My+Classroom

If I could have my dream classroom it would be truly a "perfect" place for learning. In my discussion I will explain and talk about what aspects I will have in my classroom to help it be the best place for learning.

To be productive students they need to have plenty of natural light, in my classroom there will be many windows that can be opened for light and air, with curtains to give the right atmosphere at given times. You walk into the classroom and feel as though you have walked into outer space. That is going to be part of my over all classroom theme, with a little bit of Buzz Lightyear, To Infinity and Beyond! I will capture the students as soon as they walk through the door. Their coats and backpacks will be on hooks outside in the hallway to create more space in the classroom for ultimate learning. To the left of the door is the restroom which will be decorated inside as well with posters to keep our theme going and our school and classroom rules up; Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful. What a better place to put them. The students’ cubbies are located in front of the restroom. All along the walls are shelving low shelving which I will have space material covering over the shelves to hide our learning tools. If standing at the front door directly in front of that is the door going outside to the play ground, in the left corner is the sink and art corner. That is were the easel is set up with paints and paper all the time as well as the writing table. In front of the art station is my desk where I have my computer for the ELMO. Since I am a lower level teacher I am not at my desk except after school. My students have tables they sit at this allows them to collaborate better with each other. In the front of the class is a small desk off to the side I sit at with the ELMO. The screen and white board are in front of us all. I have the students arranged so NO ONE has to turn around they are all looking side ways or angled at the screen. In front of the screen will be the Rainbow Rug and my chair. Each student will have a given square on the Rainbow Rug. This is where we meet and discuss what we will be doing in the day. Most of our day that is not spent at our table is spent at the Rainbow Rug. Going with the space theme I will have all my tables and work stations have planet names. I recently attended a Whole Brain Teaching seminar ( []) and fell in love with its techniques. For my attention grabber I will teach the students that when I say “Class Class” there response is to say “Yes Yes.” Along with that I will be teaching them some of the Big 5 rules, Rule #1 Follow Directions Quickly, Rule #2 Raise Your Hand for Permission to Speak, Rule #4 Make Smart Choices; those are the ones I will be starting with. I feel these are the most important ones to teach first. I will have a reward system for each students as well as a class reward system. Each student will have a pocket on the back wall. Each pocket will have a red, yellow and green card in them. For each student to keep track they will have a post-it on their table by them with a, J and L one it; each warning goes under the L. After 3 warnings they need to move down a color, from green to yellow and yellow to red once on red and 3 warnings they get a note home. If the student(s) are in their green card at the end of the day they get a sticker on their planet chart. Once a student filled in their planet chart they get to go to the Moon Box and get a treat. Along with “class class” I will have a music box; the goal is not to open the box. Opening the box is to get their attention quicker by letting out music not my voice. At the end of the week if we have music left in the box we get to have free time or watch an educational movie. Each day if I haven’t had to open the music box I will move our class space ship up on our chart. Once our space ship reaches 50 we can have a class party! This gives them something to look forward to. I feel that whole brain teaching really will helps give the students a sense of responsibility for their learning as well. They have the tools to do it and know what to do. I am just there to help complete the given task. Among the given layout of my classroom along the back wall in those shelves will be books. The students can get a book anytime they have their work done and want to look at a book. The student may take the book to their table or to the Rainbow Rug with them. Above the books will be paper and crayons for students to create their own stories. My classroom is about creativity, and promoting it. I have been collecting books for my classroom for years now and I can’t wait to share them with students. Next to the back door there is a small desk this can also be found in the hallway. This is where I hold my “blast off” meeting with the students. I am able to check in with them and do a brief interview asking how they are and get their feed back as well as input on their learning. What are they interested in now? I also take this time to assess if need be. By asking these questions I feel my students really like and learn more from me.