Setting up the classroom

Here are some updated pictures of my classroom. There was a white board on the wall facing the smartboard and I wanted it to be on the same side as my smartboard. I started to move it, only to realize it was just white contact paper and it got all curled. Luckily I was able to piece together what I would have done on that white board with some smaller white boards and posters. Turned out better this way, I love that they are like little windows.

I have a board for a weekly quote for inspiration. This week is "Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal" -Mother Teresa. There is this wonderful "Dare to Dream" curriculum (http://www.yourexpedition.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Curricula_Dare-to-Dream.pdf) that I am using for the first week. It was created by Liv Arneson, who I met during a conference in China. She part of the first woman team to trek across Anarctica. 

I also have a board for a "Word of the week" This week it is "Victory" (noun) success after difficulty. 

I have the calendar, schedule, and a place for me to do modeled writing/math. 

I have a picture of the scales of justice. I will be using "Restorative Justice" in my classroom. (http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2015/04/03/restorative-justice-a-different-approach-to-discipline) I also have one rule: "Tr'gwihit'ee" which means respect. It is all encompassing. The school has these wonderful Athabascan values posters, which underneath the respect sign. 

I also have a list of "I can statements" so the students can see what objectives we are working on. 

I also have the basketball. It is my "talking stick" for discussions. I can also bounce it twice to get the student's attention. It will be my signal during our direct instruction for the Reading Mastery Curriculum. 

I arranged the desks into 3 groups of 3 for small group instruction. I love how I have open space at the back and in the front for large group instruction. 

I also have this wonderful "Makerspace" Our first STEM challenge will be to construct a "log cabin"