Organizing Your Classroom

In organizing your classroom, consider ways in which you can make students feel welcome, encourage involvement, and allows for learning experiences in a multitude of arrangements.

Ensure Furniture Arrangement Promotes Learning Opportunities

• Consider traffic flow for teacher proximity and student movement.
• Arrange student seating to allow for maximum visibility and accessibility to the learning activities and to limit distractability.
• Create room arrangements that allow for flexibility and activities that may require movement.

Have a Seating Chart

• Have a seating chart ready before students arrive.
• Have a plan for helping them find their seats.

Maintain Plans for Materials and Assignment Management

• Have bins or folders for student assignments.
• Place materials for student activities in a regular location for student access.
• Always have materials and equipment checked and ready before students arrive.

Create Bulletin Boards that Foster Learning

• Be sure bulletin boards are informative, relevant, aesthetic, and related to class activities.

For "Floaters"

• Use a moveable cart to keep your materials, supplies, and AV equipment ready and transportable.
• Obtain a file cabinet to keep in each room or a centralized location.
• Make use of existing technology, e.g., use a laptop and LCD projector for "traveling presentations."
• Develop an agreement with the teachers with whom you share a classroom space to have a bulletin board for your own use.

 

Game Plan Modules

Establishing a Positive Climate Organizing Your Classroom

Developing Rules, Routines, and Procedures Assigning and Managing Work

Preparing for Instruction Managing Behavior Maintaining Momentum