My Classroom

My Classroom is a representation of both me and the learning happening in my classroom. No two years, or even days, does my classroom look the same. It changes on a regular basis to support and enhance student learning. My goal is to make my classroom student-centered. If it does not work for my students it changes.

My current classroom reflects the needs of my 4th-grade math students. I spend the majority of my day (3 hours) teaching math in a school that serves students in a small town and rural areas. We are considered the overflow school so our class sizes and demographics vary year to year.

This corner of my room is all about workspace for my students. It contains our classroom expectations, our daily schedule, a calendar, and daily math problems. I also have a whiteboard work table and desks that the students may move to suit their working needs.

The decorations in my room always serve a purpose. Here I added some color with numbers 1-12 to represent all factors. Once students master the multiplication facts that go with each number they sign their name. This way students have pride in mastering their facts without pointing out who has not mastered.

This area serves as a mail center for both the students and myself. Here students can turn in papers as needed, gather supplies such as markers, pencils, dry-erase boards and paper. Each student also has a mail slot. Students are given full access to this area to grab whatever they need. They are given the responsibility of choosing when and what supplies they need.

The grouping of my desks is based on the lesson goals, classroom management, and available space. My goal is to foster collaboration, yet still allow for direct instruction. When teaching science having a lot of room to move about also determines my desk arrangements.

Classroom Activities

Below is a collection of images and descriptions of various activities that my students have participated in throughout my teaching career.

Students working on building Rube Goldberg machines. Exploring how energy can transfer.

Students experiencing what it might have been like to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Room Transformation for our unit study on the Middle Ages. Students also went on crusade to understand what difficulties crusaders faced and what the reality of what they were promised