Getting Ready for the New Year!

As I am thinking about setting up my classroom (we can start on Monday but I am holding off until Tuesday), I am avidly searching the web for other cute classroom ideas.  I found an awesome site (through Pinterest, of course) that has a bunch of links to classroom pictures.


 I like my room (except for the fact that one wall is yellow, one wall is green, the shelves are peach, the rug is blue, and I think one more color that I can't remember right now.)  I have a big room with lots of light (even a skylight!) and a kid's bathroom (essential).  I have to house two teacher desks (one assistant's desk and one teacher desk) but I am considering using my desk as the projector table.

Front right corner

Back right corner

Looking in from the doorway

window and playground door from the sink

Circle time-last year I covered the chalkboard with whiteboard cling.  Looks much better-I can't stand that putty colored chalkboard!!

Back wall-This is actually a dividing wall with my friend next door but we never open it.  It is all made of metal.  When I went into school last week, they had removed that plastic burlap covering above and below the chalkboard (putty colored again!!!).  I gave away that horseshoe table-takes up a ton of room but they are nice to have reading groups at.

I took the above pictures a few years ago when I went in to set up.  It actually looks worse right now with everything all stacked up in the middle.  I don't think anyone understands (except other teachers) how much work this is every year to first put everything away and then set it all up again at the end of the summer!!

It is exciting to think of doing some new things in the room.

I love polka dots and we start off with Chicka Chicka Boom Boom so I have some polka dot bulletin boards and I bought more polka dot borders.  I got a polka dot pencil holder, too.'

My file cabinet is in the closet- I hardly ever use it.  I am trying to store more things digitally.  I just need to get more organized- folders and such.

I am going to switch some of my MP3 players to ipods/old iphones. (oooooo!  right?  The kids will probably wonder why they can't watch youtube videos-that's what my granddaughter does and she isn't even two yet!).  I need to set them up with the cover pictures of the books I have on mp3.  I read about it somewhere....I may need to google that!  I saw it on Jessica Stanford's site, too (scroll down and look at her ipods).

I am also considering using some shelves as dividers and making the rug area more separate.  Not sure until I go in and push things around.  I am exhausted just thinking about it.

I have bunches of things to print out and laminate.

I have a huge team this year: five teachers, two special ed teachers, two and a half reg ed assistants, two special ed assistants, and I think a one on one for special ed (but I haven't heard yet).  So I need to coordinate a bunch of schedules.

So I guess I should get busy!!!

Listening to Reading

1.  How will you instill the importance (or urgency as the sisters call it) of 'listening to reading' in your students and especially those students who have had little 'lap time' or reading done for them in their own homes?


I personally have no problems with this part of listening.  They love it!  I think there is something soothing and magical about the headphones!  We have to have lessons on not talking with the headphones on, though, otherwise they yell at their friend next to them.

 2.  What devices or strategies are you going to use to conduct listen to reading?' Will you use a community recording device with one cd and several earphones, individual cd players, tape recorders, ipod-type devices or computers?


I use computers (Starfall and Tumblebooks) and MP3 players in my room for listening.

One summer I took all of the books on tape that I had accumulated through my years of teaching and transferred them to my computer (I used a cord to connect the computer to a tape player and a free program called Aud.  the details are on my website if you need more directions.).  Then I transferred 12 or 13 to each MP3 player (I originally used Fisher Price players, then Discovery players.  I know it is harder to find them now but I found some on Ebay at the time.  I like ones actually made for kids because they are sturdier and easier for the kids to use.  I am thinking about asking the parents at my school to donate any old Mp3 players or ipods that they no longer use and setting up some of those.)

 I labelled each player with a number and put it in a tub with the coordinating books.  I let the kids choose which books to read.  Each tub has a variety, including non-fiction, holiday books, series books, and picture books.  They can listen until I play the music to clean up.

These are the listening bins and the kind of MP3 players I have (they were much cheaper when I bought them!)



They are independent as long as everything goes smoothly. (Ha!)  If they can't get the computer to work, I usually just go over and help them get started.  If they can't get an MP3 player to work, I have them put it by my desk so I can check it later and get another one or share a friend.

4.  Do you have enough 'listening to reading' type materials? If not, what ideas do you have for securing these materials?  Where will you store them? How will your students retrieve these items? Where will they be used (will there be a designated spot in your class for listen or reading or will it be their choice)?

I let them listen anywhere in the room.  The players are kept under the whiteboard, unless I can think of a new brilliant place to put them.  I really like the tubs I use: they are deep and have a lid that hooks on.

3.  What expectations will you have for your students during 'listen to reading' and how will you keep them on task and independent instead of needing your assistance when they can't manage 'devices?'

As I said, I don't find this to be a big problem.  If someone does not behave on the computer, they will lose that privilege.  This is an easier time for them than playing a game, for example, because they are not taking turns, they both listen to the book at the same time.

4.  The sisters do not really talk about this in their book, but how do you feel about listening response sheets?  Will listening to reading be just for 'listening' or will there be follow-up work required of your students?  If there is reading response sheets, what will they look like?


I do not ask my students for a follow up sheet.  I believe the benefit of listening is to hear the books, to gain fluency, and enjoy the story. I prefer they use the time to hear another book if they can.  Some of my friends have them draw their favorite part of the book.


5. I would be remiss to not add this so . . . how can this station be differentiated to meet the various learning profiles, interests and/or readiness of your students?  


My students get to choose which books they want to hear.  All of the students are able to participate in listening.  


Check out the other posts on Listening at A Differentiated Kindergarten.