My Happy Place

Ask any passionate teacher about how they spend the last couple weeks of summer break and I guarantee almost every single one would respond...setting up my classroom.  This would then follow by pictures or explanations of all the new things they have planned to kick off the year.  I'm am no exception!

Every year I spend a week or two cleaning, organizing, strategizing, and of course decorating.  It never gets old for me.  The craziness of those last few days before school starts is always centered around my classroom.  So I thought it would be appropriate to give you a tour of Room 910 at HHMS.

View from the doorway as you walk in.  Skeleton Bob is always lurking behind the door.

View from the corner.  Shows off the flexible seating I implemented last Spring.

I teach science and discussion and group work is a huge component of my classroom.  Middle schoolers are inherently social butterflies, most that is, so it can be tricky sometimes to tame the chatting but I wouldn't give up my tables for anything.  I was also very fortunate to get new furniture last year and even more fortunate that I have a principal that asked what I wanted.  Therefore, I am so happy to have mobile white-board tables and Hooki wobble stools.  Both of which are a HUGE hit with my students...I can't help but say I have some ROCK'IN seats.  Get it, they rock!  I know just a bit corny, but I really do love my furniture and how mobile it is. It allows us to transition to many different instruction styles - labs, whole class discussion, partner work, and independent choice.  It's GREAT!

It seems like every year I find new ways to rearrange the room, however I feel like I finally hit a set up that works.  I jumped on board the flexible seating bandwagon last spring and haven't looked back.  You'll notice I have stools, chairs, pillows, and just open floor space for kids to lay around the room.  I'm still experimenting with this, but really do feel it has been beneficial to creating a comfortable, positive work environment for my students.  They really seem to like the independence of choosing their own work area for the day too.

Independent learners.  Independent thinkers.  I've spent the first two weeks of school preaching these words to my new crop of students.  I want all my students to feel confident in working in my room, therefore I have lots of "help yourself" areas.  Supply baskets, my mobile lab carts, the command center (passes, voice level meter, and paper turn in station) and finally my favorite thing in the room...my LARGE PEG BOARD.  Can I just say this is an OCD teacher's dream!  I'm not the most organized person, notice no pictures of my desk...lol!  However, this big beauty keeps my students and myself organized.  Just look at it; it's gorgeous!

Every year as the new school year starts and I leave my classroom the last time before the kids arrive, I just stand in the doorway soaking it all in.  I feel incredible blessed to be a teacher.  I love that I can create my own workspace to fit my personality and teaching style.  I feel energized by the anticipation of how my new students will view my hard work.  And I get excited at the prospect of a new year.  Yep...my classroom is one of my happy places.

New Year...New Blog!

As a new school year is just days away, I am excited to start this new journey in my teaching career.  I  have become a blog lover over the last couple years and regularly find myself turning to them for fresh ideas and inspiration...and let's face it, a little motivation too!  Last year I had my students experiment with authoring their own blogs.  The experience instantly turned on a light in my head.  It was only natural to take the next step and start my own blog.

I'm a HUGE believer in modeling for my students; this became the true inspiration for this blog.  I hope to use my own journey to help my students along in theirs.  With over 160 students, this may prove to be quite a challenge but I'm totally up for it!  This year I will be starting my 10th year as a teacher and I am quite optimistic that it is going to BE AMAZING.  I invite you to join me as a discover what this whole blogging thing is all about.  I can't wait to reflect on my own teaching, collaborate with my students on their learning, and most importantly connect with you all along the way.