top of page
This site was designed with the
.com
website builder. Create your website today.Start Now

Classroom Environment

Session 2: Viewing a Model Classroom:

                    Creating a Mental Model

Elements of Classroom Environment

Physical Space

Physical space refers to the arrangement of the classroom (furniture and wall space) and the organization of materials that support literacy and encourage independence in students. 

 

The classroom arrangement can 

  • Encourage varied encounters with print

  • Facilitate large and small group conversations (in a library area, comfortable reading spaces, meeting area with easel, or literacy centers)

  • Wall space can display attractive, organized, environmental print that reflects students' lives and backgrounds

  • Students' artwork and writing on the walls give students ownership in their classroom

  • Reading and writing materials can be arranged to be inviting and accessible.

 

Materials and Tools

Materials and tools are the objects and print materials used to engage students in literacy activities.

 

Examples include the following:

  • Word walls that foster word recognition and correct spelling

  • Attendance chart that builds name recognition and initial letter identification

  • Work boards or job charts that allow students to move independently through tasks

  • Enlarged poetry or other charts that model reading strategies and encourage independent practice

  • Pointers for reading that help students attend to and build concepts about print

  • Stamp pads and letter cubes that help students practice building words.

 

Techniques and Management Practices

Classroom routines, organizational techniques, and management practices can establish a productive learning environment that promotes literacy while also encouraging student independence and community responsibility.

 

Examples include:

  • Daily attendance using a pocket chart with students' names to encourage responsibility for checking in while building name recognition and letter awareness

  • Daily morning meetings that provide opportunities for language development and for specific instruction in reading and writing

  • Classroom jobs

  • Opportunities for student leadership of daily routines.

 

Tone and Atmosphere

The tone and atmosphere of a classroom are conveyed through the teacher's voice, word choice, body language, and physical positioning, as well as through the arrangement of the room and organization of classroom routines.

 

The tone and atmosphere can communicate the following:

  • Belief that all students can learn and are capable of taking responsibility

  • Enthusiasm for all forms of literacy

  • Clear purpose of each instructional activity

  • Clarity of expectations

  • Appreciation of individual differences

  • Responsiveness and flexibility.

 

A teacher sitting next to the students on the floor, or helping shy students communicate their work through drawings are situations that create such an inclusive atmosphere.

Checklist for Classroom Set-Up

Traffic Pattern

What may seem to work when the scholars are not in the room may fail when there are 25 bodies moving at the same time.  Taking the time to brainstorm all the transitions and walk through them with your team will help to ensure that the traffic patterns work and the materials are easily accessible to students. This is especially true in the younger classes where the scholars view the world from a very different height perspective than we do as adults. 

 

Transistions to consider include:

  • Small group to meeting space

  • Desk/table to meeting space

  • Desk/table to library

  • Desk/table to content materials 

 

Traffic pattern considerations include:

  • Open

  • Allows for freedom of student movement

  • Materials are accessible to scholars

  • Think through fully the many transitions that scholars will make each day in the environment

 

 

 

Whole Class Meeting Area

This will be designed with the space in each classroom in mind.  The model classrooms will have either a permanent meeting area or a plan for how to quickly and efficiently create a meeting area.  The easel is important but teachers can use the SMART board for their anchors and then print the anchors to share with scholars for reference.

 

Whole Class Meeting Area considerations include:

  • Comfortable community circle

  • Audience seating arrangements

  • Chart easel/easel pads

  • Smart board

  • Rug

  • Markers and chart paper 

 

 

 

Small Group Instruction Space

It is really important for the space to provide a clear view of the classroom so that the teacher can scan the room when teaching a small group.

 

Small Group Instruction Space considerations include:

  • Table clear

  • Tools organized and labeled

  • Accessible to scholars 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scholar Work Space Arrangement

Scholar Work Space Arrangement considerations include:

  • Tables/desks are arranged in clusters to support collaboration

  • Students are physically comfortable

  • Feet touching ground

  • Adequate personal space

  • There are no areas that cannot be readily observed by the teacher

  • A "take five space" is clearly defined

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Tools (pencils, sticky notes, highlighters, writing paper, notebooks, etc)

  • Organized

  • Labeled

  • Accessible for students to self select

  • Book boxes or other organization for good fit books, readers and writer's workshop materials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Classroom Library

  • Bucketed all covers facing foward

  • Space allotted for library rules and shopping schedule

  • Some labeled by genre

  • Some labeled by level

  • Some labeled by topic

  • Tracks reading history of class and individuals

  • Encourages peer recommendations

  • Meets classroom library book title recommendations 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Math Manipulatives

  • Organized

  • Labeled

  • Accessible for students

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bulletin Boards

Most boards at the start of the year will be covered but not complete.  This sends a powerful message to scholars that this is their classroom and they will have a part in constructing the environment.  Most are clean and free to invite student construction/participation.

 

Bulletin Board considerations include:

  • Clean and free to invite student construction/participation

  • Covered

  • Bordered

  • Free of teacher made materials

  • May have a title or guiding question

 

 

 

 

Teacher Space

Teachers need a space to organize, plan, assess and provide written feedback to scholars. However, we want to make sure that the space taken up for that purpose does not take an exorbitant amount of the limited classroom space.  It is also important to realize that how you keep your space is a model for how scholars will keep theirs.

 

Teacher Space considerations include:

  • Does not exceed the space per student

  • Organized and neat

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postings

  • Purpose/Big Skill of Unit

  • Lesson plans posted on clipboard near classroom entrance

  • Code of conduct is displayed in the classroom, along with accompanying expectations

  • Core values as they are introduced

  • Greeter script

  • Agenda is clearly posted

  • Student work is on display accompanied by an explanation of the assignment, objectives and criteria for successful completion (i.e., rubric)

  • Student growth displays are student driven and up to date.

 

 

 

 

Materials Not Currently Being Used

  • Either not stored in room or boxed and put in closet

  • Skirt a table and store in boxes underneath

  • Limited/NO displays that are commercially made

  • Nothing should be posted that is not directly connected to the current learning units or being referenced by scholars to support ongoing skill development. 

Building, ADA and Fire Codes 

  • The floor space needs to be clear for five feet around any entrance. 

  • Nothing can be hung on the door and you should leave a 12 inch radius around the door empty. (On inside and outside) *This excludes Emergency Fire Exit Sign 

  • No ropes and/or strings can be hung in a clothesline manner anywhere. 

  • Nothing can be hung on or across the windows or blinds. 

  • Nothing can be hung from or attached to the ceiling or electrical fixtures (i.e. fans, plugs, etc.) 

  • No more than 50% of each wall can be covered with school materials. 

  • All hallway displays must be contained to bulletin boards, with everything securely fastened and nothing protruding or flapping. 

  • No appliances are permitted (i.e. microwaves, coffee makers, etc.) 

  • Classroom door may not be propped open at any time.

  • Emergency Exits are clearly identified 

  • Emergency Response Kit is easily accessible. 

 

Maintenance Expectations 

  • The room must be clean and orderly at all times but should be monitored specifically before and after meals and before leaving at the end of the period / day. 

  • All desks are clean. 

  • All trash is off the floor. 

  • All learning materials are off the floor (books, pencils, etc.) 

  • Lunch trays are neatly stacked next to the trash barrel near the classroom door after meals. 

  • All chairs are stacked at the end of each day. 

  • Help preserve our facility. 

  • Do not attach anything to walls, floors or ceilings with staple guns, duct tape, nails or screws. 

  • Never place anything in door jams to hold doors open

 

Classroom Technology Guidelines 

  • Interactive whiteboard station, speakers, cables, a USB TV tuner box, and a place for your laptop is intact

  • Projector is turned off when not in use. 

  • Classroom laptops are plugged in and charging when not in use. 

bottom of page