Classroom Tour 2015-2016

Welcome to the jungle...!



Over the summer, I found out that I would be teaching a special class for students with behavioural (and academic) difficulties. Once I knew this, I immediately got into planning mode. My first concern was that I knew they would be installing prison-like bars on the windows for safety reasons (to avoid kids jumping out). I wanted to make the windows into a statement piece since we have a full wall of windows in our school. It was then that I came up with the idea of having a jungle theme.

My original idea involved cutting out animal silhouettes and installing them on the windows above the bars. Since it would be a Grade 3/4 class, I didn't want to use a cutesy animal theme, so I opted for something a little bit more mature. I spent an evening looking up photos, drawing and cutting out all of the silhouettes. When I brought them to school, I ended up changing my mind because I knew they would get ruined by the ice on the windows in the winter. By putting up cellophane paper on the windows, I would be able to keep my animals up all year!

You can't see it all that well, but the windows cast green and blue reflections on the floor. It's very peaceful and doubles as blinds. Most importantly, the kids don't notice the bars as much and it doesn't feel like a prison room. They've only been in school for 2.5 days, but so far none of them have made a comment about the bars! Success!

My desk is hidden behind a tv unit and a filing cabinet...but it isn't organized to my liking yet, so it will stay hidden from pictures! I have a standing table at the back of the classroom for the kids to work at, but so far, they haven't quite mastered the art of standing to work.

I was very happy to be able to reuse my navy and green fabric this year! I was able to add two black bean bag chairs to the room (they are coveted spots). The pillows in my "Relaxation City" (calm down corner named by the kids) were $2.50 each at Ikea! The kids love taking them out to work on the floor with a clipboard. The shelves that they are on were originally brown and red, but there was no way they were staying that way in my room.

They look much better in navy! It's actually a lot darker in person.

Here is my makeshift guided table, teacher shelf (the red will be covered eventually) and ELA wall. I'm excited to be starting a CRAFT wall for the first time this year! Don't ask about the green table legs... I tried it out and am changing it back.

Here's the view from the front of the class. Our fidgets, headphones and weighted animal are on the small shelf in the front of the room. We also have a DeskCycle at the front of the class for the kids to pedal under their desk!

Last, but not least, here's the computer station and unfinished work pockets. 

Annnnnnd, just for fun, here's a before picture (with navy fabric in the process of being put up)

I hope you enjoyed my classroom tour! I will try to post more this year about the challenges and adventures of teaching this class.

2015 Classroom Sneak Peek

It would seem that I am horrible at blogging during the school year. I will try my hardest to keep it up this school year! I've been really busy this week trying to get my classroom set up (teachers officially go back next week and the school has only been open since the middle of last week). I'll show you my classroom reveal in the next couple of weeks. For now, here's a sneak peek!

Any guesses on what my theme is?