Sneak Peak!

I have been working in my room for 2 stressful, messy, sweaty days so far! It is awesome what you can complete in that amount of time! However, since I am not all the way finished...I am only giving a 'sneak peak' of some of the things I've got brewing in my classroom...

I've linked up with Made It Monday at Fourth Grade Frolics to show you what I have made!
Be sure to go check out what other people have made!

I can't wait to hear what you all think about it so far!!

Let's enter the room! First I have this great "Welcome" banner I got from a fellow blogger, Tammy, at Live, Love, Laugh Everyday in Kindergarten. I love how it will catch everyone's eye as they walk through the door to take a peak of the room on meet-the-teacher day! I think it adds a little something special! I will probably leave it up for a while!

When you walk in my room, you automatically notice that it is rainbow color themed! No actual "rainbows", but there are rainbow colors everywhere! I especially use the rainbow colors in my organization...not only with the students, but with my personal items!

There are 6 groups in my classroom, and each group is themed....that's right...with a COLOR from the rainbow!!! The groups are specified with the pom-poms that hang over them! I absolutely love pom-poms! I found a few different tutorials on them on youtube that helped me learn how to make them. The one below obviously labels red group!

Then, each group has its own bookshelf! Last year I went ahead and sucked it up...I spent the money on the shelves. Now, I am SO happy to have them! It really stops kids from getting up and down so often to grab paper, pencils, books, etc. Everything they need goes on their book shelf! Keeping items where I can see them, bookshelves are decorative and organized! I have jobs for certain members of the group, as well. A certain student is in charge of organizing the bookshelf if it gets messy, another student will be the one who gets up to get their group materials when needed, and another monitors levels of supplies on the shelf (so he/she can refill when necessary!). This has allowed students to be more independent in my class. They also surprise me with how protective they are of their shelf and the items on it! 

My favorite part is...each bookshelf is color coordinated to match their group color!!!!

1. Top basket: used for papers. Sometimes I pre-pass out 

papers they will need for class, other times I use it when I 

hand out papers I have graded. Sometimes, I even use it 

for supplies like rulers or protractors we need that day.

2. Painting: leadership quote written on it. Different quote 

at each group.

3. Journal: The journal is used when we do team-work. 

Sometimes we will do games or competitions as a team, and 

we use these journals for our scratch work.

4. Cup that matches group color: stores paper clips, binder clips, 

and anything else tiny that is used for organizing.

5. Larger container that matches group color: stores markers, 

highlighters, and other writing utensils. 

6. Markers set: Crayola markers for group-use.

7. White boards: personal white boards for different math activities.

8. Supply container: this is where students will put any supplies 

that they do not keep in their pencil pouch. I also put socks in their 

for erasing their white boards, as well as white board markers.

9. Paper: this keeps students from getting up and down all of the time!

10. Dictionary: My students use this mostly for help with spelling.

11. Textbooks: student text books or workbooks will also be kept on 

this bookshelf. 

**Pay close attention to the clear can that is on top of the shelf...I will get to that in a minute**

Okay so back to the clear can you saw on the top of purple group's bookshelf...

The little can, seen here on orange group's bookshelf, is used for team points! Yay! 

All students love to earn points and prizes for their team. I use the little pom-poms to pass out points to the students as they work in their groups. A pom-pom may be used for little things, like answering questions aloud during a lesson; or bigger things, when all of the students at the group are working super hard on their classwork! I will also hand them out when students exhibit one of the Seven Habits, too! The really love earning mini pom-poms! Of course, they earn the pom-poms that match their group color...this way students cannot steal from other teams and put it in their jar! At the end of the week, the students count up their pom-poms and the winning group gets a prize! 

Below is a little bit of my organization. I love to organize a full week of copies and other resources so that during the week, I do not have to worry about what is going on the next day...it's all there and ready! Also, this greatly benefits me if I ever get sick out of the blue and need a substitute. Between my teacher binder with sub forms ready, and this great organizer...and sub can enter my room and know exactly what should be going on (as well as having all materials copied and ready). I have a section for each day of the week, of course in rainbow colors!

This "achieve" sign is something I made last year. The students really loved it! I also have ones similar that say "dream" and "learn". I really feel like words like those being around the room help students remember why they attend school each day! 

And....they are pretty looking...haha!

LASTLY, my "We Love Fifth Grade" banner! You guys have already seen this, but it was hanging over my kitchen cabinets...now, it is hanging proudly over my smart board/white board and I love it!!! :) 

I think this will be a great hit on meet-the-teacher day! 

I make these banners for all grades K-5, as well as banners that say "Math Focus Wall" and "Reading Focus Wall". They are on my TpT! Click here to explore my banners!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Please let me know what you think of my room so far.

I am so nervous excited for the BIG REVEAL when I am done setting everything up next week! 

I hope you can use some of my ideas in your classroom. 

Don't forget to enter my 300 followers giveaway! I am lucky enough to have some WONDERFUL bloggers contribute! You won't want to miss out ;)