Thursday, September 10, 2015

Room 505

Hey, friends! Welcome to Room 505... lovingly referred to as the "Math Trailer" :)  When we started our middle school (6th, 7th and 8th grades used to be part of upper school which included high school as well), we moved from our classrooms in the quad to the "peninsula"... a group of portables at the end of the lower school deck.  I was hesitant at first, my old classroom was big and bright and had tons of built ins, but I was determined to capitalize on what the new room had going for it and went with amping up the cozy ;)

This is your view when you come into the room from the far right door...




And here is looking back at the door...


I use this whiteboard to post announcements, instructions, exam calendars, etc.


There's a door on the other side of the room as well, and this is the view from that door.


 When I had to switch rooms I switched out decor and spent the summer scouring thrift stores for old frames and then spray painting them.  


The canvas on the left I made this week... it was a painting of a beach scene that another teacher was getting rid of, so I painted it pink and threw a design on it and then painted the text.  





After a lesson, I draw names and kids get to sit here or on the couch as a special reward.  The LOVE it!






I have TONS of student art that I like to display and keep.  They get a huge kick of coming back and seeing their art up on the wall.  I HATE ET and my students know that and make total fun of me for it.  The picture of ET below was drawn by a kid who is now playing football in the Naval Academy. 







The quote along the ceiling is one of my favorites.  I had to paraphrase it a bit to make it fit, but I think it's such an important reminder to the kids AND to me.  I strive daily to foster a classroom environment that runs on kindness and mutual respect.




Students and parents will send me funny pictures and "hey girl memes", and I try to display them all.


   

This is my favorite spot and is where you can find me if I'm not at the front teaching or making the rounds helping with homework.




Kids give me random things (like a stuffed BatMan) and I have fun putting them around the room ;)









The teddy bear is from a student and the giant foil ball is from when my room got "foiled" by a group of eighth graders ;)


I spend most of my day in my classroom and I love that it's one of my favorite places.  It's homey and fun comfortable.  Quirky and colorful and "me" ;)  I make a point to switch things up every once in a while, put out seasonal decorations and make sure it always smells great.  I know that Math is stressful for LOTS of kids and I want them to feel relaxed and at ease when they're in my room.  They may not love the subject, but I want them to love my class ;)


 So, if you're looking for me between the hours of 7:30 and 4:00 this is where I'll be! ;)

Now link up and share your classrooms!!!  Teachers pour their heart and soul into their rooms and I can't wait to see yours!

   
   

29 comments :

  1. Thanks for the link up Andrea. I usually keep this part of my world private so it was a stretch to bring a little bit (what I could share due to privacy rules for our school) into my blogging world. Your classroom spells "you" everywhere. All the little touches and how special your students must feel when they are in there. Makes me want to be in your class!! Our school has to share our classrooms with Sunday School teachers so we are limited on how much we can put in there. A bummer of working in a church/school setting. Hoping I'll have my own classroom when our new building gets built.

    ReplyDelete
  2. My very favorite part has to be all those funny pictures and memes. Your classroom looks amazing!!! I could hang out in there and solve some simple addition problems. Ha! Yes, just simple addition. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love your classroom! It looks so warm and inviting. The saying across the wall is perfect and I fondly smile at your "Show Your Work please"! That right there was the only thing that got me thru College Algebra (and a ream of paper for all the shortcuts I was never able to master!)!! Great room!

    ReplyDelete
  4. My third grader is in a trailer this year and she thinks it's the coolest place ever. Her teacher calls it their "chateau". That makes me laugh every time! Hope you have a great school year!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I LOVE IT!!! It is so obvious you pour your heart and soul into teaching and every time you talk about your work, it makes me wish you had been my middle school math teacher! Everything is so adorable, but the "Hey girl...the modest way really is the hottest way" wins. Hands down hilarious! Thanks for sharing : )

    ReplyDelete
  6. I just want to hang out in your trailer all day. I'll just sit on that big comfy chair and drink Starbucks and enjoy my day :). What an amazing, cozy, loving and warm space!

    ReplyDelete
  7. If I was in your classroom I could possibly love math. Super cute girl !

    ReplyDelete
  8. Such a warm and inviting classroom where kids can feel at home! I believe when kids feel welcome and in a more home environment they are more successful and comfortable with asking more questions! I so wish my sweet girl who is now a new 6th grader had such a welcoming place to come to for math! Nice work!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yeah. I want to come hang out in your class. I could help grade papers… would that be incentive?? lol. Super cute class- especially the "Hey GIrl" Memes.

    ReplyDelete
  10. And I meant to tell you that our school calls the trailers "chalets". lol. We are in small town GA, at a small Christian school that is LITERALLY next to train tracks. Like, we are on "the other side of the tracks".

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love all of the scripture in your classroom!

    ReplyDelete
  12. It looks so cozy :) You seem like such a fun teacher! Have a nice day!
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ummm, can I come to your class? Seriously, I wish I would have had a teacher like you for Math, I hated it and the teacher I had for Algebra told me to never take any classes higher than that because I'll never get it...:(

    ReplyDelete
  14. I bet your room is where many, many students will look back and have fond memories of it. I will always remember my 7th grade LA teacher because she had rugs on her floor and it felt like a home rather than a classroom.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love you classroom. Makes me wish I had taken more pics of mine when I was teaching.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thankful to know another person does not like ET. Love your classroom.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your classroom is so cute! It's colorful, warm and inviting. Great place to do math. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I've said it before, but I really love your classroom. Ever since you first shared it, I have been wanting to make a gallery wall in my classroom. Slowly, but surely, I'll get there :) I also would love a big fluffy chair/couch in my room--but 36 desks take up too much room. It would be a dream come true to have smaller class sizes! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love, love, love your classroom! I love that you make it homey and a reflection of who you are and what kind of teacher you are. As a teacher, I too try to make my classroom a comfortable place for my students and myself. Unfortunately, I can't link up mine since I am currently packing up my classroom materials to move, but I'm looking forward to finding my next teaching job so I can start setting up my classroom/my home away from home.

    P.S. I love that you have a candle in your classroom. If I could do that I so would! I have to settle for air fresheners

    ReplyDelete
  20. Who wouldn't want to be in your class?!?! It is so fun and inviting - I agree if you are going to be there as much as you are, you should LOVE it!!

    www.balancingbyfaith.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ok several things...as a former teacher who taught in a portable - yours is HUGE!!

    I love the floral fabric you have on your bulletin boards, it looks like a fabric I would love to make curtains out of for Ellie's toddler room - where did you find it?

    That Starbucks cup I die!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I wish my math teachers were as fun as you! Even though math may be a hard subject for most, you really make the classroom fun and inviting and make kids want to learn. I think that's important! LOVE your classroom!

    ReplyDelete
  23. You're room is so "you"! I was always so nervous in my math classes because it was not my strong point. Any student is fortunate to have you!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Your school kids and biological kids are soooo lucky to have you!! You make EVERYTHING fun!!❤️

    Patty from Kingwood

    ReplyDelete
  25. The second best thing to being your kids must be being one of your students! The room is totally you but also so comforting for al!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. This is such an amazing room! I loved looking closely at your pictures. I was dying at some of the e-cards, hey girl memes, and other funny posts! And how awesome it must be to have scripture just breathing in your space! Love that!! You are a blessing to your students!

    ReplyDelete

Blog design by Get Polished | Copyright 2016