Classroom Rationale
You can also view my layout online and click on the different items in the classroom to view a picture of exactly what I’ve added.
I designed my classroom to be spacious, safe, and welcoming. Before entering the classroom, the students will hang up their backpacks, coats, and lunchboxes on their coat hangers outside of the room. This was done to maximize classroom space, to reduce clutter in the room (keeping the classroom safer) and also to maintain a cleaner classroom environment. As the students walk in, they will come to the communication station, where they will place their daily folders into their mailbox, hand in any notes, and sign up for lunch. This will be the first thing the students will be expected to do as they walk in, so there is space for a small line to form if necessary. My desk is situated so that it faces the classroom and I have quick access in and out of my desk space. Behind my desk I have multiple storage units and counters for my teacher resources. I also have a bulletin for all the wonderful artwork students may give me and for quick reference materials.
Around the classroom, I have bulletin boards set up for different displays. I will like to use these to display student work and also for different community building and citizenship posters. To encourage good hygiene, I will have displays about proper hand washing and appropriate times to wash (before eating, after using the restroom, after blowing nose, etc.) near the sink area. The sink will be located in the corner of the room so that it is easy to access and does not interfere with student work areas. Around the sink, I will also locking storage cabinets for teacher resources that I do not want to the students to access such as paint, cleaning supplies, and excess student and teacher supplies.
I will have a classroom library for my students with a big rug, bookshelves and oversized beanbags for reading times. This reading area can be used during free time, when students are done with certain activities, and for silent reading time (students will be assigned days they can use this space since it is limited). On the wall of the library there is also a bulletin board for posters of authors, books, and students’ work about the books they’ve read. I have two play areas set up for playtime in my classroom because I believe it’s important for students to be able to play and use their imagination constantly. My play areas include blocks, a dollhouse, car garage, and dress-up station. Although these are close in proximity to our academic stations, they will not be used at the same time so space will not be an issue.
There are various areas set up for whole group time, teacher guided small-group activities, and independent work. In the back of the room I have a large rug area where we will hold morning meetings, have read aloud time, and where I will give whole class instruction or mini-lessons. There are magnetic white boards set up in this area to use for morning message, calendar math, the daily schedule, and instruction. In the back of the room, I also have two teacher-guided small group work areas for activities such as guided reading, Words Their Way (or any other spelling/phonics program), math, or any other times students need to work in small groups. These small-group areas have a whiteboard and a storage unit for teacher resources. The teacher seats are positioned to always be able to watch the rest of the class while guiding the small group. In the back of the room I also have a writing station where students will store their writing materials. This will be where they have their writing folders, their writing paper, and also pens and pencils for revisions. It is put up against the wall in the back so that a line can form as students go to get their writing materials to avoid having a crowded area. I have two independent student areas in the classroom. One is the computer station with two computers at each table and room for 2 chairs at each computer. The other area is a listening station where students can independently listen to stories and do related activities. This can also be a station where students work on other independent activities with clipboards. They have a storage unit available for student resources in this area.
I decided to use tables for my student seating because I think it encourages group work and cooperation. I sat four students to a table so that it would not be too cluttered at each set. I made sure to provide the students with plenty of space to scoot chairs in and out without hitting the chairs behind them. The students can all easily see the whiteboard from where they are sitting because I staggered the tables so that one is not directly behind another. There are pathways in between desks for easy access to students while they are working. Also, these pathways provide a safer environment because there is more space to move around in. In between the two sets of desks closer to the doors, I made an even bigger space so that students can line up easily. I want my classroom to be bright and inviting and I want my students to feel comfortable and safe while in the room. I believe that my classroom has what it needs to keep students safe and organized.