Hi all -
As I start setting up my classroom I am struggling a little bit.

Here is what I HAVE to have up in my room (and since I teach these curriculums I feel they are important to have up):
-Houghton Mifflin focus wall including explicit story vocab
-Number corner, including large calendar (from Bridges)
- Rubric for writing (the three underlines means capitalize, etc)
- ALD/ELD (academic/English language development) posters w/ sentence frames and current objectives
-Student work

Here is what I am hoping fits in addition:
Power pix for LA and Math
Student jobs
Genius Ladder
Volume meter
Rules

What concerns me is OVER stimulating with SO much signage but if I don't have the signs then I can't complete a WBT model classroom plus I like the gestures!

Just venting frustrations and wondering if anyone else is experiencing anything similar.

I completely feel your pain. I struggled setting my room up as well, and I have been in school for 7 days and I have already rearranged parts of my room! I found that putting my math power pix close to my calendar works well. I used my cabinets to display student work last year, but this year student work will be in the hallway and I used my cabinets to display other required posters. I found that using the backs of some of my bookshelves has helped create some more room; of course I did not realize it until I had already started school creating more work for myself:(

Good Luck
Georgia

Megan,
What about using a pocket chart for the student jobs? The genius ladder can be on one section of your whiteboard. Once I teach the noise-o-meter, I do not keep up the sign, I just use my hands to indicate the desired volume level.

The power pix are so important, but they do take up a major portion of wall space. Some of us have been brainstorming about how we can make this work in different scenarios. One option is to use the power pix on the interactive board or power point, and review that way. Another option is to post your current pix, and keep the ones you have already taught in a 3 ring binder and flip through them for a quick review. One teacher has shrunk the power pix down to half size, so 2 pix fit on a page.

We hear your cries and feel your pain!!! I only had 2 walls last year, and also needed a focus wall, math/calendar wall, writing wall, and student work wall. Hmmmmm....this does not compute!!!

Who else has ideas to share to help with this challenge?

Deb Weigel
Co-Director, WBT Model Classrooms

Deb - I love love love the idea of the 3 ring binder. It makes the review pix portable so a kid could take them with them to their desk or wherever to practice as needed.
Georgia, I think I'll use my cabinets for my language posters and maybe my PBIS posters.

Oh man, what would I do without you guys?!

Hi Everyone! I am so glad to hear I am not the only one struggling with this. I also think the 3 ring binder is a great idea! I will use that because space is a real issue with me. Thanks for sharing!
Joy Button

I just love the idea of shrinking the power pix to 2 on a page. I teach a small class, so the size should be ok for them.

I reduced the power pix to make two fit on a page and they work wonderful! Great minds think alike:)

Thanks for the great insight Deb! You are awesome. Now if I just had some PP for HS SS!!!!


Roxi,
WBT Intern,2011-2012
wholebrainwithroxishayne.blogspot.com

Deb,

I love the 3-ring binder idea for Power Pix. This would work well in my classroom, as my fifth graders have data notebooks that they keep in their desk. We could just add a Power Pix section and then they would each have a very handy copy ready to practice at any time!

Thanks for the suggestion!

Laura Caisse
WBT Intern, 2011-2012

Yeah, I'm also going to have to rotate my Pix through. I teach three grade levels in a self-contained SpEd class, so I really don't have the space for all of them. I might have to make a PPT too...this is something I was discussing with Chris Reksted today and we didn't really come up with a solution, but I found it here!

WBT Intern 2011-2012

ooooh. I can see turning this into a game for when kids finish early - kids grab a binder and work in pairs. They flip to a page in the binder and teach their partner the definition and the other kid has to tell them the word!
YES - 3 ring binders here I come!!

I also like one for EVERY kid, but to start I think I'll just make a few binders.

Megan,
Last year I had my power pix in binders for my first graders, and one thing I found extremely handy was to use these when I had an unannounced volunteer come into the room. Often, a parent would drop in and say, "I am here for his/her brother's class, but I have 20 minutes. Is there anything I can help with?" Power Pix practice was perfect for this, beacuse all of the info is right there, and the parents really seemed to enjoyed reviewing these with students. I didn't have to stop and explain anything, it was easy for volunteers, and it was crazy fun!
Deb

Another idea might be to use these binders as a center activity...review with a partner! Thanks Deb!

Karen

I have a question on the binders. Anyone have advice on getting cheap color copies? I would make a bunch of binders but I don't know that I could afford all the ink!

DSaudia,
You have a few options if you cannot afford to print all those color copies.
1. Print black and white copies on white, and use red or blue marker/crayon to outline the border, to identify LA or Math.
2. Print black and white copies- LA power pix on blue copy paper, and math on red (it may need to be a lighter shade so the pix will show up).
If you print on your computer printer, set the printer to grayscale and draft, and I think you will be pleased with the results.
If you print on your school copier, you may need to play with the light/dark scale, as well as set it to photo/text for copies.
Hope this helps!
Deb Weigel

I am in love with using binders for so many reasons listed plus I now have something to make the time waiting useful, especially waiting for the kids to be picked up
On color copies I am thinking of printing them black and white and having the students color them in or at least do the border if I do the student copies

Scrapbunny have not heard from you in a while you have been my organizational guerue (sp?). Annette