See this room?
It is my new home.
It has literally eaten up my entire life in the span of a few short weeks. 🙂
I teach all morning, work in the afternoon for the school’s front office, and then take my boys home to feed them the same thing for the 3rd night in a row and then fall into a coma of exhaustion.
The other day I was like, “Blog? Â What blog????”
My mother-in-law wisely told me (when I called her crying about this dramatic life change) to lower my expectations for the next month and hold on for the adjustment.
But tonight was Back to School Night with all my new parents and I am still awake and completely wired from having had conversation that did not involve me telling someone to stop throwing sand or did they go poopy?  And because I know you’re all sitting around wondering why I haven’t posted in an eon, I decided to send a little note and let you know that full-time work did not kill me off.
Although on Thursday last week it almost did.
But oh how I love my sweet new students and their families!
And how much fun it has been to see them enjoying our little space that took 400 trips to Ikea and 75% of my entire year’s budget to set up. 🙂
Before I show you the after photos, however, I wanted to give you a peek at the before photos!
When I first started teaching the 2’s last year I was in a different classroom that I shared with another teacher.
This year I was moved to a new room that has been kind of infamous around the school as having a funky, narrow/crowded shape.
But the Lord gave me great peace and excitement for the project of creating a space of my own.  I also loved looking to Him for some out-of-the-box ideas to help make the room feel large and accommodating for such a busy age.
I’m so happy with the results…
**Warning – PICTURE OVERLOAD.**
This is our Circle Time area and main bulletin board for learning.
In the 2 year old class, we focus on a specific Bible memory verse, a shape, a color, and a number for the entire month.
We celebrate the calendar and weather every day as well.
I bought an oil drip pan from Walmart for $11 and use it as a magnet wall for the children.
The school buses on the pan are how I take attendance each morning. Â We sing THIS SONG and then the children get to put their bus on the wall.
Even though they can’t read yet, I like to post a schedule of our daily activities and I talk about it throughout the day with them.
They get really excited about Goodbyes because it means MOMMY TIME!
I found these adorable schedule cards as a FREE Printable from HERE.
These are our classroom rules.
I refer to them 100 million times a day during the first month of school.
This is my desk.
It is so cute, but when you teach preschoolers, you NEVER ever get to use it! Â Haha!
We spend a lot of time at that changing table.
And those cabinets are overflowing with important preschool supplies like googly eyes and Glue Dots and Do-A-Dot Markers and every color of pipe cleaner you could possibly imagine.
I have all of my parents send in photos of their families so that I can display them for the children to visit throughout the day.
I like that they can stay connected with their loved ones even when they are apart!
I believe I need to budget for more puzzles.
🙂
I love to label things.
It is a tremendous help at clean-up time.
You wouldn’t believe the hurricane this room becomes when we are focused on our play.
The only reason the classroom looks so awesome at the moment is because I had to get it in tip top shape for Back to School Night. 🙂
I saw a great idea on Pinterest to use cheap picture frames for all the mandatory policy things (firedrill, lockdown, procedures, etc.).
Dramatic play is SO encouraged in our room!
Today two of my girls dressed up in gowns and informed me that they were going on an adventure.
Also, 2 year olds love to put stuff in things so I like to have lots of purses, bags and baskets on hand.
This is our train table and rice/water table.
That rice table is a ton of fun but a BEAST to clean up.
Over the train table is our Birthday Bulletin Board (idea from HERE).
During the first week of school the children decorate some birthday crowns that I purchase from Michael’s.
Then they get to wear the crowns on their birthday, of course. Â It generates so much anticipation for their special day!
As you can see, we have already celebrated one little girl.
This is our kitchen area where the kids cook me 10 course meals about 7 times a day.
If one of them grows up to be the next Julia Child or Emeril, I will make sure everyone knows that they got their start in PreK-2 with Mrs. B.
I like to hang mirrors in my room because the children just love to look at themselves while they are exploring.
The other morning we all stood in front of the mirrors and practiced our silly faces.
Then I glanced out our classroom door window and saw a parent peeking in to watch.
I’m sure they were having second thoughts about their child’s enrollment.
And there it is.
This room where even if it didn’t have any toys or decorations or paraphernalia from Ikea, would still have the Holy Spirit.
And that’s really all that matters to me anyway –
That my students know Jesus and His absolutely perfect, unfailing, and precious love for them.
Not where my desk lamps are from.
I hope you like it!
Happy Preschool Classroom Reveal-ing! 🙂
You are amazing and each and every child you teach is forever going to be so blessed to have you as there teacher !!! Thank you for all you do and share in Jesus name!!!
If I had children, I’d love for them to have a teacher who cared as much as you!
What an awesome preschool room you’ve created!!! Way to go! I LOVE the Mr Potato Head rules….the butt is hilarious! Also love the family photo idea! Have a wonderful year and many blessings!
Can I be in your class (even though I’m 42?)
I love, love you rugs in your classroom! Are they from IKEA too? I have been teaching preschool for 20 years amd am always looking for ways to brighten our space amd make it happy.
All the rugs are from Ikea except the butterfly rug – that one I inherited and I do not know where it came from! 🙂
This one is similar
https://www.rtrkidsrugs.com/123-ABC-Butterfly-Fun-Rug-p/cfk35xx.htm
Comes in oval too.
Having been a kindergarten teacher for 20 years in rural Mississippi, I understand the joy you have in setting up your awesome classroom this year! The most important element is the excitement for learning that you will bring to your new students! May The Lord bless you and use your talents to inspire that love of learning in your young students. Through your guidance in such a caring Christian classroom they will be truly blessed!
what a wondeful job you did! your room looks greaet!
Reblogged this on sparkleonblogmama and commented:
This is the life of a teacher! So please remember this next time you want to complain!
I would feel so blessed to have Mrs. B for Savannah’s pre-k teacher!! I know those kids just love you so much 🙂
I’m debating the great return-to-work crisis now, too. After teaching full time for 12 years, and being blessed with an amazing part-time opportunity for three years, now my brain is ready to return to the classroom full time, but my heart is torn. Seeing your pictures and reading your enthusiasm is soooooooo reassuring to me that it’ll all be okay when I take that plunge. Thanks for sharing!!!!
Yeah, great job Mrs. B!
Your classroom looks terrific, Julie. So fun and inviting, My prayers are with you as you adjust to working full time.
You must be such an inspiration to your little ones. What a cheery,inviting space. And I love your desk although you can’t use it!
beautiful class room space! loved how you totally maximized every inch!! and i love the family photos!
Your room is beautiful! I wish I had children in your class because there seems to me so much nurturing, LOVE and joy given by you. As you said, the best part is Jesus’ presence! TFS.
P.S. It is heart warming to read this after hearing about a young girl that told a classmate “God bless you” when she sneezed and it is against school or classroom policy!!! They are determining whether or not there will be consequences or not. I simply cannot believe the direction that some people are going in.
I love your room! When I grow up, I want to be like you. God bless you!
Love, love, love the classroom. I spied the beautiful big red barn in the corner in your last picture – where did you get such a gorgeous barn? We’ve been on the hunt for one like that for months. I can only say I wish my classroom looked as colorful and fun as yours. God bless you.
Hey there! Thank you for your sweet words! I wish I knew where that barn is from! I inherited it with the room! Many blessings to you!
Oh my goodness, I love love love it! Adorable!
We are so blessed to have you as our sons teacher!!! Its a daily discussion in our home how great you are and how much our son loves his first school experince. You have done a wonderful job with the classroom- especially for it having such an awkward shape- but you really figured out how to use the space really well! It looks awesome and I love how you made little “areas” and stations separated by shelves and rugs…I would probably push everything against the wall! I dont have an eye for stuff like that but you certainly do! Its such a lovely space for the kids 🙂
I love the Mr. Potato Head rules chart. What is the “butt” that indicates you sit on your bottom? That’s not a piece from Mr. Potato Head, is it?
Hi Mary! It is, indeed, a potato head bottom. 🙂
Is the toy shelf from ikea?! I need one like that! Haha : ) GREAT room & it’s good to know there are still teachers out there that care SO much!
Hi Julie! The room looks great! Did you buy the large aluminum tin that’s under your bulletin board at ikea also? I NEED it!!! ?
PS- I work with Christen and I was Selah’s teacher! ?
Hey Linda! I got the large oil drip pan from Walmart in the car section! It is about $12. It is AMAZING! 🙂 And I’m so happy to hear that you work with my sister! What fun!!!! I hope you have a wonderful year!
Where did you get the wavy mirrors, and the cute blue tent top?
IKEA! 🙂 Love that store!
How did you make the tent wall hanging?
Hi Lisa! I bought that at IKEA! 🙂
Can you tell me what paint color you used?
Hi! I used Benjamin Moore’s Robin’s Egg Blue. 🙂
Hi
Looks amazing. I need a shelf like the pint one you have paintings on. Can you tell me where if came from please