My Classroom

A year ago I transitioned to working at First Baptist Day School full time.  For over two years prior I had worked there part time in addition to my special needs preschool job. I had been working as a one-on-one aid in the summer and head of After school Program in the school year.  So last year I was doing both of those roles in addition to assisting a teacher in a 3 year old class whenever I wasn't needed with the other.  It was fun but a bit disjointed.  This summer when that 3 year old teacher moved into a different role, I was given the position of the lead teacher for that class. So now I am in one role all day.  This summer I lead her kids in our summer program while prepping the room to receive a new batch of 3 year old's August 1st.  The former teacher had been in the room a long time and there was a lot of "unearthing" and "rearranging" needed.  The room felt busy and I had a specific vision for a calmer room setting.  Through the help of friends and co-workers along with some good thrift store finds and craft store coupons, I was able to create a learning space in which I am delighted to spend most of my day.  Want to see????

Inspired by a picture on Pinterest and helped by friends (Thanks Nydia) my door into the classroom
was turned into a Caravan Camper.  The flags have the names of the children.  The plan is to decorate
according to season.  Someone recently referred to my room as "the retirement home "
(because of the camper and peaceful interior.)

So the tinfoil was an afterthought developed when the hole I cut out of the paper was bigger than
the square window.  Just goes to show that sometimes acting out of necessity can make things better.

The pennant banner is our birthday calendar.  Each one represents a month and has the names
of children who have birthday's that month.  My bulletin board boarder and
circle time calendar all came from the Dollar Tree or Target $1 bins. This
area (just below out of sight) is known as "the gathering spot."
It is home of dancing, yoga, stories, and circle time.

I love my circle time chair.  A $15 thrift store fine with about $15 of paint.  Pillows were given to me by Gwen.
I snagged the easel for $5 at a yard sale to learn it is an expensive Pottery Barn easel.  In the basket are my
 Dollar Tree rugs that we use for Yoga and circle time.

The "manipulative" shelf was being thrown out by my mom's neighbor. I love this little
manipulative/writing/science corner.  Its a favorite with the kids.  The hornets nest was left
from the previous teacher and I brought in my Aloe plant that was not thriving at my house.

This is what inspired the theme.  I found this table top (without a base) at a ReStore a couple of
years ago along with two old school chairs.  I stored it in my shed waiting for "some day."  Nick, my parent's
 neighbor built the table base. I am so glad I bought it even not knowing what for.

I love my 3 posters from Cavallini Papers & Co.  They add just the right vintage flair.
 I added wood strips on top and bottom to give an old school feel. 

Nick's wife, Gwen has an amazing  fabric stash and had rolls of this polka dotted fabric.
And well it just so happened to match my crazy plum colored wall.  She made us these
fabulous curtains. It adds a little charm and just enough darkness at nap time.  This is
 the space where I hope to put a small sensory table.  I am working on getting one built.

The poster is a color wheel. Left door leads to bathroom.  The cabinet is the art station.  Above is
a bulletin board that serves as command central.  And the door with my hat and apron houses
my well organized and labeled craft/resource closet.  On the shelf, Pete the Cat is guarding our much
appreciated classroom IPad.  Pete moves each weekend.  He is kind of like Elf on the Shelf.
The kids enjoy looking to see where he is each Monday

This is my $10 table that I love.  I made the crate benches with the help of Pinterest, friends, and coupons.
 We use this table for all kinds of activities.  See the black rolling shelf?  It is for my circle time gear and
 it was $3 at a yard sale. Way above it is the ever so valuable visual timer.  The time is demonstrated
 by red.  When the red is gone, it beeps, and the kids all cheer.  Often I hear, "set the timer!"

This is the home living center (left side) and library (right). I was determined to replace
the plastic kitchen previously in my room.  Again with help and donations from Nick and Gwen, I got
a very fun vintage home living center that the kids love.  The chair in the library was $1 at a thrift store painted
with 50 cent jar of  Home Depot ooops paint.

The kitchen was a kids tool bench I bought for $1 at a thrift store.  Nick worked some carpentry magic, Stephen
painted it, and Gwen made the super cute curtain.  I painted this table hiding in my shed to create an Island/crib/
cash register stand. The storage bench was Gwen's discard and a favorite hang out.  

I love my classroom.  When people stop in and say, "oh how peaceful," I am like "yeah! That's what I was hoping for."  The best part of the room though is the staff and kids.  I work with a couple of great ladies who aid the peaceful vibe and keep things moving. And the kids are FABULOUS!!  The people truly are what make this room a great place to be.