Organization in the classroom can make or break a learning environment. Students must feel safe at all times in the classroom. In order to make students feel safe, teachers need to try to create a sense on security and structure in their classroom. By keeping the room safe and arranging the room in a functional manner, the maximum amount of learning can be accomplished.
Teachers should place desks in specific locations where students can easily view the board; this will allow them to focus on learning instead of figuring out a way to see the board. By arranging your students' desks in different shapes, the students will know what type of work they will be doing during the day. If the desks are in rows, this would indicate that there is a test that day. If the desks are in groups of four, this would show that there will be more group work throughout the day. Students will begin to know what to expect based on these designs, and this will allow them to enter into a specific mindset for that day. Resources for the students, such as markers, paper, and scissors, should be located in one specific area in the classroom. When students need to use these resources, they will know exactly where to find them. This will save time so that there is more time for instruction to occur.
Teachers can create structure in their classroom by having different centers around the room for different subjects. One corner could be the reading corner. Another could be used to keep the toys for free time. A third corner could be used specifically for nap time, in young elementary classrooms. By arranging the room in a specific fashion, the students will quickly learn what activity they will be doing.
Flexible seating is a good option for classrooms, as well. By having different areas where students can sit, they can choose which environment they work best in. Having trays to sit on the floor to work on, beanbag chairs, couches, or pillows and mats allows different options for students to work in. Remember to keep your classroom design exciting for your students. Create a classroom that puts the fun in functional!
Citations:
Danielson, C. (n.d.). The Framework for Teaching Evaluation Instrument Domain 2: The Classroom Environment. Retrieved September 19, 2017, from http://static.pdesas.org/content/documents/danielson_rubric_32.pdf
Teachers should place desks in specific locations where students can easily view the board; this will allow them to focus on learning instead of figuring out a way to see the board. By arranging your students' desks in different shapes, the students will know what type of work they will be doing during the day. If the desks are in rows, this would indicate that there is a test that day. If the desks are in groups of four, this would show that there will be more group work throughout the day. Students will begin to know what to expect based on these designs, and this will allow them to enter into a specific mindset for that day. Resources for the students, such as markers, paper, and scissors, should be located in one specific area in the classroom. When students need to use these resources, they will know exactly where to find them. This will save time so that there is more time for instruction to occur.
Teachers can create structure in their classroom by having different centers around the room for different subjects. One corner could be the reading corner. Another could be used to keep the toys for free time. A third corner could be used specifically for nap time, in young elementary classrooms. By arranging the room in a specific fashion, the students will quickly learn what activity they will be doing.
Flexible seating is a good option for classrooms, as well. By having different areas where students can sit, they can choose which environment they work best in. Having trays to sit on the floor to work on, beanbag chairs, couches, or pillows and mats allows different options for students to work in. Remember to keep your classroom design exciting for your students. Create a classroom that puts the fun in functional!
Citations:
Danielson, C. (n.d.). The Framework for Teaching Evaluation Instrument Domain 2: The Classroom Environment. Retrieved September 19, 2017, from http://static.pdesas.org/content/documents/danielson_rubric_32.pdf