My 2013-2014 First Grade Classroom Reveal!!
I’m finally ready to share my 2013-2014 classroom pics with you! 🙂 I have some number signs to still hang up, but for the most part, it’s done! For the first time ever, I did not do a “theme” this year in my room. And, let me just tell you, I had so. much. fun picking things out. I finally got to choose colors and create things for my room that were just “me.” I love how it turned out! I hope you do, too! 🙂
I have quite a bit of pics for you, so here we go!
View From My Door
View From My Desk
Back Counter
The frames were spray painted and the Whole Brain Teaching Rules I created to go inside of the frames can be found for free in my TpT store by clicking HERE.
My little turtle sitting on the counter will go into a basket with note cards in case my kiddos realllllly need to share something with me. You know, those stories and comments that usually come after recess when you’d love to talk to your kiddos all day but really need to start your Daily 5 mini-lesson. This provides my kids with an outlet and cuts down on tattling. Things like: “Amy cut in line.” “I have two eyes.” “A long, long time ago, when I was reallllllllly little, I found a kitten.” (Yes, these are all actual examples of note cards I’ve found in our Turtle Talk basket.)
Whole Group Meeting Area
Smartboard Meeting Area with Whiteboard (and another anchor chart shower rod) 🙂
Our Focus Wall
I re-created some self-assessment posters after seeing some ideas on Pinterest. I’ll share those at a later time. 🙂 The two yellow clothespins will hold our “Target” I Can Statement that the students will self-assess themselves on. The I Can Standards on the left come from Deanna Jump and can be found in her TpT store by clicking here. I used sparkly clothespins to connect the standards to the posters.
Small Group Meeting Area
I have the inclusion classroom for our first grade team, so this is where our intervention specialist meets with kiddos in my room for math and reading. 🙂
The purple board behind the table says Fancy Words. This is where we will post the fancy words we learn how to use all year long. To the right of the purple board is my Daily Schedule, tied with matching ribbons. You can find that in my TpT store by clicking HERE.
My Desk Area
I found my lamp while we were on vacation and I thought I would do my tropical theme again. The red shelf that my phone is sitting on houses all of our activity sheets for the week, sorted by day and subject. My school supplies on the top of the shelf are simply in mason jars, with chalkboard labels stuck on them.
My Guided Reading Table
The blank reading board behind my table is the basis for my next TpT product. 😉 I’m just waiting for some students to use it with before I share it with you! 🙂 Behind the table is my pink filing cabinet that I sandpapered and painted (It was ugly before!).
Close Up of my Guided Reading Stools
These stools were just $5.99 each and come from IKEA. Find them here. They were white and my husband spray painted them each a different color for me. I love how they turned out!
Another Close Up Of The Stools
Word Wall
My word wall labels are from my Bright and Sweet Editable Word Wall Kit and can be found in my TpT store by clicking HERE. They come with editable word cards of various designs. 🙂
One More View Of My Word Wall 🙂
This is actually a closet that matches the yellow cupboards to the left. I covered them with paper so that I can use them for more wall space. On the left, are quiet chant / attention-getter posters that come from my First Week Fun! Unit. It’s a really cute unit with management ideas, lessons, activities, bulletin boards, and games for those first couple weeks of school. Find it in my TpT store by clicking HERE.
The posters on the right are rule posters for using tablets in our classroom. You can find those for *free* in my TpT store by clicking HERE.
Teacher Read Aloud Bookshelf and
Fiction Classroom Library Baskets
My crazy straw birthday bucket is from a freebie I found on TpT by Where the Wild Things Learn. Find them in her TpT store by clicking HERE.
CAFE Board, Rate My Writing Board & Writing Center, & Writing Menu Board
You can find the Rate Your Writing posters I created above for free by clicking HERE.
As we learn different types of writing, reference posters will be posted on the Writing Menu board. (This is an awkward wall in my room. On the other side are cubbies. I have two walls of cubbies that face each other.
Close Up Of “Rate My Writing” Board
View From The Back Corner
Picture Borders are by DreamLike Magic www.dreamlikemagic.com
Thank you SO much for taking the tour of my 2013-2014 classroom with me! 🙂 I had a lot of fun putting it together and I can’t wait for my new batch of firsties to see it next week! 🙂
WOW! Your room looks warm and inviting. It also looks like the perfect place for a lot of happy learning. Thanks for sharing and have a fantastic year!
Your room looks fabulous! I know you thought out every detail. Those stools are the bomb!
Debbie
debjac9@aol.com
Your room looks awesome! I love all of the bright colors! Do you know if you can order the stools online? I would love to have them but the closest Ikea is 3 hours away!
Amanda
Peaches and Palmetto Trees
Amanda, yes you can order them online! 🙂 That's what I did. The link to the stools is under the picture. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
Wow! Your room is so bright and inviting! Love your 'custom' stools, too. Your story about the turtle talk notes cracks me up…gotta love the things kids come up with!
Such an inviting classroom. I'm sure you're going to be rewarded with some engaged learners. 5 bow ties and happy school year.
Your room looks wonderful!!! Love your stools, too!
Mallory
Sprinkles for the Teacher
Your room looks amazing!=)
~lisa
TGIF-Third Grade Is Fun
I absolutely LOVE all of the bright colors! I am a little jealous since my room hasn't even been started! Looks amazing. Great work!!!
Sent From My iPad
Christina – Your room looks BEAUTIFUL!!! I absolutely adore the bright, cheerful colors. 🙂 It shows that you put your heart into it.
Danielle
Crayonbox Learning
I LOVE your classroom…so bright & cheery!
Your room is so cute…kinda makes me mad that I'm still in a closet. LOL! (I'm a specialist at a small school (only three teachers per grade level.) Quick question where can I find your self-assessment posters and that cute template you used.
Thanks in advance.
Your looks AMAZING! It is so inviting. What a spacious room. I wish mine was as large. How many students will you have? I'll have 30 this year! OMG Thank you f0r sharing . Good luck next week w/ the new kiddos! They wil love this room and You too !
Whatta cute, bright, and colorful room you have!! Just fantastic! The kids {and parents} will just love it. I'm sure they'll all feel very lucky to have you for a teacher this year. Great job! Have a wonderful school year! : )
Ali
Teaching Powered by Caffeine
I love your room!!! It looks fantastic! 🙂
Did you put vinyl or contact paper on your cabinets, or are they already those great colors? I think that would make a HUGE difference in my classroom…
Dawn
Love. Learn. Teach.
The cabinets are built in that color. The closet doors are the only ones I put paper over. 🙂
LOVING your classroom. I also love that you just went all out with anything and did not stick to a specific color theme. It turned out fantastic & beautiful and sooo great for feeling "homey." Have a fantastic year!
Sara
Miss V's Busy Bees
ventrellasara@gmail.com
I love your room!! I was wondering.. where did you get the shower curtain rod for your anchor charts? Did you have to order them online? I'd love to know! Thanks!
~Miss McDonald
Hi Miss McDonald! I found them at Walmart. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
It's gorgeous!!! I love the colors and how bright and cheerful it is 🙂
❀Jodi
Fun In First
Your room looks fantastic! Thank you for sharing your ideas.
Love it Christina! It's so bright and cheery. Love the stools too!
Kathy
The Fun Factory
Your room looks great! I love all the bright colors!
❤Teri
A Cupcake for the Teacher
Looks amazing!!
I absolutely love looking at classroom pictures! Your room looks so welcoming and cheerful! Thank you for sharing and good luck next week!
~Natalie
Natalies Nook
I cannot wait to see your post on your self-assessment posters! I love your classroom and can't wait for my room to be ready like yours is!
Mandy
Beautiful classroom! Can't wait to get into my classroom next week to work as well. BTW, go girl for using WBT rules! I'm starting my first full-year using WBT…I began in January of last year! Don't you just feel energized using WBT…I know I do!
Laken
Whole Brain Teaching in the Ladybug Club
Where did you get your baskets that you use for your books from?
I just ordered 8 white stools from ikea and plan on spray painting them like you did. Can you give me some information on the spray paint you used? Brand? Colors? For metal or plastic? Did you use primer? Thanks in advance! Your room is awesome!!
Hi Lana,
I just used spray paint from lowes (not sure of the brand). I bought random bright colors and the paint I used was for Plastic. We also sprayed it with a sealant. 🙂
Hi! I know this post is a few years old, but I was wondering how the paint held up on the stools? I’m thinking about painting mine and want to make sure the paint won’t flake off. Thanks!
Hello! They flake off every year. We’ve tried every kind of sealant out there, but unless they are going to be wooden stools, they will chip. My husband paints them for me every summer.
How did you attach/install the shower curtains for your anchor charts? Are they mounted to the wall? at first glance I thought they were located on covered white boards.
Thanks!
Where did you get the brightly colored baskets for all your books?
Really Good Stuff 🙂
LOVE IT! How did the spray painted stools hold up? I find that the spray paint tends to rub off and was wondering if you noticed the same.
I have the same question. I have had these stools for the last 3 years and want to spray paint them to bring life to them…plus I had never thought to do it until I say this post on pinterest. But I don't want to put a lot of time into painting if it doesn't last long. Please share the life of the spray paint on the stools. Thanks 🙂
Hello! 🙂 I have to respray every year. Unfortunately, they do chip.
so here is a funny question…do they just chip or do they start to look grundgey towards the end of the year and drive you crazy—
thanks for responding so quickly 🙂
Did the spray paint chip off the stools? If not, what spray paint did you use? I am planning to spray paint mine this summer!
Yes, unfortunately, they do. We’ve sprayed them every summer.
Hi! Do you know exactly what bins you got from really good stuff. I love them!!
They are the book bins that they sell. 🙂
I spray painted my chairs too and they have chipped so bad! Did yours? Any tips painting them???
Hi, Ashley! Yes, mine chip too! I’ve tried many different types of paints and nothing really works ha! I just respray them each year.
Where did you purchase the colored bookcases? I need to purchase two for my library.
Hi Celia! These bookshelves were built for me by a friend. Thank you so much!