Hi everyone! It's been a while since we have blogged but we are finally getting settled in to the school year. As we move through the weeks, it is interesting to see the things that our students learn about our classrooms and about how they can use the structure and set up of the classroom to their advantage. My third graders have learned that they can find the relevant information and key concepts for our learning on our classroom Focus Wall. I have used a Focus Wall in previous years but it has usually been pretty small and focused on Language Arts. This year, I moved to a new classroom that has a giant chalkboard that had been covered with paper (and hot glue, and sticky tack, and masking tape). It took me a few weeks to decide that I was actually going to leave the chalkboard in it's natural chalkboard state in order to avoid falling paper, fading, and all the other issues that come with covering something that is not a bulletin board. Did I mention the chalkboard is also NOT magnetic? Ugh... #teacherproblems.... So, after much thought and consideration, I decided to make the board a huge Focus Wall. I have a small section for Social Studies and Science (I alternate between the two so I didn't need a space for each), and pretty large sections for both Math and Language Arts. I have a designated area for the week's objectives and I also try to make it a point to add important vocabulary words and "I can" statements.
This Focus Wall has become an integral part of my classroom. My students know that they can find important vocabulary words for our Math concept, Spelling words, and new Social Studies and Science objectives on the wall. Last week, I forgot to add the Spelling words to the wall after our pre-test. I must have had half of my class ask when I was going to finish the Focus Wall. I was so happy to know that they are actually using it and depending on the wall as a source of information about our learning.
I made the super cute subject and "objectives" labels for my wall with my Silhouette Cameo and some removable adhesive vinyl. I love how clean the labeling looks and I don't ever have to worry about it falling down or fading.
Below are a few pictures of my Focus Wall
Decals before I put them on the board.
Decals up but the board still being cleaned
Close up of the decal
The cute focus wall peeking out behind Jill and I
Thanks for stopping in!
Caitlin
