Welcome to my world…
By Angela Watson
Each school year since 2001-2002, I’ve added a classroom tour in photographs to my website. It’s a fun tradition that seems to occur later every year, but hey, April is better than never. I’ve posted a few of my favorite photos from this year’s tour below (you can view the rest here on my site).
I got rid of the desks this year and switched to tables (but you knew that–remember my blog post Tables vs. Desks?). I do keep desks for those darlings who can’t behave appropriately when in close proximity to others. The desks are situated near the tables: if a child has issues, he simply moves the desk back a few feet and gets himself together, then rejoins the team later.
Here’s the view from the back of my classroom; it’s what students look at during instruction. Since I’ve switched from desks to tables this year, students keep nearly everything in the cubbies in the front of the room.
This is the small group reading area. Each group (red, yellow, and blue) has its own color-coded crate of materials on the shelf. Students read the white board on top of the crates so they know what materials to grab and how to prepare for the group.
Look familiar? There’s a photo similar to this on the cover of my book! I haven’t changed things much in this area of the room: all of my papers and instructional materials are stored in the area shown here. I love having everything in ONE place near my desk so that I can spin around in my roll-y chair and not have to get up when doing paperwork. I didn’t straighten up this area (or any area, for that matter) before taking these pictures: you totally caught me eating Ritz-Bits. Oh, well. That’s real.
But wait! There’s more! See the other 7 photos here…
And if you’re really into it, visit the Classroom Tours page of my website, where you can see photos from each of my classrooms since 2002, view tours of my colleague’s rooms, and look at classroom pics that site visitors submitted.
Angela Watson
Founder and Writer
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Very organized! I think I’m going to do something similar on my blog. I feel like it helps me know you better as a teacher!
Carolyn: I know, how fabulous is that rug, right? I have a small one with the continents on it. I can’t tell you how many times a day my kids reference those rugs. They are an amazing teaching tool that posters just can’t compete with.
Teacherninja: ‘Organizy’ is my new favorite word. I think of you every time I use it.
Cassy: Check to see if there are extra tables at your school. I put out an email to the school asking for extra tables, then went room to room begging. It’s harder to refuse when someone’s asking you directly. 😉
Candyandladybugs: Yeah, that spinny organizer from Staples is the BEST. Love it! And we can’t have lamps, either. I’m totally in violation of fire codes. Check out my old classroom pics from 2002-2004 on my website and you’ll see I had TONS of lamps. Still missing them!
John: I think that posting pics helps blog readers get to know you better, too. I think more people would do it if they weren’t blogging anonymously. I’d love to see your room!
i love the table idea! Thanks for sharing it with me. Even though, I’m high school, I’ve been thinking that maybe tables or groupings are the way to go. My fear has always be chattiness. Even though, I embrace the idea of group work. . . I fear what happens when i need to do direct instruction.
And I also noticed there are NO file cabinets. What’s up with that?
Miss Teacha: Chattiness can be an issue. Sitting in cooperative groups doesn’t work with all classes, that’s for sure. You could try it now at the end of the year when you’re doing more projects and less direct instruction.
(Great classroom management tips on your blog, lately, BTW.)
And re: lack of file cabinets: I’m SO glad you asked! File cabinets to me are a black hole of papers. I use all plastic drawers or magazine holders for papers (see ‘Avoiding the Paper Trap’ here: https://truthforteachers.com/organization.html)
It was a financial investment, yes, but well worth it to never have to file again!