The Teacher's Desk

So I'm always fascinated by how teachers use - or don't use - their teacher desk. I have seen hundreds of classrooms and have found that it's probably about 50/50. I am a desk-loving lunatic. I need to have my own space (with drawers!) to keep and organize all of my precious little materials. I also like having a space that's kid-free (with the occasional lucky student who gets to sit there during library center).

So I'm going to give you the low-down on my desk. Let's start with the surface: I am a big supporter of minimalist style - especially in such a hoarder-filled profession. I keep my desk clean and ready to go every single day! It's much easier to keep your space clean.

Here is the breakdown for each part of the my desk surface:

My file holder, paper bin, and monthly calendar are all from Target. They are a simple cardboard design with a brown and chevron pattern on the inside. I have discovered that having a monthly desk calendar, along with my gold polka-dotted planner (pictured in the paper bin), force me to write down important meetings, etc. more than once - which helps me remember!

Some people think I'm crazy because I have had the same pens, pencils, sharpies, etc. for years. But it's because I always return them to my pencil cup! It just makes sense to me to keep track of your supplies so that you're not constantly trying to find something to write with. I also instill this habit in my kids and you would be amazed at how organized second graders can be.

I like to keep my intervention materials right at my fingertips so I can quickly call students back to work on those specific skills. Currently I have:

• Targeted skill/leveled text
• Squishy balls for sensory and motor skill development
• Checklists that remind students of their best behavior
• Word bags with high frequency words

I also have an intervention plan folder - I will dedicate an entire post to how I manage my interventions and using the fabulous and amazing instructional assistants that I have the pleasure to work with!

Like most teachers, I have a marker/pen/writing utensil obsession. I keep them organized by type in these great little baskets. I also have index cards, mini composition books, thank you cards (SO useful to have in your desk!), stickie notes, our Braggin' Dragons (schoolwide PBIS incentive).

Something I learned along the way - have gum, toothpicks, chapstick, and lotion in your desk. You need these things after lunch. You do NOT want to sit through an important meeting with a piece of spinach in your teeth... not that I have done that or anything... the shame.

I hope that this gave you some ideas for organizing or using your teacher's desk! Thanks for stopping by!

Freebies

So, like so many fabulous teachers out there I love freebies! I have downloaded so many amazing materials from different teacher bloggers. Here are a few of my absolute faves:

• A Year of Many Firsts
• KinderCraze
• Miss Kindergarten
• Ladybug's Teacher Files

All of these fabulous ladies post gorgeous pictures, helpful resources, and great insight. I mean really girls, when do you sleep?? And for all of that I am super grateful!

So I am going to add some materials that I have created! And the best part? They're all freebies! So head on over to my TpT Store and enjoy! Feedback is * always * appreciated.

Here is a picture of my Homework Assignment Sheets, available in my TpT Store. They are free, editable, and super useful in the classroom! Enjoy.

More Of My Classroom

The tour continues... don't mind the chairs being stacked, end of the day was the only time I could get these pictures. No little people running around distracting me, amiright?

Above is a view of my Social Studies focus wall and our Computer Center which is part of our daily five. I also have my SMARTS board here which is a great teaching method for executive function - a post for another time.









Here is my carpet area board. It's a hand-me-down but it does the trick!

Below you will see my Word Study Center another part of my centers rotation. This is probably my favorite center in our classroom. I try to change themes and materials each month. The kids absolutely love this center!

This is our Library Center which has received a serious facelift this year! It's becoming a popular spot with the kids.

Whole group carpet area to the left.

This is the board behind my desk. It has our monthly calendar, student jobs, and our ticket bins. I use tickets in my classroom along with Whole Brain Teaching as my classroom management style.

The wall above is our Inspirational Word Wall. I do a lot of work with synonyms to help my kids create powerful sentences. This wall is referenced all of the time when they are writing! It also has our oral vocabulary words pictured below: Weekly Words.

This is the area directly behind my desk. I keep important things posted here...

And then there's my teacher shelves... organized - yes! Perfect - absolutely not. But for now, it works just fine. I will post more details about my area when I post about my lovely teacher desk.

More on my classroom tour later, thanks for stopping by!

Classroom Tour

Here's a look inside my classroom... enjoy!

I'll start with my welcome wall. On this wall I have my check in board (pics coming soon!) and all of the important information for my kids...

Our Daily Schedule. Grabbed these great schedule cards on Teachers Pay Teachers! Obviously they were freebies because that's how I roll.

Next we have our date, day of the week, and our Arrival Routine which is an absolute lifesaver in my classroom. We stick to this routine every, single, day. They know it, I know it, it's a wonderful thing. *I have also created a new Arrival Routine and hope to include it as a freebie for you! Coming soon*

Moving along my welcome wall I have our Specials Schedule - which shows everyone what creative arts class we have for that day. As a former substitute teacher this is something that was essential in designing my classroom! I like taking all of the guess-work out of being a guest teacher. I also have our Homework and Reminder poster. This is where I write the - you guessed it! Homework and reminders for that day! Kids copy it down on their new and improved * Homework Assignment Sheets * Also a freebie coming your way soon!

I also have Fundations materials posted on this wall but that's a topic for another day. Moving along we see my Guided Reading Shelves. This is where I keep all of materials for Reading Groups. I like to have every little thing right at my fingertips but still keep it tidy and organized. #thestruggleisreal

This is the view facing my shelves. It sits right in front of my Focus Wall. I have a daily Morning work question and Today's Menu where I write down a general outline of our day. I also post if I have a meeting, there's a special activity, or if it's something completely different! Kids check this Menu every day and report back if they have a question. More to come on that later.

For a more in depth look at my classroom, guided reading group materials, and desk check back later!

New things!

Here we go! My name is Kelly and I am a second grade teacher... this is my first attempt at blogging so this will be a journey for all of us. I'm full of ideas, don't take myself too seriously, and have an artistic sensibility. I weave humor into almost every aspect of my job - it helps keep me sane. I love organizing, bright colors, practical solutions, and simply fabulous things.

I will try to post as many time-saving (sanity-boosting) hints, ideas, and materials. I use the CCSS to fuel all of my materials but always add a little extra flair. I'm big on routines and procedures and believe they are the backbone for a successful classroom.

My classroom is my happy place so you will see a lot of pictures! I love designing (and re-designing) my space to better meet the needs of my kids. I also love having a neat and tidy space that looks as beautiful as it functions.

Enjoy!
Kelly