Ms. Lowe's Future Classroom
Helping to Promote Literacy in the Classroom
Bear Claw Bathtub Reading Station
One idea that I heard about and have always wanted to incorporate into my classroom is a bathtub reading area. This would ideally be a bear claw bath tub filled with pillows and blankets that would be able to hold 2-4 students at a time. I hope to have many relaxed reading stations in my classroom and students would rotate to the different stations on a weekly basis in order to ensure all students had an opportunity at the stations. This center would have students excited for reading time due to the fun aspect of the station.
Classroom Library Organization
Research shows that an organized and easy to access classroom library makes a huge difference in students reading in the classroom. I hope to have bookshelves all around my classroom that are organized using baskets instead of just placing the books on the shelves. I hope to teach younger grades so I would plan to have the books organized by grade level and topic to have a simple system for the students. Having face out books in the classroom is important as well and so the tops of shelves along with a few random shelves would be used to display face out books. Books in the baskets could be face out as well, they just my not be fully exposed. The baskets also make it easier for students to find a book quickly, on level, and makes for easy re-shelving as well.
Classroom Mailbox
The classroom mailbox would be used to promote writing in the classroom. During free time students would be allowed to occasionally write letters to one another, their teacher, or to people in the community. Students love to write notes and this adds a fun aspect. Topics such as how to mail letter, addressing envelopes, and specific types of letter writing could specifically be taught.
Reading Kiosk
This would be a small station in the classroom where everyday pieces of text would be displayed. Materials such as newspaper current topics, recipe cards, trading cards, pamphlets, etc. could be accessed at this station. This station would help students to realize that they will encounter text everyday and in a variety of ways. Reading is relevant!
Reading Buddies
Often teachers have students to read with a partner in the classroom. For times when there is an odd number of students or for when students may not like a story their partner would read, students could read to their reading buddies. I would have a group of stuffed animals the students would read to. This provides a comforting partner to read to who could also double as a puppet for another station as well.
Lamp Shades
To accompany my bathtub and my other reading spots around my classroom I would also like to include items such as lamps. Items like lamps work to create a more homey and relaxed environment in the classroom that allows students to get in the mood for reading. This just works with everything else to create a comfortable reading environment.