Drum roll please.....MY CLASSROOM REVEAL

I would like to first start off by saying that all the effort put into my classroom was kept with one and only one thing in mind: my students. The purpose of this post is not to showoff but to inspire.  I pride myself in making my classroom a place where students feel at home and comfortable enough to take academic risks. Co-founder of the Ron Clark Academy Kim Bearden said it best: Make your classroom a place students WANT to be, not HAVE to be. Countless hours and 300 trips to Target/Hobby Lobby made the end result of an incredible environment for my students completely worth it. And if you're looking for my heart and soul... I left in this room right here ↓😆
(*if images look blurry on your phone, press the picture and the full size will show up :))

This platform is my FAVORITE part of the room! If I can't work at RCA, I'll do my best to bring RCA to my school!

Is it really a 4th grade classroom if it doesn't have at least one emoji pillow? 

"So, why the sports theme?" < That's actually one of my favorite questions people ask because it's not because I absolutely loveeee sports or even play them. I admire the aspect of teamwork, and it is a quality I incorporate into my classroom community. I refer to my students as champions... and my classroom is the home of the champions. OUR personal definition of champion is a person who works hard everyday, puts effort into being the best person they can be and inspires others to do the same. I will never change my sports theme because it is the ideal theme for teaching kids important character traits.

My favorite wall!

"Our Game Plan" was inspired by Ron Clark's book, The Essential 55

"You can't paint."
"Paper needs to be 18in from the ceiling."
"Don't put too many nails in."
"That GIANT table that takes up so much space, yeah you need to keep that."

^Words told to me by my administration. Now, although I was extremely annoyed by these requirements when I first walked into my empty room... I learned to work around these challenges. If something doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you. My advice if you have standards for your classroom are embrace them and work with them to your advantage because only then will you be able to truly expand your creativity and mindset.

No paint? No problem. I used contact paper, the kind that is also a chalkboard. It's super cheap and really looks like paint! People literally walk in and are like "they let you paint?!"

That giant *ugly* table? I removed the legs and covered it in whiteboard contact paper! I actually really love this table now because it provides a perfect area for my small groups, flexible seating for students because they can work comfortably on the floor, AND it provides me with another platform to stand on! #Win #Win #Win 🙌

Let me tell you the secret about this room:

It's.
All.
About.
The.
Details.

A lot can be done with $3 shelves and a can of spray paint

Even the smallest details make all the difference

Plant, picture and a handmade canvas... perfect touches to display on my class library

Pictures are an ABSOLUTE MUST in any classroom

I got to the point while decorating where I was just so tired and over it. One thing after another after another... a to-do list a mile long. But I knew that the smallest things and efforts add up to the overall presence of my room. The framed pictures, painting the plant pots, laminating everything, the light ropes, cutting out letters, duct-taping the border of the whiteboards... just to name a few.
Every single little thing in my room was placed with a thoughtful purpose... and I wouldn't have it any another way despite the time and effort it took for every little thing.

Now I know you're thinking about it, so let's talk about it... 'how much did you spend on this room?'. I'd be lying if I said I had an exact total, because I don't. But I can tell you this: Goodwill is my best friend. I have scoured multiple stores over a period of months finding things for my classroom: books, furniture, frames. It's almost a thrill to me when I find some gems like the soccer ball chair ($20!) and matching furniture... but it takes time and I don't always get lucky. I can also tell you that family and friends will help you if you ask for it, and I have them to thank as well for their contributions!

Both my boards have a remote-control light system, $12 on Amazon is all it takes to add some magic to a classroom

All in all I see this room as an investment. I built my personal dream classroom, and invested my own money into it (more than I would have liked to) because I knew it would be a one time thing. What I mean by that is, I'll only rarely have to buy or change things because the foundation is built- and it's built exactly how I wanted it. So you'll find me actually enjoying my summer vacation for the years to come because the work is done!

View from the entrance

My dream classroom: CHECK.

There you have it! I plan on posting more about the details for each wall and the purpose behind everything, so look out for those in the near future. 😊

It takes a lot of sparkle to teach little minds! 

My name is Julie Salcido, I am 24 years old and I will be going into my second year of teaching! I have taught fifth grade and I am now teaching fourth. The energy I bring into my classroom and the relationships I build with my students is what makes me stand out as an educator. I had great success my first year because this is truly a passion of mine- it is my life!

I create excellence in the classroom by modeling the techniques from the Ron Clark Academy. I believe in a structured classroom, with appropriate discipline and mutual respect. Although those qualities will ensure that students are learning, that in itself will not create a love for learning, which is why I balance those characteristics with passion, energy and enthusiasm! Together it is the perfect formula for success in all aspects of my classroom.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my page. It is in my high hopes to inspire educators around the world with new ideas to instill in their own classrooms.