My desk had been facing the wall (that's a good way to watch children right?), the piano right next to it (also staring at the wall) made for very awkward body positions trying to play while being able to see anyone. And trust me, being able to see them is VERY important. You wouldn't believe what can happen in the 1.3 seconds it takes to look down at the keyboard. Anyway, I moved the tv stand, my desk, the piano, the computer desk and its' two student computers, my file cabinet (note to self - take files out next time), my student folder cabinet, a bookshelf with shaky shelves and two keyboards, rearranged all my Orff instruments, got rid of old books, cleaned out the old teacher's crap and tossed some really nasty looking plastic bottles.
Here's to a new (and much improved in my opinion) music room!
This is the view standing at the door of my room. I give my kids assigned seats - it cuts down on talking and younger kids fighting over who sits next to whom. I have found that while they groan about it, it eliminates the possibility of anyone feeling ostracized or left out because no one is trying to sit next to them.
The tape is a new thing this year that I love. I can't tell you how frustrating it can be to spend time after every class redoing my chair rows. It is amazing how far a kindergartner can move without you realizing it's happening! So as a beginning of the year procedure, we went over how to do "Chair checks." I simply say "chair check" and they all check to make sure the back legs of their chairs are on the tape lines. So easy.
This is the straight down the room view. You can see my Kodaly hand sign posters doing up the back wall and some of the posters I made with our fabulous poster maker (seriously, it has changed my life). I am blessed to have a sink with water fountain and paper towel dispenser in the back on the right. The student books are also stored over there under the cabinet.
This is a bulletin board that I leave up. I bought 25' of loop side velcro (not the hook part, just the loop) from a warehouse company and spent an afternoon last year putting it up in straight lines - not easy. It was sticky on the other side so I simply stuck it to the board. I cut out clef signs, laminated them and put velcro on them so I can move them if necessary. I also used plastic baseball card holders to put quarter notes, half notes and quarter rests in and put velcro on the back of those. This makes it so easy for kids to write music for the class to see without me spending ages drawing a staff and them trying to draw notes on the board. I made it so that the notes can be placed so that they go on the lines or the spaces.
My word wall with bookshelf and "reading corner" tucked in behind the piano. I decided that instead of kids coming up and asking what they can do when they finish early, they can go get a book and read. They love this! I'm not sure if it's the reading or the comfy pillows... I would love to get more music-themed books but since I have a "champagne taste on a beer budget," right now any books work. I also have games on the bottom shelf that we will be pulling out in class. The clipboard on the right is one of six I have hung on command hooks around the room for centers or group work. No more pointing to an area and saying a number while kids aren't paying attention.
My not usually so messy desk area. The folder hanger on the wall is where I store my lesson plans by grade level as well as seating charts and class lists.
The frames hold my objectives for each grade level (so easy to change!), I bought dollar store frames and put scrap book paper in them - instant cute dry erase boards. I also have laminated days of the week with magnets for easy changing.
The Student of the Week board is my way of encouraging positive behavior and participation in class for the older kids. I also just added laminated 'frames' (scrapbook paper cut into a frame) that I stapled so I can just slide the certificate in and out. Each week I pick one 4th grader and one 5th grade from each class (there are two of each) and post them on the board. They then get to pick a prize out of a big box that includes $5 to our school store, a bag of Takis (all the rage, really hot rolled chip things), candy bars, book bags, planners, basically anything cool I can get for little or no money.
This is the door to my room. The red folder on the door is my emergency folder that we are required to take on a fire drill or any other emergency. I attached it with command velcro (Command is my new best friend) strips so I can pull it off on the way out. The poster on the door is my Rule set. To the left of the door is my K-3 reward system. We call it the sticker chart - high tech I know. Basically, I have three laminated, magnet stars I keep on my whiteboard. At the end of the class, however many stars are left on the board = how many stickers go on their chart (note the guideline poster above the chart). When they reach ten (the limit), K-2 goes to the prize box and 3rd gets a party with fresh-baked cookies and either games or a movie.
Last year I did the sticker chart but without the star idea and I got so sick of hearing "how many stickers are we going to get???" So now I tell them they can't ask me, they know how to find out (just look at the board). It's also an easy way of reminding them to get their behavior back on track because I can simply walk over without saying a word and go to take a star off and they freak.
So, I realize I have written a rather long picture book but I am proud of how much my room has improved over last year. I hope you've enjoyed this tour, please feel free to tip the guide. :)
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