Hello bloggy friends!
Today I am posting about my classroom. It has been through a lot of changes since May. Let’s see what is happening…
For two years I stored my first grade teaching materials on one side of my room at my early childhood center. This worked out well as the space wasn’t being used for anything else. I had another classroom I taught in in the mornings so I had storage in this other building as well.
I taught first grade for approximately ten years. I loved it and the other levels I taught as well. I know as a specialist teacher I could be sent back to the classroom at any time so there is no way I am getting rid of my core teaching materials that I spent years accumulating, testing, using, and paying for out of pocket.
At the end of May my district had an admin person who decided to completely restructure specials classes in all buildings. I was told I would no longer be teaching my 2nd-4th graders. My heart was broken and I fought as well as I could to get them art, but as of this writing they now have no art next year. I don’t even care if someone else is teaching it- they need it!
So I was sent packing from my upper elementary art room.
Most everything I donated to the new Junior High art program and teacher, but I still had to keep supplies because I would be seeing my little ones double the times I saw them last year. So where to put this extra stuff?
Time for first grade materials to come live in my attic!
After moving first grade out of my art room I was able to unpack from moving art stuff over from my other art room. I also ruthlessly went through everything and made a donation table outside my door.
Next, I worked on my biggest goal: getting a full-sized chalkboard for my art students to use in my classroom!
Now let’s look at how everything turned out (please know that it is not finished- I still have a couple of things to do!
Come on in!
Welcome! Mind the glue guns! 
There are still projects on the tables such as my big classroom tree. 
My box of decorations 
The supplies and work area 
My desk and kitchen area
This year we are doing a travel theme- visiting every continent and learning about art from other lands! 
My upper cabinets are perfect for cute little displays of some of my favorite things- here are some Pooh animals. 
Peter Rabbit & Beatrix Potter 
Pusheen- my daughter’s old favorite- she gave these to me 
Vintage School fun 
Travel (our theme this year) 
…and Paddington, of course!
My desk and planning area. It takes a lot of research to put together art curriculum and to make it meaningful! 
This year I am trying to be a lot more thoughtful about my desk layout. 
My easel 
It needs sorting! 
Got to sort these cords too! 
I took al my files out this summer and was able to get rid of 3/4 of them! Hooray! Now to put them all back in… 
My set of Childcraft encyclopedias, Peter Rabbit books, my planner stand and my pinboard make for a nice planning space. 
My little kitchen with M. Sasek books and my rubber stamps in plastic drawers 
Paddington! 
Still working on my desk area… 
The drying racks and some art by my daughter
Ocean colors for travel and rainbow fun 
The other side of the smartboard 
Made for me by my daughter! 
I’ll be changing this to 16 this week! 
Working on the classroom tree. I moed it to put in the chalkboard, then it got broken. 
I’ll soon have it up and going! 
Lastly, a lovely stack of school supplies to put in my table boxes! Hooray!
Next time I will post what I am doing to untangle things on the home front- like our porch restoration!
With classroom love to you from School Street,
-Jaime
Life on Kansas Street 