My Classroom

  I always enjoy reading posts about other teacher's classrooms so I thought I would share my classroom this year. It hasn't changed too much in the past couple years. I was tired of the same old posters and wanted it to have a warmer feel so I looked at a lot of themes in Schoolgirl Style. I decided on a black white and red theme, though this year I added a few other splashes of color. Enough talking here are some pictures.
 

 Here is the view as you walk in the door.

 These show the front of my classroom

 See the cute polka-dot skirt I sewed for my podium? The holder on the end I got from Thirty-one. (My daughter sells it so I always know when the specials are on. But on special or not it is heavy duty and  keeps things organized.)

 The Bell drawer is where all papers are handed in. The black stacking holders are where students will find their work if they were absent. It frustrated me though when students did not come in to make up graded assignments so I attach a slip to their papers now that tell them if there was something graded they need to make up. In my pre-algebra classes I have students collect and fill out the slips for the missing people in their group. If you want to see the form leave me a comment and I will come back and add it. I would do it now

 The posters I do have are to add to the classroom community. I want students to know making mistakes is a part of math, actually its just a part of learning. The poster next to it is dear to my heart because a couple students made it for me a few years back. It says "In Mrs. Olsen's World everyone loves math". And that is truly my hope.

 I love my folder holder below the mistakes poster. I place all corrected papers in there by bell. The bottom one holds my homework clipboard.

 Love my Wordle poster. Got a great deal on groupon one time so I was able to make my classroom posters for next to nothing.

 Just some math signs to decorate the wall and keep with the classroom theme. Love my calculator caddy. No problem anymore when students forget calculators. I assign calculators by the number they are on my roll, so if one goes missing I know where to look.

 I added red and black fabric to an old bulletin board to spruce it up. This where fliers or announcements go. I found the stars on clearance and my husband spray painted them to match my theme.  To the left of this bulletin board I have sign that says family and I have pictures of my children with their families. Pictures of my grandchildren. And a big family picture (that keeps falling down.) I have tried every thing to hand the picture, but I think because its over the heating/ac vent the hooks and Velcro don't stick.

 I am putting classroom supplies in the middle of the class this year. I am hoping there will be less wasted time when students need to borrow glue or scissors, etc...

OK I saved the best for last. Here is my back wall. The math sign was inspired by Julie Reulbach though honestly I don't remember what, if it was a picture on her blog? I went to check her archives back to when I saw it but its not there but I do know the idea came from her so I wanted to give credit where credit is due.

 The hanging next to the sign I found at Bed Bath and Beyond. You know their coupons never expire right? So never pay full price.

 My Wordle poster, always feeding students a love of math.

 Oh I wanted to show you the skirt I sewed for my desk. I also covered my chair.It was an ugly rust cover but I love green and this bright one is just the right splash of color in my classroom.

 So that's my classroom. I hope you enjoyed it.. I really struggle with organization but I think this year I have everything set up for a fluid organized movement in class.
 I am so looking forward to school starting tomorrow and sharing my classroom with a whole new group of students. I hope that Mrs. Olsen's World will bring them a greater love of math and a desire to keep learning!!