Kindergarten Classroom Set Up Part 1 of 3

My friend, who is also teaching TK this year, picked up a package of lined dry erase contact paper posters for me.

Thank you, Lauren!!!  :)

(If you click the image above, it will take you to a set of 30 sheets of 8 1/2" X 11" lined sheets.)

The ones I originally bought were about 18" X 22" and they came in a package of 3 for about $15.

I cut them into quarters and placed them on construction paper that had already been laminated.
(Eventually, and not pictured here, I added a set of letters to the construction paper before I laminated it.)

It looks like there is a bubble of air under the dry erase
paper, but it's only the glare.

I left room at the top to attach a row of sticky tape with the alphabet and one with numbers.
I'll post more pix once I get the letters and numbers attached.

Now, each child has their own lined dry erase placemat to use during small group time.

The red mat has a red cup of dry erase markers and
an eraser.  The orange mat has an orange cup, etc.

The little dry erase markers and erasers from Target's Dollar Spot finish this off!

And we have to have our Easy Buttons.
One in English and one in Spanish!

While you are at Staples picking up your Easy Buttons, you can pick up some 8" X 10" lined dry erase contact paper.  Click RIGHT HERE for the link.  If you want the 8.5" X 11" size,  Click HERE for the link from another source.  

And if you live in Southern California, Education Station (in the San Fernando Valley) is where my friend got the 3-pack of poster size lined dry erase contact paper.

I have a yellow mat for me so I can use it as a sample mat.

What is great about these is that you can flip them over if you are doing a cut and paste lesson and the laminated mats keep the glue from getting on the tables.  The mats wash up easily.


I'm planning to post each day as I set up my room, so stop by tomorrow.

What are you doing differently in your room this year?

You might also like:
Our First Day of Kindergarten Note for Parents

The Royal King of Ing

Number Formation & Chants

See you all tomorrow!

Palma :)

I Don't Know How I Survived Without These 3 Teaching Tips + a BONUS AT THE BOTTOM!!!

My Most Pinned Idea:

This idea gets re-pinned on Pinterest several times each day!  I use these every day in my classroom.

Each child gets their own mat and cup filled with dry erase mini markers and a mini eraser.

You can find lined dry-erase contact paper online or at educational supply stores.

Last year I found lined dry erase charts and just cut them into quarters.

Click HERE to see an 8 pack at a pretty good price or HERE to see a poster size you can cut into 4 pieces.  

Attach one to each laminated sheet of construction paper.  To keep the edges from coming up, I tape them down.  

Even the teacher gets her own mat
with lined dry-erase paper attached to it.

Now, when I'm working with a small group, I can model a letter or write an entire word for a student to copy.  All I have to do is pick up my dry erase marker and I can help a student with a math problem or anything else I might need to write down for that student.  When we are done, we just erase it!  

Last summer, I grabbed these cute little erasers at Target's Dollar Spot.  They were 2 for a dollar!

My Next Best Idea Is...

... not my original idea.  :)  It's from Rick Morris' web site.  I tried this idea and my students love it:

I hang my "Ringing Pen" on a hook so I can always find it.

You just tie a bell to a dry erase marker.  (The square bells work better than the round ones because the round ones tend to swirl the clapper around in silence.)  Then, each time you want your students to really listen and watch what you are writing on the board, you use the marker with the bell.  You don't have to say a word.  They hear the bell and they know that whatever you are about to write is super important. 

You can find square bells by clicking HERE. 

My Last, Best Idea:

Take each child's photograph when you first meet them.  This might be at their pre-test time before school begins or it might be on their first day of school.  

I smudged out her name, but you would normally see it at the bottom of the photo.

I use the same tablecloth for the background so everyone's picture looks somewhat uniform.  

I create a template in a word processing document with a place for a 5" X 7" photo, three 2" X 3" photos, and two 1.5" X 1 " photos.  I type their names into a text box which is placed at the bottom of each photo.

Now, I can use these great pictures all through the year.  I laminate the larges one and place it in their cubbies.  

Photos inside the cubbies before adding the names.

  

The red checkered background goes perfectly with my
picnic bulletin board and with my farm theme later in the year.

I place one of the the smallest ones on their record folder where I keep all of their ESGI flashcards, testing results, and work samples.    If you haven't checked out ESGI yet, do yourself a favor and try it for 60 days for FREE.  This is the perfect time to explore their website, their ready-made tests, or try your hand at creating your own custom tests.  And if you teach T.K., you can grab the tests I created by searching my name, Palma Lindsay.   Then, if you like it, use my discount code, KFUN, for $40 off of your 1st year.  I guess this is one more thing I can't live without! See the BONUS below :)

I use one of the medium size photos for our classroom graph by laminating it to card stock and adding Velcro to the back.  

Photo on the front, name & Velcro on the back.

Sticky-back Velcro holds this on our graph. 

I attach one to a copy of their name for our writing center.  Then, other students can find the picture of their friend and quickly see how to write their name. 

I stapled a couple of page protectors together. 

 That leaves me with 2 more photos to use throughout the year.

That's it.  3 (or 4) ideas I simply can't live without.

Come back tomorrow for more classroom tips.

Bonus:

Try ESGI FREE!

https://www.esgisoftware.com/sign-up?promo=PALMAWISHES

Every new customer gets a FREE 90-day Trial!     

 Everyone qualifies for $50 off your 1st year!

ESGI will donate $10 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation!!

 Must use code: PALMAWISHES

(This code is only good through 12/30/2021. 

After that, use code KFUN for a 30-day FREE trial & $50 off your 1st year.)

Discover more FUN:

kfundamentals.blogspot.com

facebook.com/kfundamentals

pinterest.com/KFUNdamentals2

twitter.com/KFUNdamentals

teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kfundamentals

Instagram: kfundamentals2

Check out my:
FaCeBoOk:  Click Here to see my Facebook. (Tons of FREE ideas.)
PiNtErEsT:  Click Here to see my Pinterest Boards.  (Oh, the ideas on these boards!)
TeAcHeRs PaY tEaChErS:  Click Here to see my TPT Store (Did you say, "15 freebies?!")

Palma :)