In this project, I have placed every single object in the room exactly where it is with purpose in order to make class flow smoothly. Students walk in and sign in so that they are responsible for roll call. This was an idea I got from one of our readings in which a substitute came in and was amazed that the students knew exactly what to do and got to work immediately. One of those things included taking roll. Also, students will come in every day and pick up a jump start activity. This is not something I had considered in the past, but I really like the idea of students getting to work right away. This activates their minds so that they are ready to learn when class starts. I have the classroom rules posted there as well so that it is one of the first things students see every single day. I don’t always think about having behavioral issues with high schoolers because I expect them to be mature and understand how to behave. As I have been reading more and more in this class, I am realizing that even high schoolers struggle with understanding what is expected of them. Of course, I will do more than just post the rules. I will provide direct instruction as well. This just serves as a friendly reminder when they walk into class each day.
One of the things I was sure to include was a phone bin. At my 20 hour practicum school, phones were a huge issue, and students did not pay attention in class. I want students to come to my class with the understanding that they are there to learn, not to scroll TikTok or whatever other social media it might be at the time. There are also designated bins for students to turn in their work. If this becomes an issue and it is just easier to pass papers down the rows and up to the first row, then I will have students do that and put all of the papers in the bin myself.
One of the things I had discussed in my ELA group was the idea that reading corners are a necessity in an English class. The very first day we brought our rough drafts to class, every single one of us had included a reading corner. It seems to be one of the unwritten laws that ELA classrooms must contain a comfortable place for students to enjoy a good book. I really liked an idea that Alyssa brought to the table in which she would draw sticks with names to determine who would get to sit in the reading corner that day. In doing this, that eliminates running, shoving, fighting, etc.
The final thing I will point out that I believe is important is having a separate workspace for students that may need a bit of extra help. I purposely put the group work table close to the teacher’s desk so that if it is work time and I am at my desk for any reason, they can ask questions. Of course, I will also be walking around the room and monitoring so that I am accessible to all students and can interact with them like in the most recent text-tagging article we read.
Before completing this activity, I did not realize how much went into arranging your classroom. We did a classroom arrangement in EDUC 208/9, and we definitely did not put this much thought into it. It was mostly about what kinds of desks or what kinds of tables you want in your classroom. There are so many important factors to consider, and every single thing in the classroom should have a purpose. Everything needs to be appropriately located. It is a lot to consider, but I definitely feel more equipped to arrange my classroom after this project.
I feel confident in my ability to arrange my classroom in a meaningful way that contributes to students’ learning. It is so important to ensure that every moving piece works cohesively to form an effective learning environment. There are several key factors that must be included in the classroom for students to reach their full potential. When you are able to manage your learning environment in a way that limits potential behavioral issues and promotes a smooth classroom flow, students are able to accomplish immeasurably more throughout the school year.