Classroom Setup
Donation protected
Think back to when you were in 3rd grade. What do you remember about your classroom? If you are anything like me, you don’t remember a whole lot. I remember all our desks being in rows facing the board. We weren’t allowed to move around the room, except during recess, and almost everything was beige colored.
My name is Jessica Cash and I will be teaching 3rd grade at Kannapolis Charter Academy this school year. It’s a brand new school that’s still under construction. As teachers we need a lot of resources, especially within our first year and the costs of those resources adds up quickly. KCA will be serving a community in which about 60% of students qualify for reduced or free lunch. This means that 60% of the students are at 130% or 185% of the poverty threshold. Charter schools on average receive fewer funds from the state per student than traditional public schools, increasing the need for alternative methods of raising money for the students.
My goal for my classroom is for students to enter a place that engages their senses and motivates them to actively participate in learning. I want my students to feel that they can accomplish anything they want in this world. To do this, I will be implementing several different components in my classroom, which is what the money raised will go towards. My intent is to have my students see themselves on the walls of the room and in the books we read. I plan to have bright colors to engage their attention.
Classroom Library – One of the most important parts of my classroom will be a classroom library. Students will have book caddies and be able to choose from a variety texts in different subjects to help encourage a love of reading. Scholastic offers several book bundle collections that would be an excellent start to my classroom library: http://bit.ly/2aqHFI0 , http://bit.ly/2aefC0e , http://bit.ly/2a9ad9S and various other collections. The photo below is similar to the vision I have for my classroom.
Manipulatives and Activities – In 3rd grade we learn about multiplication, fractions and have a heavy focus on place value. We also learn more about our community, land forms and our solar system. Providing students with hands on opportunities to learn about these concepts is a vital part of their education. Supplies under this category will include but are not limited to: Pizza Pie fraction kits http://amzn.to/2anPC29 , Marshmallow Catapult http://bit.ly/2ae6zMZ , Landform Demonstration Kit http://amzn.to/2anUu7H , and various other objects to help promote and engage students in learning.
Flexible Seating – Instead of traditional seating, I will have five or six stability balls that will be rotated around the room for flexible seating for my students. I will also have pillows for students to use during independent reading times as well. Materials will also include a supply of clipboards for students to use as they move around the room in addition to other chairs/seating available to them. Ideally I would have my classroom outfitted for the whole room to have flexible seating, giving students choice in how they will learn for the day. The picture below is an example of what I want for my students.
Picture frames – I have a list of over 50 people who I plan to hang an 8x10 photo of around my room along with a small bio about them. Photos will be rotated out throughout the year, reflecting different times of the year (International Space week, explorers, aviation, science, educators, etc.). People range from scientists to athletes, both current and past. I want students to learn about people outside of our textbooks and their dedicated months.
Storage/Book caddies/Shelving – I plan to have a heavy focus of colors throughout the room that will encourage calmness, well-being and creativity. Colors that elicit these emotions are blue, green, yellow and orange (to help increase alertness). Having colored furniture, storage and decor will help in providing this environment for students. The picture below is an example of what I want for organization and storage in my classroom.
I cannot thank you enough for your time in just reading this, let alone any contributions you can make. Thank you for helping me in achieving my goals for my classroom and students.
Links used in research:
Using Color to Enhance Learning and Influence Mood - https://www.kaplanco.com/ii/using-color-to-enhance-learning
Reduced Lunch Information - http://nces.ed.gov/blogs/nces/post/free-or-reduced-price-lunch-a-proxy-for-poverty
Charter School Information – http://www.charterschoolsusa.com/our-mission-vision-and-values/
https://www.the74million.org/flashcard/13-things-to-know-about-charter-schools/5?flow=1
https://www.edreform.com/2012/03/just-the-faqs-charter-schools/
3rd Grade Classrooms - https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/sites/default/files/ET3intro.pdf
My name is Jessica Cash and I will be teaching 3rd grade at Kannapolis Charter Academy this school year. It’s a brand new school that’s still under construction. As teachers we need a lot of resources, especially within our first year and the costs of those resources adds up quickly. KCA will be serving a community in which about 60% of students qualify for reduced or free lunch. This means that 60% of the students are at 130% or 185% of the poverty threshold. Charter schools on average receive fewer funds from the state per student than traditional public schools, increasing the need for alternative methods of raising money for the students.
My goal for my classroom is for students to enter a place that engages their senses and motivates them to actively participate in learning. I want my students to feel that they can accomplish anything they want in this world. To do this, I will be implementing several different components in my classroom, which is what the money raised will go towards. My intent is to have my students see themselves on the walls of the room and in the books we read. I plan to have bright colors to engage their attention.
Classroom Library – One of the most important parts of my classroom will be a classroom library. Students will have book caddies and be able to choose from a variety texts in different subjects to help encourage a love of reading. Scholastic offers several book bundle collections that would be an excellent start to my classroom library: http://bit.ly/2aqHFI0 , http://bit.ly/2aefC0e , http://bit.ly/2a9ad9S and various other collections. The photo below is similar to the vision I have for my classroom.
Manipulatives and Activities – In 3rd grade we learn about multiplication, fractions and have a heavy focus on place value. We also learn more about our community, land forms and our solar system. Providing students with hands on opportunities to learn about these concepts is a vital part of their education. Supplies under this category will include but are not limited to: Pizza Pie fraction kits http://amzn.to/2anPC29 , Marshmallow Catapult http://bit.ly/2ae6zMZ , Landform Demonstration Kit http://amzn.to/2anUu7H , and various other objects to help promote and engage students in learning.
Flexible Seating – Instead of traditional seating, I will have five or six stability balls that will be rotated around the room for flexible seating for my students. I will also have pillows for students to use during independent reading times as well. Materials will also include a supply of clipboards for students to use as they move around the room in addition to other chairs/seating available to them. Ideally I would have my classroom outfitted for the whole room to have flexible seating, giving students choice in how they will learn for the day. The picture below is an example of what I want for my students.
Picture frames – I have a list of over 50 people who I plan to hang an 8x10 photo of around my room along with a small bio about them. Photos will be rotated out throughout the year, reflecting different times of the year (International Space week, explorers, aviation, science, educators, etc.). People range from scientists to athletes, both current and past. I want students to learn about people outside of our textbooks and their dedicated months.
Storage/Book caddies/Shelving – I plan to have a heavy focus of colors throughout the room that will encourage calmness, well-being and creativity. Colors that elicit these emotions are blue, green, yellow and orange (to help increase alertness). Having colored furniture, storage and decor will help in providing this environment for students. The picture below is an example of what I want for organization and storage in my classroom.
I cannot thank you enough for your time in just reading this, let alone any contributions you can make. Thank you for helping me in achieving my goals for my classroom and students.
Links used in research:
Using Color to Enhance Learning and Influence Mood - https://www.kaplanco.com/ii/using-color-to-enhance-learning
Reduced Lunch Information - http://nces.ed.gov/blogs/nces/post/free-or-reduced-price-lunch-a-proxy-for-poverty
Charter School Information – http://www.charterschoolsusa.com/our-mission-vision-and-values/
https://www.the74million.org/flashcard/13-things-to-know-about-charter-schools/5?flow=1
https://www.edreform.com/2012/03/just-the-faqs-charter-schools/
3rd Grade Classrooms - https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/sites/default/files/ET3intro.pdf
Organizer
Jessica Cash
Organizer
Rockwell, NC