The Biggest Classroom Transformation

Welcome to the Back to School Series!! All week long I'll be sharing my favorite tips and tricks, our classroom reveal, and some of my favorite teacher things! We're kicking off day one with my preschool classroom transformation! Last summer I moved classrooms and spent the majority of my days pouring into this space to make it fun place to come each day for my little learners! I included some fun before & after pictures at the end of this post too - it's so fun to see just how far this space has come!

I totally don't think you have to have a cute classroom to be a great teacher. I just absolutely LOVE doing this kind of thing and for me, if I'm going to spend hours and hours there every day for 10 months of the year, I wanted it to be a space that is filled with joy. :) 

Alright, let's dive in! Welcome to our happy place. :) 

When you first walk into our room here's what you'll see! (Click right to swipe through the pictures) I had to get creative with what we could use to line up that would stay on the carpet. After some research, I found these sit spots that we use as a visual reminder for where each kiddo stands when we line up. They stayed put all year long last year and I love that I can just pull them up to wash them if they get dirty! I ordered the Starter Pack on Amazon. :) I love that I can also pull them up and move them around if we want to use them for other activities too (for example making a circle for duck duck goose or other gross motor games). 

If you turn to the right, you'll see our carpet time area. We've got our calendar, schedule, class rules, alphabet wall, etc. up in this area. This is where we do all of our circle times, read alouds, and large group activities. :) We also have our Smart Board up here as well. We use our smart board for STEM activities, as well as music and movement most days. :) 

Off of our carpet area, we have a few our our centers set up. Our little library area is set up near the window and it is one of the kiddos favorite spots! I love all the natural light shining in and they love picking out a book buddy to cuddle up with. :) On the opposite side of the carpet we have a little Toys & Games area where we set out puzzles, or math and literacy games. Behind the polka dotted fabric is a wall of built in shelves that I use for storage for toys and games we aren't currently using. 

The middle area of our classroom is set up with tables so we can all be together when we have snack, or do table activities. We refer to the tables by color to make it easy for the kiddos to know which group they are in that day. The color of each table also helps distinguish different centers when it comes to choice time. The blue table is usually our play-dough table, the red table is our art center, and the yellow "teacher" table is where we do small groups. My desk is also in the middle of the classroom although It's rarely used as a desk and more of a spot to store things. ;) We use our big white cart to store craft materials and section off the room. 

In the back of our classroom we have our blocks center, table toys, and sensory area. I picked up a little coffee table at IKEA that works perfectly for little ones to draw and create at. On the wall we hang little STEM cards to give the kids ideas of what to build. I also try to include literacy and writing in every center, so we have blocks books and little clipboards and paper here as well! Because I had the space this year, we have a table toys back here as well as an added bonus. This area is perfect for putting manipulatives out or using it as a workspace to sort out items if the sensory table is a "Scavenger Hunt". 

On the other side of the back half of our room we have our pretend center. This center usually changes each month based on what we are learning. (We made it a fire station and a pumpkin patch during October, a construction site in the spring, etc.) Each year it starts out as a house center. :) Above this area we hang our artwork that usually goes along with the theme of that center. The area right behind our pretend center is our little "calm down" area. We have feelings posters up, pillows, a few stories about emotions, and some tools to help little ones calm their big emotions. 

This white "wall" pictured above, is actually a wall of cabinets that we used to section off the room. I was super lucky to have an incredibly spacious room this past year, but it was almost a little bit too big for little ones. I didn't want to not be able to see them while they were at centers, so I made the best use of this space by sectioning off the back area of the room to use as a little storage room/work station. I LOVE love love this set up and being able to utilize every part of our room. Alright now the fun part! I love before and after's so I made sure to snap a few pictures before all of the hard work began! 

This was the front part of my room by my carpet area. Y'all I was SO overwhelmed when I walked into this room. Super grateful for every single person who helped make this room come to LIFE! The janitors who responded to my every request, my husband who made SO many shopping trips with me and helped put together furniture, my momma who is the organization QUEEN and spend 11 hours with me one day sorting through shelves and cupboards, and my sweet co-worker who helped me brainstorm how to set things up!

This picture shows the little makeshift wall of cabinets to divide up the room. :) 

This is standing in the back of the room looking forward. This room took hours upon hours to put together, but it makes my heart so happy walking in each morning! 

Here's a few more before pictures I snapped. So thankful for the opportunity to make this a welcoming space for my little learners! Watching them grow and learn over the year, and getting to be a part of their big discoveries is such a joy. Cheers to year 3! 

Be sure to check back tomorrow for day two of our back to school series and all the details on my all time favorite teacher shoes!