My Kindergarten Classroom

Finally, here are pics of my classroom! Yay! 

I have been working so hard to get everything ready and school finally starts tomorrow! 

I love my classroom this year. This is my sixth year to teach and this just might be my favorite. I love classrooms that aren't overstimulating and cluttered. So, for me arrangment of furniture and materials is key. I like to display works on my shelves in a beautiful and appealing way, not just to store them. Yes, this requires extra organization, but it benefits the children so much! 

I also love to use black butcher paper on my bulletin boards. I think they help the room to feel calm, plus they showcase work so wonderfully. The focus is on the work, instead of the bulletin board. Plus, on the practical side, anything goes with it, so you don't have to change it! 

So, here is my room!

Looking towards the word wall

Looking at the door and mailboxes

word wall and classroom library

a little nook for reading

I am doing the daily five this year, so I wanted areas around the room for kids to get comfy and read!

Looking at Calendar wall and math tubs

Word Work shelves

I incorporate a lot of Montessori works. On these shelves I have sandpaper letters and a movable alphabet. I also display things in a Montessori manner, with the use of trays.

Other side of Word Work.

The yellow boxes in the cubbies are their book boxes. I got them at Dollar Tree last year.

Another comfy spot to read

Math area: right now I have puzzles for the beginning of the year and Montessori style math works that will eventually be introduced and will change throughout the year as children master the works. Also, blocks are behind this shelf.

Listening center and overhead. Also, I made the color polka dots and hung them with magnets, so the kids can take them down. I'll probably move them lower as we learn them.

computers

Dramatic Play

I love my curtains! I made the polka dot ones last year and the stripes were left by my friend who used to be in this room. They match the room perfectly! And they let in a lot of sunlight! I have to have that! :)

the kitchen

I scored this table for THIRTEEN dollars at Hobby Lobby! I am in love with it!

dramatic play materials

I don't use fake food, instead I use rocks, stones, jewels, pom poms, foam strips, and strips of Brillo pads. This way the child can be free to use their imagination as they play, instead of being forced to use items that have pre-assigned identities. The kids love it and I love it!

The cute hut my mom got for me last year at Pottery Barn Kids Outlet.

Looking at the room from dramatic play

writing table

Maybe my favorite part; the art shelf. I ordered the buckets from Oriental Trading. I got the larger ones for markers and mini ones for crayons. I love storing my crayons and markers this way instead of using totes on their tables. I've found they take better care of the materials if they are stored this way. Plus, it allows for more movement around the room. 5 year olds need to move! I also have tracing, play doh, and cutting exercises for the beginning of the year.

a closer look

looking at Word Work again

The first week of school we talk about our hopes and dreams for the year. Then each child gets to explore watercolors by painting a die cut t-shirt. Then, we take their picture and attach their face to the shirts. We record their hopes and dreams and print them on speech bubbles that come out of their picture. It turns out so cute and the kids love it! I'll share a pic when it's done.

Math tubs

I love these tubs! I got them at Walmart and they are perfect for this. They have clear tops and snapping handles. The plastic is really thick and sturdy, too.

Oh, and here's the cute purple zebra rug I got at Ross!

Another full view

circle time area, calendar wall, and chart for morning meeting

Love the rug my mom got me last year! :) It even has polka dots!

My daily five area.

There is a bucket you can kind of see in the bottom of the pic that has black and white circle die cuts attached to popsicle sticks. These will have their names on them. After daily five is introduced, the kids will choose what they'd like to work on. To choose, they will put their popsicle stick in the pocket under the corresponding picture. I'll also record this on a check in sheet.

The poster above that will be the job chart. We will discuss jobs together. Then, each child will have a clothespin with their names and it will be clipped next to their job.

Word wall-I put magnets on all of the words, so the kids can take them off and bring them to their work.

classroom library

You'll also notice the rolled up rugs in baskets. I use these just like in a Montessori classroom. All floor work is put on these rugs. It works so well! I got these at Dollar Tree.

Bins are from Big Lots, Target, Walmart, and Dollar Tree

The cups will hold pencils.

The reading nook with the other rug from Ross. The study pillows are from Big Lots a couple of years ago.

A blurry pic of their mailboxes.

My adorable clock from Hobby Lobby.

The zebra bag is the snack bag. Each month, I make a calendar for snack. The day before the child is supposed to bring snack, they will take the snack bag home. This serves as a reminder to bring snack and helps them carry it in! I've always used a bucket in the past, but I saw these cute reusable bags at Hobby Lobby, so I decided to give it a try! The cute hanging tote is from there, too.

calendar wall

Books I'll read on the first day.

I laminate my calendar cut outs and have the helper write the date with an expo marker, that way it can be erased.

Looking out from the calendar area.

This is the snack table and shelf. Each child has their name on a popsicle stick (in the purple bucket) and when they come to snack they get it and move it to the blue bucket, so I know who has had snack. When a child wants to come to snack (during stations), they will look for a necklace in the bowl. If they see one, they can come. They will wear the necklace while eating snack. This will let other children know that snack is full. When they are finished, they return it to the bowl. Also, the marker board will show how much snack they can get. I write it and draw it out. This way snack becomes a work, too! You'll also see a necklace on the door. When it's vacant, there is a necklace on the knob. When they go in, they either put it on or hang it on the doorknob. This tells kids if it is available.

The view from my small group table.

looking to the right

and the left

My teacher station with everything laid out for the first day.

The cute new sign I made and our owls. All the kindergarten classes have the owls with the kids' names on them. I made the trees! ;)

Thumbs up for it being finished!

I hope you enjoyed the tour! Now, the year begins! :)

(Go check out my new teaching blog, Hugs and Bubbles!)