Classroom Organization

Welcome to Mrs. Boumas First Grade O.W.L.s classroom. My room theme will be a subtle forest theme with owls hiding in every nook and cranny. My room will be calming and inviting for learning. When you first walking into my first grade classroom, you will be greeted with a sign that not only welcomes you, but poses a question for the day. Students will be asked to think about the question and discuss at the morning meeting. Moving clockwise, you will see the technology area that has space for computers and iPads. Above this area will be a bulletin board where students work and artwork will be displayed. Next to this area will be the listening center complete with CD players and books for students to follow along. In the northwest corner is the bathroom. Along the north wall are individual student cubbies with storage space above.

In front of the cubby wall are the learning centers. Moving from left to right is the writing center. This center contains various fun and exciting writing materials for students to choose from.

Facing the writing center is the back of a bookshelf with an interactive word wall. On the other side of the word wall are shelves that hold various science and math books and manipulatives. To the right of that shelf is the math and science workspace. To the right of that center is an additional art table set up for art projects and for creative minds to work.

In the northeast corner is the reading nook. This nook has three bookshelves and various book bins that contain categorized books of different genres and reading levels. Seating options in the reading nook include beanbags, pillows, and comfy chairs. In the center of the reading nook is a small table where students can work on puzzles. It could also be used for extra writing space. Moving along the east wall there are a couple of windows with plants that the students will help care for. In between the windows is a shelving unit that holds materials needed for the guided reading table and any additional teaching supplies and assessment materials. There is a kidney bean-shaped table for teachers to work with small groups of students on various reading and writing activities and assessments. There is a bulletin board that will be utilized for various postings throughout the year.

The southeast corner is the teachers corner. My desk and workspace will be there and contain my computer and Elmo equipment. Behind my desk there are shelves with filing space for assessments, lesson plans and any needed teaching materials. There is a box with each day of the week that contains lesson plans and any additional lesson materials needed. This also has a substitute teacher box where student information is provided and any other pertinent information for the classroom. Located on the south wall are individual student boxes where completed and graded work will be placed until given to student. The teachers desk will also have a phone with posted emergency information. There will also be a recycling and trash bin.

Along the south wall you see the whole class meeting area rug. This area will be designated for us as a class to come together for morning meeting time, lesson instruction and modeling, read alouds and large group lessons. Students will sit on the rug facing the smart board with DVD and Elmo hook up capabilities. In front of the meeting rug will also be a hanging pocket chart that will be used for several lessons. There will be an adult chair for any instructor to sit while teaching. There will be bookshelves next to the meeting rug that will hold a CD player and various supplies needed for the smart board, pocket chart, small dry erase boards, and any other teaching supplies.

To the left of the meeting rug is another small group round table that can be used for various activities and small group lessons. On the wall in front of the table will be the monthly calendar and math wall along with a daily weather tracker, student lunch information, birthday information, and daily schedule. Along the lower west wall is a sink and water fountain area along with additional storage.

The students desks are located in the center of the room. Each configuration will contain six desks facing each other. Students will have supplies in their desks, but will also have individual chair pockets where they can place their take home folders and any books they are currently reading. In the center of the desks will be two bookshelves facing opposite directions that contain additional reading books, pencil sharpeners, and a done box. On top of the bookshelves will be our classroom fish and hamster, which the students will share in responsibility of caring for.

Operations
Record-keeping procedures It will be a personal goal of mine to have classroom organization from the physical looks of the classroom, right down to the record keeping and assessments of my students. First and foremost I will follow any district-implemented record keeping procedures. I will make it a priority to enter assessments and scores into the database as I am grading them, while realizing that this may not always be an option. If I do have records that did not get entered at the time of grading, then I will set aside a specials time on Fridays where I use that time to catch up on my grade and assessment tracking.

In order to have records easily accessible and portable, I will devise a plan to keep separate binders for different areas of records. Student Binder: In this binder, each student will have his or her own tabbed section. Each section will include, but not limited to the following information: Student IEP goals, if applicable Colored coded spreadsheet- these will contain various records Running Records Anecdotal notes Math records Writing samples Various Assessments Grids for clipboard cruising, anecdotal notes, formative assessments

Teacher Binder: Student Information Sheets- containing students names, picture, emergency contact information, how they get home from school, any medical information, communication with parents Curriculum Information- a copy of the school calendar including early outs, testing days, etc. Daily and Weekly list of class schedules

Grading book Lesson Plans- daily and weekly lesson plans Meeting Notes- a section where I can record what was discussed during meetings with other same grade teachers or school wide meetings. Training Notes- a section available to write down notes from trainings I attend. Monthly Planner with to-do lists

While having a substitute teacher covering for you can be anxiety provoking for both the teacher and the students, having this binder available will help to reduce any concerns and anxiety. Substitute Binder: This binder is specifically for substitutes to use when they are subbing in my classroom. The binder will include the following sections: Get to know Mrs. Boumas Classroom- This will contain an introduction to my classroom with pictures and a small description of each center in the room. The letter will also thank the substitute teacher for being available and taking such good care of my students while I am gone. Emergency information- This section will include all necessary emergency phone numbers to the front office, nurse, and any other teachers my students work with throughout the day. This will also list the procedures for a tornado or fire drill and any other emergency evacuation procedures the school mandates. Classroom Expectations and Schedule- This section will outline student expectations and have been working on throughout the school year. The class schedule will be outlined along with procedures for bathroom breaks, sharpening pencils, etc. List of Jobs- This section will give a short description of the classroom jobs and when they should be completed. Student Information- Just as in the teachers binder, there will be a copy of the each students face sheet information that contains students names, picture, emergency contact

information, how they get home from school, any medical information, and any behavioral issues they may have. Emergency Sub Plans-This section will be complete with ready to go activities and lesson plans only if I am unable to prepare lesson plans ahead of time. This will be clearly stated to use as a last resort. Filler Activities- This section will provide some ideas on what subs can do if they need some filler time. There will be directions to some games such as heads up, 7-up, and other fun education games and activities. Lesson/Unit Plans To keep track of my lesson plans and unit themes, I will have a collection of binders that contains all of the lesson plans previously used or thought to be used. Each lesson will clearly state the objectives and what standards they are meeting. Obtaining lessons will be from asking my coworkers for lessons that they have used in the past and researching online. I will constantly looking for new and creative ways to teach lessons with incorporating lessons I have found and making the necessary changes. New Students to classroom While I never had to experience going to a new school and meeting new people, I can only imagine how difficult and scary it must be for a child, especially if they are entering in the middle of the school year. When a new student comes into my classroom, I will be sure to greet them with a warm smile and welcome them into their new classroom. If notice is given ahead of time, I will discuss with my class about the new student arriving and make a welcome sign with everyone writing a special note on that sign. We will be sure to have the students desk ready with their nametag, and any essential items they would need for the first few days. I will also

have a special stuffed owl that will be their special friend, Mr. Wiseman. Mr. Wiseman will be the all-knowing owl that can make the first day jitters dissipate by just giving a little hug. Along with having Mr. Wiseman, I will assign a student in the classroom to be that new students special buddy. This special buddy will guide the new student in some of the classroom rules and expectations as they come up. They will sit together in the classroom as well as at lunch. I will have had prior conversations with this special buddy to prepare them on the chances of a new student coming into the classroom. If notice isnt given ahead of time, I will always be sure to have an extra desk set up ready to be pulled out and used so that the new student does not feel as if though it is an inconvenience for me to get things ready. I will make it a point to have a small meeting with the student at some point during the day to personally greet them further and provide them with the classroom procedures and our rules. I will let the new student know that there while there will be things to learn for our classroom, his/her classmates will be able to help and that they can follow along with the class if he/she isnt sure what to do. It will be important to make that child feel welcome and after I assess their comfort level, I will arrange a classroom introduction activity that helps the new student feel welcome and get to know his/her classmates. Having information about who I am and my classroom will be important to provide to new parents. I will have packets made up with an introduction to my classroom, including a picture of myself. This packet will also contain basic school information and any necessary paperwork. This packet will be sent home with the new student, as well as a follow-up phone call inviting the parents to meet me and see their childs learning environment as well as giving them an opportunity to ask any questions.