classroom library are all in themed yellow bins on the outside shelves and black bins on the inside shelves against the wall. I worked on my library organization for weeks my first year teaching and it has paid off greatly three years later.

Each of my books has my name in the top left corner, the AR level (if applicable) in the bottom left corner, and a matching sticker to the book bin it belongs in the top right corner. I keep an index box with all of my library bin theme stickers in for easy access when I bring in new books.

Here is a look at the right side of my Promethean board. This is the wall that is so depressingly sad looking.

Here is my made over Math Focus wall. Just like my Science and Literacy wall the pink header says, "Our Focus" with my Math pennant and number circles on twine from 1 to 30. The pink sentence strip in the middle also says, "Anchor Charts". I am planning on using the sides to hang up student work or crafts. I have to confess that one of my teammates came up with the "Our Focus" sign in her room and I loved it so much that I asked her if I could steal borrow her idea!

Yeah! My new cubbies that I found a couple weeks back fits perfect against my desk to hide all of my computer and Promethean board wires and cords. I made a small bulletin board next to my metal shelf to cover all the holes. But, its a great place to hang pictures of my boys! It will house my homework and finished work baskets, bathroom sign-out (the clipboard on the side) and bathroom passes (these are the hand sanitizer bottles) on top.

This is my project for tomorrow afternoon. I call this the back of my classroom even though it is technically the front when you walk through my door. The color shelves right now are housing some of my word work and listening center. My mind is racing with ideas!