Almost Done

Here is a before picture. This is over by my teaching area. As you can see I have a lot of things to put away.

This is the after picture. I moved the cart over by the door where my desk used to be.

I decided to get rid of my desk.  I don't spend a lot of time at my desk and it was taking up valuable space.  It took awhile to figure out where to put all my office supplies (e.g tape, glue, stapler, paper clips, etc.), but I managed to find places to put it all.  Hopefully I will remember where those places are.  The drawers next to the center cart is where some of my desk supplies went. On top of the drawers I have my Sub tub.  The Sub Tub has some emergencies activities in it.  When I know I will be out I will put all the materials needed for the day.  There is a folder for each grade level in the tub.

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This is the Isle of Rest. It sits behind the piano out of the view of the class.

Here is a closer view

These are different tools that students can use to help them refocus.

Above are some pictures of the Isle of Rest.  This is a place where students go when there upset or need to recharge their behavior.  Students can choose on their own to go to the Isle of Rest and they choose when to come back.  Sometimes I will ask them to go there because their behavior is getting off task and they need some time to rethink their choices.  There are some tools to help them to refocus.  There are some stuffed animals, koosh balls, and various sand and liquid timers.  There is also some paper and pencils for students who want to write about their thoughts and feelings or they can draw about how they feel.  They can also just sit quietly and do nothing until they feel better.  The Isle of Rest is out of view of the class giving them some privacy. 

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This is a before picture.

Here is an after picture.

I decided to move the cubbies and shelves to a new location so I can have room for my Bose L1 Model II speaker.  This is a great sound system and works well for performances in a gym.  This is my personal speaker that I bought with my money.   I hook my computer and my wireless microphone to it when I am in class. 
  I  hung up my whiteboard that has a blank calendar, a space to write notes, and cork board to hang things up on.  I plan to hang up the music vocabulary words we are working on and I will write the 4 day rotation schedule on the calendar. 
  I use the little white amp to plug in my iPad for when we need a metronome.  Since my computer will already be plugged into the stereo jack on the Bose there isn't any way for me to plug the iPad in too.  It's just easier to have the iPad plugged into it's own amp. I don't have to fumble with trying to switch out the jack from my computer to my iPad.  I got the amp from Sam's Club.  It's portable and has a rechargeable battery.  Works great when you want to take a class outside for the day.  

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Teaching cart

Piano and organizers that have manipulatives that I use in class.

Here is my teaching cart where I keep my lesson plans, seating charts, and anything I need for the lesson.  I don't stand at it when I teach.  Usually I am sitting on my stool or standing in front of the class.  Next to my teaching cart is the classroom cubbies where I store the Popsicle sticks for each class.  I use the sticks to pick students to come up to the Promethean board to answer questions or to move or write things on it.  I put the cubbies on the top of small set of shelves.  Now I can get to all the cubbies without having to bend over.  I also use the cubbies to store student work. 
  The two small carts with drawers have my manipulatives that I use in class (e.g rhythm cards, alphabet carts, beat charts, orchestra materials, etc.).  The silver utility cart holds the ActivExpression and the ActiVotes.  These are little remotes known as clickers.  Students can click in their answer and it will let me know how each student answered the question.  2nd-5th grade use the Expression and Kinder and 1st grade use the Votes.  My piano sits behind the carts.  It is facing the risers so I can see the students when I am playing.   The Isle of Rest is behind the piano.  I keep the piano locked during class so they can't try to play the piano when they are back there. 

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click on image to see a larger view

Here are the Orff instruments.  Behind the tree are the djembes on stands and tubanos.  The chest has a classroom set of drum pads and drumsticks.  The chart stand has a magnetic white board and the other side is a felt board, but I hang my pocket chart on it.

click on image to see a larger view

Here is the book case that I finally finished organizing.  The top shelf has my teaching supplies (e.g. scissors, staplers, paper clips, cleaning supplies).  The other shelves has some more manipulatives that I use in class throughout the year (e.g. beach balls, large dice, pitch exploration tools, etc.)

click on image to see a larger view

These are the Recorder Karate notebooks that are on the shelves on the side of the risers.  There are 4 notebooks in each tub.  I put my student in groups of 3-4 students.  Each group is a shape.  I was going to use something musical like instruments names or note names, but I have some cute clip art of shapes so I went with that. 

click on image to see a larger view

Here is a close up of the clip art. 

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My room is now pretty much done.  I just need to finish putting the tapes down.  I will do that in the next few days.  My next post will be about how I start Whole Brain Teaching in my classroom.

Tami