Welcome to My Room

I've never shared pictures of my classroom in my four years of blogging. I'd like to think my room is welcoming, warm, and kid-friendly, not to mention very organized, but it's not all matchy matchy, cutesy, or themed up. The only major decor choice I've made is the color scheme of blues and greens. 

I'm courageously sharing these pictures simply because someone out there might wonder where I live. So, welcome to Miss McMorrow's room. 

P.S. The walls didn't have much on them when school started. They're starting to fill up with our thinking and learning now.

Wordle on the Wall

I probably shouldn't try and blog at the end of my first day of school. I believe I've already used up all my coherency. Anyway, I thought I'd share how I use Wordle to display my class list outside my door. It's nothing fancy but it does the trick, and it's super easy too.

Is it time for bed yet?

Greatness Happens Here

Last year on the first day of school I told my kids that I was surrounded by greatness.  The idea stuck and grew throughout the following nine months.  (Go here to read more.)  This year I want my new little crew to know that they're full of greatness too.  That's why something new is on my door to greet them.  By the way, that's an inexpensive table runner from Big Lots.  I'm crossing my fingers it will still be intact after 23 uncoordinated little bodies and their backpacks march in and out of the doorway day after day.  No worries though.  Greatness will still be happening long after it comes down.

Thanks Tara for the linky!

Happy Birthday Graph

There seem to be a plethora of ways to display and honor birthdays in the classroom.  Mine is pretty simple.  For years now, I've made it into a graph in my calendar area.  

I only tape the top of each picture down, so that when a child flips it up, they can see the birthday on the back.

It's not overly cute, but it is effective and pretty simple too.  I tend to be about simple.  :)

Calendar Make-Over

My calendar has taken on a new look this year, and even though I'm still getting the hang of it, I like where it's going.  

We're keeping track of days with ten frames.  I totally swiped the idea from Leslie at Kindergarten Works.  Take a look at her version here.  It's been a brilliant change for us.  Learning about ten frames has been so natural this way.  I've hardly had to teach the idea.  I also love the way they're beginning to understand the place value concept.  So many of them can already tell me what that 3 means in the 35.  They can describe the 3 complete ten frames as well as come up and show me.  They can do the same for the 5.  The ten frames provide such a great natural visual.  Thank you Leslie!

Instead of the typical monthly calendar that goes up at the beginning of the month and down at the end, I've got the whole year on the wall.  This idea came from Mardelle at Weeds in the Garden.  You need to read her post here.  It made me think about how to use the calendar in a more authentic way that matters to kids and their lives.  I admit, I'm still finding my way, which is why you need to read her thoughts on how she pulls it off.

So go see Leslie and Mardelle.  I'm guessing you'll find some inspiration too!

Help!

I had the same classroom helper chart for years.  It was in such bad shape that I didn't use it last year or even replace it.  Now, all is well.

First I spray painted a cookie sheet.  FYI - cookie sheets don't like to be spray painted or maybe I just don't know how to do it right.  I added a clear coat finish, and the black paint still liked to scrape off way too easily.  After adding all my words and washi tape, I Mod Podged the whole thing.  I think that's fixed the problem.

I made the magnets with the beads from a bracelet.

The plan is to use the magnets to hold either names or pictures of the kids who will be in charge of helping me out.

Thanks again Tara for the linky opportunity!

Experts in Smartness

I found a little something at IKEA this last week that will come in so very handy in my classroom.  Check these out.

A few times last year I tried turning charts into small table versions that could sit at each group of desks.  It's a great strategy for getting essential ideas practically right into their hands.  It's kind of hard to ignore when it's sitting right in front of their noses.  (Interested in the idea and the book that gave it to me? Go here.)  Unfortunately, I struggled with execution.  My stands were a little too wobbly.  That's why IKEA's little frames are going to save the day.  

At the beginning of the year I won't have any charts to shrink, so I'm going to start the year off by making sure one of these is at each group.  As the year goes on, I'm looking forward to changing them out with those ideas from charts that really need to stick.    

Thanks to www.doodledotillustrations.blogspot.com for the dot paper.

Even though this might only be useful for someone who owns the IKEA frames and does blue in their classroom, click on the graphic for your own copy.  

By the way, you might want to know

• the words can be seen on both sides of the frame
• they're only 99 cents
• they come in a variety of colors
• if I'm not mistaken, they're soon to be discontinued
• better get yours now

Thanks Tara for letting me join you again for some Monday Made-It!

Details of Their Lives

The little details of their lives are so important.  Does anyone else struggle keeping track of them all or even struggle making time to hear about them?  Sometimes it seems like recess duty is my best chance to get filled in, and that's just not acceptable.  In an effort to improve upon this problem, I created a little something for my room.  I've no idea if it will work, but I'm ready to give it a shot.

First I found an inexpensive thrift store frame.  Then I taped free paint chips to a poster board.  

I used Mod Podge to add a title to the frame's glass.  I also wrote student names on the glass above each paint chip with a Vis a Vis, although a dry erase marker would have sufficed as well.

(I doubt Beverly has bugs in her house, but I do! Ugh.)

I'm going to invite my kids to use it as a tool to let me know what they want me to ask them about.  Their little post-it notes will be my clue that I've got some inquiring to do.  Once I've asked a student about their post-it and removed it from the frame, they can add a new one.  Of course, this doesn't mean that I'll only talk to kids about their lives if they've written something down.  That would be silly, but I do hope it makes me aware of more and more details of their lives.

Thanks Tara for another Monday Made-It!

Pencil Holder Upgrade

I enjoyed an updated pencil organizer this year.  It was fairly simple to make.  I found the containers at Target last summer.  First I covered them with scrapbook paper.  Then I glued them together.  I drew the words, found some appropriate graphics, and Mod Podged them on.  There you have it.  

Now I'll be looking forward to using this little guy next year. Everyone has been raving about them.  It's about time I figure out why! :)

(My new pencil sharpener that will hopefully last more than a year to two.)

Thanks Tara from 4th Grade Frolics for letting me link up!

Read to Someone Problem Solved

My kids love to choose Read to Someone during Daily 5.  The problem occurs when there's not a someone to read to, because all the other someones have made different choices.  That's when these guys come in handy. 

My mom bought lots of animal hand puppets for me years ago.  They live in my library as you see below.

There's not a someone available to read to?  Problem solved!  They can find one here, and they're the best of listeners too.