Classroom Reveal 2015 #2getherwearebetter

Well guys, I have SURVIVED 2 weeks of school! Our first day was actually one of the best 1st days I've had! My new 3rd graders are great! Of course I have my typical stinkers though! Ha! 

At the end of my day I got the best message EVER from one of my parents! She told me how much her son loved his first day in 3rd grade and how he thinks I am going to be his "most favorite teacher ever"! She said he is already planning on getting me something for Teacher Appreciation Week! Bless his heart! (I hope he still thinks this about me when that comes!)

I feel like finally after 4 years I am starting to get the hang of this teaching thing! I am so excited for this year and what it will bring! 

Here are a few pictures of my classroom, tiny classroom. Have I ever mention how much I hate the layout of my classroom? No? Well there might be a need for a blog post about the hatred of my classroom layout in the near future! 

If you missed my classroom reveal on Periscope (@mrscrouse) go and follow me so you don't miss anything else! 

Above is a picture of my desk and table. I bought chevron fabric and HOT GLUED it to my tables. I love how they turned out!

 This is my classroom library. My husband made these bookshelves over the summer. Didn't he do a great job!

  Here are some more up close pictures

This is where I store all of my reading center work for the week. The students just grab what they need.

My English wall

My much need blurt chart and my behavior chart.

Our mailboxes, our tray for mail to file, and where the students turn in their homework.

Here is the classroom after Back 2 School night (the night before the first day).

Love all of my monster themed decorations! Thanks goes to Amy Groesbeck!

Questions? Just ask :) 

How I Do Classroom Jobs

I have recently had a special request to talk about my classroom jobs. I have done classroom jobs for 2 of my 3 years of teaching. One year in 6th grade and the next year in 3rd grade. I am first going to talk about how I set up my classroom jobs in 6th grade.

In 6th grade, I had my jobs set up on a bulletin board in the library card holders. I number each student, and their numbers were on sticks. (I thought I had a picture of this but I apparently I don't!) Any who, I had enough jobs for 10 students. Librarian, Sweeper, Vacuum, Mail Carrier, Paper Passer, Messenger, Desk Cleaner, Teachers Assistant, Assignment Board, Planner Checker. The rest of the students were put in the Substitute pocket, and if someone was gone that day they would fill in for them. At the end of each day (which was our study hall) my students would do their jobs in the last 15 minutes (some of the jobs were done throughout the day ex. paper passer). At the end of each week I would go through the jobs and pay each of the students with tickets (my classroom reward system). The students were able to use their tickets to buy prizes or candy. 

If I were to teach 6th grade again, I would probably change up my classroom jobs a little bit. Some of the kids didn't care for some of the jobs. So what I would do different is to have them each get a chance to try all of the jobs. Once I went through one rotation I would give out a job application. they would pick their top 3 jobs that they enjoyed doing and then I would assign them that job for the rest of the school year. That way I know that would like it and they would actually do their job!

In 3rd grade, I did my jobs a little differently. 

Here are 2 pictures of how I displayed my jobs last year. 

As you can see in the first picture, I have my awesome mustache sign! :) I have each students name up on the board. But not each student had a job every week. I spaced out the jobs throughout their names. The different jobs that I had were: Teacher's helper, librarian, door holder, desk cleaner, trash patrol, and housekeeper. This year I am going to add pencil master to the list of jobs. In 3rd grade we do not have study hall so I would allow my students time at the end of the day when we are packing up to do their jobs. My teachers helper would have a checklist for the week and check off each day whether the students did their jobs (I, of course, would check over the check list!). The following Monday I would give a ticket (still my classroom reward system) for each day that they did their job. That's a maximum of 5 tickets! The kids loved that part. It gave them motivation to actually do their jobs. 

Well, I hope this helps those of you that are going to try out classroom jobs for the first time. Also, to those of you who have done classroom jobs longer than myself, I would love to hear what you do and what some of your jobs are!

Thank you,

First Day in 3rd Grade

My before picture of my classroom! YIKES!

And AFTER pictures.

My desk area

Carpet area

Classroom rules board

Mailboxes

Class library

Small group area

Homework board

Alphabet line

My rocking chair I painted :)

Welcome goodie bags for the first day of school!

Well....I SURVIVED!!

Well everyone...

I survived my first day of teaching! Woo Hoo! Granted it was only 1 1/2 hours long! But hey, I still did it!

Here are a few pictures of my classroom!

 

Front of my door (Thank you Pinterest!)




Inside of my door: Twitter Exit Slip Door (again, Thank you Pinterest!)

 Student lockers

 Old nasty filing cabinet that I updated!

 Homework turn in and Mailboxes

 My pretty tissue paper flowers

 Boggle!!

The "Reading Dugout"

That's all I have time for right now! Can't wait for tomorrow...my first FULL day of teaching!

My Classroom

I got to see my classroom today!
I had not been able to see it due to floor waxing. It is still not completely cleaned up yet, but I got to get in there and take some pictures! My room has been vacant for about 2 years. Teachers would occasionally take their classes in there to work on various class projects. But for the most part it has been empty. I definitely have my work cut out for me!

I won't be able to get in there for another TWO weeks! But I can't wait!!

Happy 4th of July! :)