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Classroom Photos


2012-2013 Photos

I am a writing teacher, so you'll see lots and lots 
of writing visual aids. You can right click on each picture and open  them in a new window. Then, click on the picture again and it will enlarge to show details.

This is a picture from my doorway.

This picture shows my writing process posters 6 traits of good writing posters, and COPS poster. The ones I have in my store have the same content, but with different clip art and fonts.

I teach kindergarten, first grade, and second grade writing, so I have color coordinated everything. Red is kindergarten, yellow is first grade, and green is second grade. My students hand in their station work here and their writing notebooks are stored here, as well. Once school begins, they will decorate the covers of their notebooks.

My kindergartners keep their poetry and homework notebooks here, and my first and second graders have their writing folders here. First and second grade uses writing notebooks, but they keep their resources in a folder. I tried 3-ring binders and, although I liked that everything was in one place, I couldn't stand the ripped holes and having to put everyone's papers back in when they accidentally fell out.

I constantly remind my students to write the best sentences they can and this display is very helpful. I will be giving out star pencils, stickers, and erasers, every now and then, when I catch my students writing 5 star sentences.


My writing topics cards are a huge hit in my classroom. My students love to pick and choose the cards they want to write about and the display really stands out. The clip art is adorable and my students like to copy the images onto their own paper.



These pictures show my transition words display and where I'll be hanging my writer's workshop vocabulary words.  I hang the vocabulary words as I introduce them to my students.


This is my parts of speech display. As the children come up with strong verbs and adjectives, as well as, common and proper nouns that they need help spelling, I'll write the words on cards and place them in the chart. I always start the year off with the names of their teachers and the name of the school already in the chart.


This is my meeting area. Showing right now is the poster I use for introducing Jack Hartman's song "Learning Letter Sounds." One child points to the letters as the rest of us sing the song. This song and the various activities that go with the above poster, are extremely helpful in teaching my students the letter sounds.

My agenda goes in the blue chart and I write my objective and essential question right below it. The red, yellow, and green pocket charts are for the grade level sight words. 

I have 5 computers in my classroom. This picture also shows my character education posters. Character education is very important to me and I integrate it throughout my curriculum.




This is part of my writing station. My students love writing with a writing buddy and using the large dry erase board. During free choice, they often play teacher-students and it's such a joy to watch them. The table above has all kinds of resources for the children to use while they are writing. Task cards, monthly and seasonal word cards, picture prompts, writing utensils, message books, and much, much more.

This display shows my types of leads posters, first grade writing scale, and story questions posters. I refer to these displays every single day.


This display has always been an integral part of my writing classroom and when DJ Inkers started offering commercial licences, I jumped on the bandwagon, bought the license, and re-created my writing menu. (Sorry about the bright light covering the poster that says Book. My camera was not working properly.) My students love to choose an item from the menu to work on during station time or when they are done with a different station. There's always something fun to create! 


These are my students' mailboxes. I typed out their names, laminated them, and taped them to the 2-inch binder clips. The bottom of my mailbox unit holds some fun activities the children can do when they have completed their station work. My kindergarten and first grade writing forms are in there, as well as, word search templates, mystery word activities, etc.

This is my mailbox system with color coded baskets.

And my rainbow colored drawers that hold all my office supplies. I must remember to label that blue drawer!

This picture is of my clip chart and 5 star behavior board. Everyone who ends the day on green or above gets a star. Anyone who ends up off the chart (past outstanding) gets 2 stars. Once they have earned 5 stars, they can choose a treasure from the treasure box.

Question Words Display

 Leader of the Day Display


Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket

The photos below were taken during the 2011-2012 School Year.


The first picture I will show is my 6 traits of good writing and writing process bulletin board.

Every day, during writing workshop, my students are all in different places in the writing process. I like for my students to know that there is no beginning or ending to the writing process. That is why I hung the posters with arrows. The arrows show that they just keep going around and around. I try to focus on a different trait of good writing each week, so I hung my 6 traits posters in the middle of the board. Writing workshop in my classroom always begins with a mini-lesson from me or from one of my students who has done something wonderful the day before. My students love to be teachers and the children always listen nicely when they are in charge. Then, they do a turn and talk, where they discuss what they are going to be working on for the day. This really helps them get focused and ready. Next, is my favorite part of writing workshop, the quiet 10. This is where everyone, including myself, is writing. There is no talking, no moving around, no distractions. The lights go low and soft music plays in the background. It's very cozy and conducive to great writing. I have a writing topics display hanging for children to get ideas if they cannot think of anything to write about. If they need ideas, they must get the card(s) before the quiet 10 begins.


After the quiet 10, we spend the next 20 minutes writing and conferencing. The children sign up for conferences with me if they want to, but they cannot come to me until they have shared their story with a friend or two. This helps them to find and correct errors before they get to me. Finally, we spend about 10 minutes sharing. The children have to sign up to share and they cannot get another turn until everyone has had a turn. 

To help my students become the best writers they can, I have several displays in my classroom that they can refer to whenever they want. This is my "Types of Leads" display, which they helped to create. The children worked in groups to write a specific lead and that is what they use to remind themselves how to write each of the leads I taught them.


I also have a display that shows some good transition words for them to use in their stories. Each color displays words to use for the beginning, middle, and end of their story. Even my kindergartners use this display.


The next chart is one of the most useful charts I have hanging because it encourages my writers to write more in-depth pieces. If they show me a piece that leaves out crucial information, I take them to this chart and ask them to answer Who, What, Why, etc. If they cannot, they know that they need to go back and add in some information so the reader is not left confused and wondering what is going on in the story.


I also have a chart that shows the children how to write a super sentence. I have them refer to this chart whenever they have a sentence that needs a little more information.


My word wall is an important part of my classroom and my students and I refer to it quite often. That is why it is big and bright and spans one and a half walls in my room. It is color coded, too. All kindergarten words are in red, first grade words are in yellow, second grade words are in green, and words frequently used in writing are in orange. My younger students love to boast that they can spell words from higher grades correctly and I sometimes point out to my second graders that they are misspelling words that they learned in kindergarten.


Here is a picture of what I call "The Menu". When my students are done with their station work, they can choose many different activities to do that all involve writing. Here, they can choose something from the menu to work on.


They can also choose to complete an activity from the pocket chart. Here, they will find word searches, word wall activity sheets, stationary for writing letters, secret code spelling, and much, much more.




24 comments:

Mrs. Glennon's Beach Buddies said...

I love them!! Where can I find these great posters? My school district will be implementing 6 traits next year and I would love to have these. I am also taking a class this summer that is about the 6 traits...please let me know where I could find all these!! Love them! Thanks for the great ideas!!

Lori Rosenberg said...

Hello! I'm glad you like my pictures! You can find many of my posters at my store. Just click the link for TpT at the top of the page. I love 6 traits. Actually, I love anything to do with writing!

Lori (luvyorkies@gmail.com)
Teaching With Love and Laughter

Wolfelicious said...

Thanks so much for linking up to my Word Wall Linky! I hope more people link up to mine too.

April
Wolfelicious

Karlie said...

I like your visuals for "Does your story answer these questions?" I made something similar for my students, but yours is much cuter!


We are ALL Special!

Learning with Mrs. Parker said...

Thanks for joining in the fun today. I love all the anchor charts that you have created. Do you display them as the students learn about them?

Lori Rosenberg said...

My pleasure! Most of the signs I have displayed are hung once I introduce them to my students. However, some of them are already hanging by the first day of school. If this is the case, once we learn about its contents, I sit my students in front of the chart and go over the finer points with them.
Ѽ Lori
Teaching With Love and Laughter
luvyorkies@gmail.com

Laura K. said...

Phenomenal writing posters!! I have so much I want to try out now. You are obviously an incredibly talented writing teacher. Thank you for sharing.

Lori Rosenberg said...

Thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate them more than you'll ever know. Truth be told, I am a HUGE fan of your blog!

Ѽ Lori
Teaching With Love and Laughter
luvyorkies@gmail.com

Sandra Bustos said...

i love all your stuff...wish i could find more things in Spanish, for us bilingual teachers. just bought your topic list cards...im hoping to write over them or something, but love the pictures for them.
thank you

Anonymous said...

Hey am Yullanda from Jamaica and i think our classroom needs teachers like you ..with creative minds and interest...thanks for posting hun...really appreciate it ..i will be sharing ur ideas with my teachers...keep up the good work !!!!

Kristal said...

Oh my gosh! I have truly stumbled onto something great with your blogspot! I have been a math teacher up until this year where I am teaching 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade gifted. We are restructuring our program to include lots of writing. I am already using the 6 traits, but I have been looking for organizational tips on setting up writers' workshop and great classroom processes. Thanks for your work!

Lori Rosenberg said...

Wow, Kristal! Thanks so much for making my day with your kind words. I have goosebumps! I can't tell you how much your thoughtfulness means to me. I hope you enjoy your new adventure!
Ѽ Lori
Teaching With Love and Laughter
luvyorkies@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Message books!!! Love it!

Lori Rosenberg said...

Thanks, Jessica! They are a lot of fun for my students, too!
Ѽ Lori
Teaching With Love and Laughter
luvyorkies@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Hi Lori,

Loved your color chart...have a few questions for you that I'd like to take off-line ...can you email me? Sharonp29@hotmail.com

Thanks!!

Anonymous said...

I simply love your classroom...it is awesome! Will help me a lot as a language teacher.

Beach Sand and Lesson Plans said...

Lori,
I'm in love with your room! Thanks for giving me a "lift" to redo my writing stuff!! I've always loved teaching writing but the last couple years I've focused on reading and I feel like I lost my touch with it! I am getting your writing bundle. I think it will work nicely with Daily 5 and writer's workshop. THANKS for sharing!!
Gina
Beach Sand and Lesson Plans

Lori Rosenberg said...

Aww, Gina! You are so sweet! Thanks so much for the kind words. I LOVE to teach writing. It's my all time favorite subject. I'm always thinking about ways to make writing exciting. I'm a visual person and my classroom definitely reflects that. I like knowing that my students can refer to visuals when they need them to help them along. Again, thanks for the kind words!
Ѽ Lori
Teaching With Love and Laughter
luvyorkies@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I am glad I came across your blog. It has given me a ton of ideas for next year. No more 'dollar tree' signs to hang. I am definitely making my own to give more inspiration! Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I am thankful I found your ideas. I am definitely getting rid of the 'dollar tree' posters that only cover the paint on the walls.

Stephanie said...

I'm loving your room. I'm so glad I found your blog, I'm your newest follower. I've already found so many great ideas just by looking at the pictures of your classroom & have already added 2 of your items to my Tpt wishlist.

Stephanie
PolkaDotPalace

Speechteach said...

Love your room. It's given me some really good visuals to use with my language delayed population K-5. The color coded visuals and the 'wh' picture cues will really work well, be great motivators and look great in my room. Thanks so much for sharing.

Unknown said...

Hi i love your room! Where did you get the pocket chart in the last photo???

Lori Rosenberg said...

Rachel,

I got it from my local teaching store and I can't remember the manufacturer. Sorry!
Lori
Teaching With Love and Laughter
luvyorkies@gmail.com

Post a Comment

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I love to read them!

24 comments:

  1. I love them!! Where can I find these great posters? My school district will be implementing 6 traits next year and I would love to have these. I am also taking a class this summer that is about the 6 traits...please let me know where I could find all these!! Love them! Thanks for the great ideas!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! I'm glad you like my pictures! You can find many of my posters at my store. Just click the link for TpT at the top of the page. I love 6 traits. Actually, I love anything to do with writing!

      Lori (luvyorkies@gmail.com)
      Teaching With Love and Laughter

      Delete
  2. Thanks so much for linking up to my Word Wall Linky! I hope more people link up to mine too.

    April
    Wolfelicious

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like your visuals for "Does your story answer these questions?" I made something similar for my students, but yours is much cuter!


    We are ALL Special!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for joining in the fun today. I love all the anchor charts that you have created. Do you display them as the students learn about them?

    ReplyDelete
  5. My pleasure! Most of the signs I have displayed are hung once I introduce them to my students. However, some of them are already hanging by the first day of school. If this is the case, once we learn about its contents, I sit my students in front of the chart and go over the finer points with them.
    Ѽ Lori
    Teaching With Love and Laughter
    luvyorkies@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Phenomenal writing posters!! I have so much I want to try out now. You are obviously an incredibly talented writing teacher. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate them more than you'll ever know. Truth be told, I am a HUGE fan of your blog!

      Ѽ Lori
      Teaching With Love and Laughter
      luvyorkies@gmail.com

      Delete
  7. i love all your stuff...wish i could find more things in Spanish, for us bilingual teachers. just bought your topic list cards...im hoping to write over them or something, but love the pictures for them.
    thank you

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hey am Yullanda from Jamaica and i think our classroom needs teachers like you ..with creative minds and interest...thanks for posting hun...really appreciate it ..i will be sharing ur ideas with my teachers...keep up the good work !!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh my gosh! I have truly stumbled onto something great with your blogspot! I have been a math teacher up until this year where I am teaching 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade gifted. We are restructuring our program to include lots of writing. I am already using the 6 traits, but I have been looking for organizational tips on setting up writers' workshop and great classroom processes. Thanks for your work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, Kristal! Thanks so much for making my day with your kind words. I have goosebumps! I can't tell you how much your thoughtfulness means to me. I hope you enjoy your new adventure!
      Ѽ Lori
      Teaching With Love and Laughter
      luvyorkies@gmail.com

      Delete
  10. Thanks, Jessica! They are a lot of fun for my students, too!
    Ѽ Lori
    Teaching With Love and Laughter
    luvyorkies@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Lori,

    Loved your color chart...have a few questions for you that I'd like to take off-line ...can you email me? Sharonp29@hotmail.com

    Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I simply love your classroom...it is awesome! Will help me a lot as a language teacher.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lori,
    I'm in love with your room! Thanks for giving me a "lift" to redo my writing stuff!! I've always loved teaching writing but the last couple years I've focused on reading and I feel like I lost my touch with it! I am getting your writing bundle. I think it will work nicely with Daily 5 and writer's workshop. THANKS for sharing!!
    Gina
    Beach Sand and Lesson Plans

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww, Gina! You are so sweet! Thanks so much for the kind words. I LOVE to teach writing. It's my all time favorite subject. I'm always thinking about ways to make writing exciting. I'm a visual person and my classroom definitely reflects that. I like knowing that my students can refer to visuals when they need them to help them along. Again, thanks for the kind words!
      Ѽ Lori
      Teaching With Love and Laughter
      luvyorkies@gmail.com

      Delete
  14. I am glad I came across your blog. It has given me a ton of ideas for next year. No more 'dollar tree' signs to hang. I am definitely making my own to give more inspiration! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am thankful I found your ideas. I am definitely getting rid of the 'dollar tree' posters that only cover the paint on the walls.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm loving your room. I'm so glad I found your blog, I'm your newest follower. I've already found so many great ideas just by looking at the pictures of your classroom & have already added 2 of your items to my Tpt wishlist.

    Stephanie
    PolkaDotPalace

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love your room. It's given me some really good visuals to use with my language delayed population K-5. The color coded visuals and the 'wh' picture cues will really work well, be great motivators and look great in my room. Thanks so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi i love your room! Where did you get the pocket chart in the last photo???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rachel,

      I got it from my local teaching store and I can't remember the manufacturer. Sorry!
      Lori
      Teaching With Love and Laughter
      luvyorkies@gmail.com

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. I love to read them!

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