Welcome to my 2015 Office!

I take my classroom almost too seriously. It needs to be practical, attractive and inspiring but also easily maintained. Every summer, for a couple of weeks, I rope in as many helpers as I can get to help sort my creative chaos; a series of bright ideas, with the best intentions, all aimed at promoting independent learning and community spirit.

This is the result of Summer2015's efforts:

Our Learning Walls

Much to the frustration of a previous colleague, I used to back ALL my boards in white. However, I soon realised that posters, models/images and reminders, often on white themselves, would get lost in the background. With that in mind, I chose black backing with borders the same colour as the subjects' respective exercise book.

Why the little whiteboards?
I have a grand plan to write up my week's objectives, so the children can see where our learning is heading; the end product of the hard work we will be putting in. Whether that's solving a problem using the methods we learnt, or writing something including the skills we rehearsed, I'm hoping my learners will be able to move their name tag along the lessons to show they are ready to move on. It'll be a good way for me to focus my feedback and organise extra support and revision where needed.

Spelling Spy?
My English wall features a "Spelling Spy". I was inspired by my class last year, who used to enjoy finding words that could have belonged in their spelling list that week. The number of times quiet reading would be disturbed by, "Mr N! I've found another word with 'tion'!". I decided to capitalise on that this year, and provide a space for the words to be collected.

Toolbox?
With the changes in the English Curriculum, and the apparent disappearance of 'Writing Genres', teaching writing got a little blurred; too many people with too many ideas of what 'good writing' is. In my opinion, the genres were a great way of showing off various types of language in different contexts. Writing instructions, for example, to best show off time conjunctions, or descriptive writing to best see the impact of adjectives and use of the senses. I can only assume we became too reliant on the genres and writing became very predictable. I will use this Tool Box idea to keep a reminder of all the different strategies we learn, so we can use them at any time; aiming to remedy the previous problem regarding genres, that we only use brackets in a newspaper to reveal a spectator's age! 

The Den
I have never liked 'The Book Corner.' What's inviting about that!?! This is our den, where there happens to be some books! I have compiled this collection with a bit of personal investment and clever bundle purchasing online. Some of them are childhood favourites of mine.

My school have a big focus on reading.

To encourage avid readership, the black board features "The Reading Race"; space for my learners to tick off how many books they read, and an area for them to recommend a book to others (via the trusted sticky note on the board method).

It is my aim to fill the top half with class photos, motivational quotes and such. Like your living room at home!

Key Vocabulary
The white board is where I will be putting key vocabulary for our topics, as well as space for the children's questions about each subject.

If we are asking questions, it's only fair we also display the answers, so there's room for that too!

Let's watch our knowledge grow!

Cushions & Rugs
Just because why wouldn't you?

Foundation Subjects
My new school teach subjects fairly discretely. I've not worked in this way for a long time so I am looking forward to experiencing it again. Therefore, rather than a 'topic/theme' display, I have chosen to give an area for each subject. Whereas the Vocabulary board is dedicated to important language, posters and reminders, this board is solely for children's work and successes. Photos of PE, annotated maps or creative timelines, reports and fact-files; this board will become a scrapbook of each term's learning completed by the students. 

General
My final spaces are designed for those that go the extra mile.

On the left, alongside our behaviour traffic light system, we also have the 5 qualities we will be looking for in our learners. Reasoning, being Reflective, Responsible, Resilient and Resourceful. I will be using sticky notes to add the names/moments where we have shown those qualities.

On the right, our homework! A very simple and visual way to see who I can expect to see in the 'In' tray, and who needs to get a move on!

And there you have it! My 2015/16 classroom! I'd love to hear what you think, any suggestions for additions and ideas for next year! Our classrooms are where we spend most of our teaching lives, so take pride in them and make them yours; the children will appreciate your efforts!