Just a couple of changes!

Have been out of the room for the past few weeks while my student teacher was in control. Gave me a chance to reflect on my own programme and plan for the term to come. I also observed a couple of the other teachers and sitting in someone else's room and checking out their layout is always good personal reflection too.  So have had a bit of rearrangement today ( not the reason I went to school today but that's what needed up happening - gotta do it when inspiration strikes!)

Corner to corner view from my desk by the front door...have joined the three large tables together, rearranged the desks...still have options of table/desk/floor seating for 26 pupils (and they start the day in one 'base' place but are free to move around during the day depending on their tasks)...

View from art bay...still plenty of room at the floor table (with cushions)....

Moved the computer cupboard and marking shelf over to the side wall...

Back wall now has a jellybean table where the kids can use three laptops or iPads, the inquiry table has moved to the centre, with the report books in the boxes beside it, and a small table is over near the library shelf (two pupils can work there easily with computers or iPads too).

Two bean bag chairs for pupils to work on and two desks in the art bay where pupils can sit to work or stand to do art if needed...

Just need to reshuffle a couple of the wall displays now and then will set up the D.I.Y. Programme again (my student worked a regular classroom timetable and guided group sessions).

Only one week left until holidays and we will be right into it all again in October!

Classroom layout and displays

Photos from the beginning of Term 3 2013:

Job list - pupil pictures are rotated weekly

Year Sixes have special school-wide jobs

My desk: by the front door, laptop runs the IWB

View along the windows

View along the IWB/whiteboard wall

View from front door, across classroom to cloakbay door - we have a mixture of options for seating -
pupils select a numbered counter when enter the room on Monday morning (corresponds to a workspace/seat/table)
and that is their 'base' space for the week.  They are allowed to move to other spots during the day eg when working with a partner or on an ipad, or if I want a guided group to be in a certain place.

Computer cupboard area

Marking shelf - pupils place books or completed work here for me to look at

Basket for the DIY (do-it-yourself) learning folders and resources; shelf for flag, stickers box, guided group resources.

Games cupboard (due for a paint-job!)

Literacy/spelling resources, atlases and large reference books.

Library corner

Inquiry display table, reporting books in boxes underneath

Inquiry wall - has question, key understandings, a relevant quote or two;
work or other material still to be added as inquiry progresses.

Personal learning goals display - wearing a motorbike helmet in honour of Burt Munro

Inside the computer cupboard

Guidelines on doors of computer cupboard

This lets me know who to respond to on their blog

School agreement for pupils using computers

A work in progress - poem of the week, current events

Suggestions board for what to blog about and a playtime/lunchtime computer roster

Bulldog clips attached to wall for displaying class-made publishing books.

Displaying the expectations of learning for writing.

Motivation for the Year Sixes towards the end of year prize-giving.

Wall shelves - homework books are kept each day in the empty space; modelling books to the right,
Bible in Schools books below, refill pads and handwriting cards,
maths text books at bottom - all within easy reach.

Maths equipment

As we have no desks we store our books for each subject in these bins.

The chairs get stacked at the end of the day.

We have some stools as an option.

Another version of stools.

Handwriting levels

Noise signal lights

Reward system - when board is full the dodecahedron dice (to 12) is rolled
and the winner chooses from the prize-box.

And for inappropriate behaviour...(steps two plus are hardly ever referred to thankfully!)

Guided groups on display

Low table, cushions are a seating option - due for paintjob too!

As we have no storage desks the pencil cases are kept in these trays;
everyone shares the rulers and glue-sticks.

The centre of the maths shelves/homework book shelves -
spelling and basic facts resources, literacy CDs, music CDs etc.

My personal collection of teaching resources, kept on shelves in the art bay.

More of my resources, on a higher shelf on other side of artbay.

More of my resources - the bits and pieces stuff!

Pupils can use these art supplies.

My everyday trolley - planning and resources for the week are easy to access.

Reward system - using obsolete library cards, points given for tidy handwriting as well as three points per day
as "work pay" for being at school.  Pupils can 'buy' from the shopping list.

My marking system for book work.

I use groups of three for cooperative tasks. Change each term.