I love your color coded classroom! Very organized and nice!

Your room looks amazaing! I love how you color coordinated your areas. I've seen similar strategies and agree that it works well. I use picture and word labels for my first graders. You could even go one step further on the lined shelves and trace where each object goes (and possibly label if you want MORE print) with Visa-Vis markers. Then you just wipe clean when you want/need to change things up. It really helps those little ones keep the shelves neat like you want them (I've seen it work!). Love your blog!
landoflearning.wordpress.com

Thanks Kristen! Good luck with all those little ones. Yikes!

I am so glad I found your blog! I am going in to work on my FIRST kindergarten classroom! Thank you for taking the time to post your pictures and give details! I look forward to seeing some Kindergarten classroom pictures!

Genius Tami. I've never heard of that, but I love it! I'm imagining it works great!

Ashley!

What a cute classroom setup! I especially love the colorful shovel idea!! How smart!! And I love the shelf liners!! I need to do that in my room! I love how bright and cheery this classroom is!!

I love how you used color to define each area. I will put many of your ideas to work this year. Thanks for all the visuals.

Love the ideas. I had a vague idea floating around in my head using the ocean, beach, and fish. This really helped me to visualize my idea even better and keep it all year long as a theme. Thanks

I love your room and how you used color to coordinate with centers and themes. Also colored liners can refresh the shelves, keep them clean & neat, plus they are fashionable and inexpensive. I will definitely use some of your ideas in my family child care home classroom. Thanks for sharing.

I love the pictures of your classroom. Thank you for sharing. I am moving to Pre-K this year and enjoy being able to see how other people set up their classrooms.

I teach K4 and I adore your classroom and all the areas you have created.
* As a teacher in a "more structured" environment I totally agree with setting boundaries for your students. Maybe towards the end of the school year you could offer a free choice day when students could go to any center regardless of the numbers. Most 4-5 year olds would not self regulate. As for the color scheme.... It's primary colors not neon. I don' t understand that comment.

Again, Jenn I think this seems to be a difference in opinion. Thank you for recognizing my students' work and teaching materials as 'clutter'. As I mentioned before in my comment below, what works for you may not work for others... and vice versa. I'm sure your classroom works perfectly for you. However, I have a very different way of structuring things with 24 children in one room. Yes, there are talks about why 15 of them wouldn't be a good idea at the sand table as well as plenty of free choice. Keep in mind that this post was to show photos of my classroom... not open a discussion on my teaching philosophy and style. Thanks for your comments, but please keep in mind that your way isn't the only way. :) Do you happen to be in a Montessori school?

Touche Terra. Thanks and I completely agree!

And, by giving them these shovels you're never really alowing them to discover if there is too many people in one space.
How do you know they aren't able to recognize that there may be too many people in one space if your not giving them that chance.

Thanks for your comment Jenn! There are endless ways to organize a pre-k classroom. What works for one group of students and a teacher may not work for another. We all have to figure out what provides the most enriching (and safe) environment for our students, while promoting learning... and the love for learning. My way of structuring a classroom seems to be very different from yours, but that's ok! I just happen to be the type of teacher who believes in setting clear boundaries for my students and allowing them to explore, create, and have fun within them. They had shovels for management purposes (4-5 year olds have trouble with the concept of 'isn't enough room at a center ', 10 students in the math center would be a bit much in my room) and were allowed to visit any center they wanted, but knew the rules and purpose of each center. I could go on and on, but wanted to address your concerns. My students and parents happened to love the room and organization, so it worked. There are a ton of different ways to do it... as you can see from visiting other posts from amazing teachers. Take care and I hope you have a great year with your students. Do you have photos or a blog? I'd love to see your room and link up to it if you don't mind. :)

No blog yet, it's in the works for the new school year. Our board purchased IPADS so it'll all be linked up soon. Can't promise any link as it may be a password protected blog

glad you posted a pre-k classroom. Do you know of any pre-k blogs/sites out there. most seem to be K-1. I need ideas. it has been many years since I taught pre-k and i might be going back.

Thanks for your sweet comment! :)

I am so jealous of your room!!! I have a very small portable with 18 students and find it not a good fit for my kiddos. Maybe one day my room will be as large as yours!!!

Thanks! Good luck! Just be consistent and plan, plan, plan. :)

Very cute classroom!! Where did you get the alphabet letters on your wall (below your calendar) that look like paint strips?? Did you make those? Very cute!! Thanks!!
Love the shovel idea for centers also!!!!!

Love how your classroom is color coded. Will definitely use some of your ideas. Thanx

Wow!!! this is a great looking classroom...I have had some of the same ideas as you...CLEAN AND ORGANIZED!!! I love your centers and will be using some of the ideas! Thanks a million!

I love the classroom! How's your carpet spots? I live the rug, I have one myself but it's a little small. I'm looking for a larger one. Did you purchase the rug or did it come with the room?

Just found your website and love it! I prefer for things to be organized, and yes I too HATE my dramatic play center!

I love your ideas!! I just got my 1st teaching job and I can't wait to decorate my room!

I LOVE the shovel in the centers idea! No matter how many times I go over the rules and numbers for the centers, I always have the same kids crowding into an already packed center. I am going to try this when we get back from the holiday break!

What state/country do you work in? That is way over child/staff ratio. I don't know what I would do with that many children and only one additional staff member, how do they even get individualized attention?

I loe your painting ideas! I agree that dramatic play can be hectic. We have found that changing things each week helps. We may have a laundry center one week, then a grocery store. We have the prek diner, shoe store, school, space station, teddy bear picnic... and the list goes on :) It is one of our most popular free choice centers! Thanks for the great ideas!
Nikki