Math Area

At this point in the year, I set out an assortment of materials that will invite students to explore the math area. They are free to take the materials to the table or the small carpet.

I took the doors off the play kitchen set fridge and use it as shelf storage for the math area.

I consider durability when putting out my first type of loose parts at the math area. 

These wooden numbers were picked up from a Farmers Market by a colleague of mine a few years ago. Again, there are no explicit instructions to the students at this point about how to use the materials. It is an invitation to show their thinking.

Literacy

Here are some photographs that show the literacy areas in the classroom (not all of them).

The writing area. Here there are clipboards, dictionaries, pencil crayons, alphabet magnets, letter puzzles, letter builder sticks, sight-word/ABC signs and paper. Eventually, this is where the SK independent reader books are kept as well as JK/SK writing folders. (There is a fine motor task box on the far left with plastic shapes and clothes pins)

These are the Independent reading bins levels 1 - 8. Below is the pocket chart that in September we use for poems and/or "The Special Helper is...." with name cards. Eventually it's where students will place their name cards.

At the start of the year we have name tags with clips for the students to wear at entry time. The SKs are encouraged to write their name on a large chart paper (it's behind the easel). 

This is where we store the Borrow-A-Books. It's also the storage for the Thursday Folders, extra notes, name tags and (eventual) name cards.

Here is my 'under-construction' book area. This is a "problem" that I will be asking the students to help co-create with me. (i.e., "What do you think of the book area? What else should we put there?"). The frog and snake are weighted toys to support self-regulation.