I visited my classroom for the first time since my teaching interview. I was really excited because I am ready to get it set up. The first thing I wanted to do was to check out what materials I had available so I could request what I believe I will need for this upcoming school year. The only problem is that all the cupboards were locked and I couldn't access any of the materials that were available.

The teacher before me used the TPRS method (total physical response storytelling). I do not plan on using this method in it's entirety. I believe that some aspects of the TPRS method could be used along with other methods to allow for students to learn the absolute most.

This upcoming school year will by my school's second year. I'm pretty sure an entire curriculum was purchased that follows the TPRS method. I feel kind of wasteful not using these materials that are available, but I do not think it is beneficial to the students to learn using solely the TPRS method. From my experience thus far in an elementary Spanish classroom (student teaching and practicum experiences), the teachers create the majority of their materials to use in activities with their students. Since I didn't actually get to see what materials were in my classroom, and I happened to forget to bring my camera, I measured using my feet to create a rough floor plan of how my classroom currently looks.

As you can see, it is very precise. I have a whiteboard and a portable whiteboard cart. A kidney bean table and seven rectangle tables. There is a small couch beside the kidney bean table and a lot of storage for my materials along the counter. There are also shelves along the wall (at the bottom of this picture) that can be moved. There are 38 student chairs in my classroom, four of which are preschool size.

I'm really excited to see my schedule of classes so I can arrange my classroom for all my students. I won't make it there for the next few weeks but I hope to actually get to dive in on July second, and see what materials are available, see a class list so I know how many students I will have in each class, and arrange the items I am bringing in. 

This is going to be an exciting year!