So you guessed it...over the break I wasn't completely happy with my new arrangement. I had one group that was just WAY too talkative and needed to be smaller, and my back table that I used for groups was really bugging me. It just didn't seem or feel like I was using it to it's "full potential". Because it was by the door any traffic coming or going was disruptive. It was also by the book bags...so if a student was coming back from something and needed to get to their book bag it would distract my group.
I'm also kicking myself because I didn't take a close up picture of them, but a teacher friend (who now is in my old classroom) had these awesome space saving, stackable stools that she used when meeting with individuals or groups....I loved them so much that I got some over the break. And it also gave me a chance to browse one of my favorite stores, IKEA!
So here is a picture of the stool, they are stacked next to my table in my classroom pictures.
Here is what it looked like before we left for the break (just a reminder)
Probably the biggest change, I pushed both my storage cabinets back to back, placed the shelf and "poster" I made in front. The math center central had been there before, but I moved the Reading center central to the other side. I really like the seperation of spaces now!
A view from my desk. 5 groups of kids now, a few smaller groups (one group has to share book shelves with another nearby group, and I'm actually okay with that)
The view from the front of the room...well one side of the room. I placed my two metal shelves in front of the book bag hooks to create a "semi wall" allowing me to bring a group off of it. It also blocks my view of the book bags and doesn't give the kids much room to stand and gather back there. Got this idea from another friend teacher!
This feels WAY more open! We will see what it's like when the kids arrive TOMORROW! Yep we go back with kids TOMORROW. Speaking of which I need to get to bed!
