Another change in our school room!

School room 2012-2013

I had to make more changes in our school room, it was driving me crazy the way it was.  I had been online searching for something, can't remember what now, but I came across "littleredhen4.blogspot.com" and saw her pictures of her schoolroom.  I loved the way it looked and wanted to do something similar with ours.  I could tell her room was bigger, but the layout would work in our room too.  For now our computer desk is taking up more room than I'd like, but the desk was free!  As soon as we get some "extra" money I plan to purchase a tower style computer desk I've seen at walmart.com.  It will then go in the corner where I have our filing cabinet but, not sure where the filing cabinet will go, it may just stay, be be moved over where the desk is.  Once that is completed I'd like an oblong table to go in front of the window so everyone can use it comfortably, although everyone is using the little round one now, but that can be a problem when the "littles" are using their writing/literacy center stuff and the "bigs" are doing school work too.  I am pleased with how it looks now. Of course it never looks this nice during a school day!  But if it did then the day wouldn't be as productive! :)

 This is the listening center - I have books on cassette to go with some of our picture books.

 The colorful shelves hold the writing center and literacy center supplies.  The top boxes are labeled with the contents in the box.  The remaining boxes are Aa-Gg (Gg is on the floor - it holds some books to read) they contain literacy activities. Directly to the right of them are supplies and workbox "boxes".  I use the three draw things.  Currently we are working on getting back to the workbox system.  Next to them on the right, the dresser, holds art and craft supplies in the first two drawers.  The bottom on is scrap paper, newspaper/grocery flyers and old magazines.  The top holds our construction paper trays, finished work trays, scissors, markets, pencils, pens.. etc.  The laminator has it's own home, but I'm using it a lot right now!  The little round table is for creating and working.  As I said, it was for the "littles" but the "bigs" end up using it too.

The picture above is a silly picture, but I put it up because behind my "littles" is our "circle time" area.  I have books for our current theme, plus pictures to go with our theme.  When this was taken, our theme was "winter".  The pink in the picture - to the right - they are not normally there!  They belong to "big" A.  Up above the books, behind the curtain, is our calendar.  I cover it up when we are finished.  Also, I have a circle time board we do, that folds in three and stores there too.  "Big A" is behind the littles in the picture reading her "Window on the World" book for ECC - Exploring Countries and Cultures.

I also have a math center - shelves that contain six boxes I place math activities in.  The top of the shelf is the home for our guinea pig Smores.  Currently the bottom shelf is storage, but I plan to make that our science shelf.  We do have a science/math "table" too. It's our science center/math/science table.  I originally planned for it to be the science center, but I do place math activities that go along with our theme and besides, math and science are often grouped together with many early childhood activities.  We also have an easel.  I am so grateful for it too!  My beloved Aunt Gloria had gotten it from someone and brought it up to us.  She is now home with Jesus, but I have so many reminders of her, like the easel.  I also made a texture box.  Some call it a sand and water table, but the early education degree program I learned and received my degree from calls it a texture table.  I call it a texture box - we don't have room, nor did I need, a texture table.  I bought a larger plastic box from the store (I think they are called sweater boxes - it's a 16 Qt. container), labeled it texture box, put extra strength velcro on the bottom sides, stapled the other part of the velcro to this little table (another "gift" from Aunt Gloria") and there I have it!  I had to velcro it down so the littles wouldn't try to carry it all over the house!!  I actually made this before our youngest little was even a though!)  We are also fortunate to have a playroom.  It's very small, but holds alot!!  I use it for storage too!  In another post I'll have to get pictures up of our playroom! It needs more labeling, but right now, I'm thankful it's tidy - well, except for A's area!  Barbie/Monster High/crazy craft holding land!  She and I discovered an awesome site on YouTube called "myfroggystuff".  This woman makes all kinds of doll things from recycled materials!  So awesome!  BUT.. A saves too many things for crafts she's not even planned yet!  I'll get on here again soon to add pics and some info from our themes.  I'm going to try to put the lesson plans up too!  I'm still new with this blogging stuff!  Right now, I'm just trying to get on here more.  Have a great day!