Saturday, August 04, 2012

designing your classroom. {there's an app for that}

I got in my brand new classroom in my brand new school for the first time on Friday.  There were some good surprises {no teacher desk & no housekeeping furniture} some not so fun realizations {no filing cabinets & an icky brown remnant carpet} and a lot of differences to adjust to. Isn't it funny how the tiniest things can throw off your whole plan?! no circle tables?! how on earth will I survive?! Luckily! I had been planning to start from square one & revamp it all so I was beyond thrilled when I left. {knowing my filing cabinet & carpet issues were being resolved was a major bonus...love a supportive admin!!}

I did go ahead & move the furniture around so I'd be more ready to "move in" next week and unload allllll of the goodies from my home office. :)



That notebook you see in the 2nd picture has all of my notes, lists & reminders so I tried to sketch my classroom floor plan there as well. Not so much. Remember my lack of artistic ability?  Yeah, apparently I'm also not great at spatial vizualtion because I couldn't get the sizing of anything right. I said "I wish I could just draw on top of my photos" and {bam!} it hit me.  Educreations.

Educreations is a great app that I use on my iPad all of the time. Kids can draw & write but there's also a record button so you can not only hear the child verbally process as they work but you can also watch their movements in real time. {like when you're guessing on DrawSomething}

So here are my new & improved before photos with plans...that will probably change...but it's a start!
{view from front door}
{front wall.  to the right of the front door.}
{back wall. to the left of the front door.}
{cubby wall & front door}
SO much better right?!  Plus I can go in and add more when I change my mind - like decided to scrap the little shelves in front of my "desk" and putting the filing cabinets there instead to make a magnet station.  {so exited!!!}

Plus one little video of Huxtable because he's so darn cute so you can see how the record feature works. ;)
{click on Huxtable to see a video example of the app!}
You can record yourself giving directions & email it home to a student who was out sick. You can demonstrate how to spell phonetically or work through a specific math process & upload it to your website for parents to access at home. You can upload various pictures for kindergarteners to practice labeling.  The possibilities of the app are almost endless.

I have a 4 day math training next week so I'll only get to work in my room for about an hour each day. But I'll keep you posted as things progress along!

14 comments:

  1. What a cool app! Your room will look great!

    Lindsey
    Lovin’ Kindergarten

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  2. very cool app! I LOVE LOVE your shelves/sink area! (and not to mention brick walls and a door...ahhhh...(I share an open wall..)

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  3. What a great idea!!
    Elizabeth

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  4. Your pics are awesome :-) I must download this app! When I taught PreK, the classroom had the hexagon tables. I didn't think I'd like them at first, but they turned out to be very versatile. We used duct tape to hook the legs together, when we didn't want the tables to separate.

    Can't wait to see the finished product! ReadWriteSing

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    Replies
    1. SUCH a good tip!!! That is part of my headache when the kids push them back & forth. Thanks for the tip!! :)

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  5. Cool App! I especially love the pic of your dog (I hope thats what he is!) He is super cute! What bred is he?

    Twins, Teaching and Tacos.

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    Replies
    1. He is a Shih-poo. And a cute little stinker. ;)

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  6. I can't wait to see you "after" pictures when you room is done. It looks like a good size room.
    Connie:)
    www.welcometofirstgraderoom5.blogspot.com

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  7. Wow! Your room is ginormous~I'm so jealous. I can't wait to see the finished product. Thanks for the tip on the amazing app, just downloaded it. And Huxtable....way adorable. What kind of pooch is he?
    ❤Tanya
    Ms. Solano's Kindergarten

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    1. He is a precious baby! lol He's a Shih tzu-poodle mix. And I just love him to pieces!!

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  8. Love that app..your room is going to rock it out!!!!

    Holly
    Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade

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  9. Looks great! What is a rainbow of friends?

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  10. Nevermind! I went and found it in your blog last year. Very cute!

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    Replies
    1. haha! You were too quick for me! Glad you found it!! ;)

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Thanks for the comments! {like virtual hugs}

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