A walk through Jeannine's classroom

The corridor leading to Jeannine's  classroom

One morning last week I went to school with Jeannine.......and I had my camera with me. 

Jeannine had a lot to do, so, when she opened her laptop to start her work day, I walked around to see all that she had done with her kids.

I photographed everything I could see that makes her classroom what it is - an incredibly richly resourced room for teaching, for learning, for individual research, for collaboration. 

I will put the pictures in order, that is, I will take you through the room starting with opening the door and turning left, walking around until you reach the door again.

First, though, a view of the whole room...

OK......so you turn to the left as you enter the door - and this is your first view....

Just inside the door is the REFOCUS area........

This is where you sit if you've been really, really wicked!

Then there's the wonder wall - children's questions about their world......all accessible, too, by technology....

Love this one......

Then there's the classroom jobs and responsibilities....

DISASTER CREW!!

Next is the display of Tuesday's edition of the NYT....it always contains The Science Times.

Jeannine reads this every Tuesday to the kids.

Sometimes they research different articles.

Then there's the ever-changing science table.....

Wasp nest

Marble runs.....

Next, a storage unit with books and the speaker (Jeannine speaks through a microphone)

Buffalo Ridge currency...

Underneath a collection of reference books.

The morning meeting spot....

At her feet, one of the morning rituals.....

Snack labels for the class nutrition project

Above her head....

On the next wall, kids' biographies..

A shift to Literacy.....

and more science.....

Photos of the buddy class....

A display of children's art

Jeannine's desk

Starbuck's gets her going!

Then, just before the door..........the kids' mailbox

and classroom resources

and more sciency stuff....:)

                                                  One of the class's home made books.........

Jeannine puts her planning to one side when one of her fifth grade colleagues 

comes in for an early morning chat

And, soon, in will come the kids..........to a great place in which to learn......lucky kids.