Classroom Arrangement
How you arrange the desks in your room says a lot to students, parents, and visitors about what you want to accomplish and even what you believe about student interactions and learning. No matter how you choose to arrange your students' desks, remember to build in aisles for easy movement around the classroom, this was accomplished very stylishly in Ms. Morgan's 1st grade classroom. Not only did she allow students space to move, it's important to note that effective teachers are always walking around the classroom to manage behavior and help students as they need assistance. If a certain set-up isn't working for you, make a change, if you notice a recurring behavior problem that could be alleviated by moving desks, then do so, and don't be afraid to move your students around as well. As you get to know them better, you can judge where each student should sit for maximal learning and minimal distraction. Arranging desks in a wide horseshoe shape or u-shape like Ms. Morgan did facilitates whole group discussions while still forcing students to face forward for teacher-directed instruction. This was for 1st grade students.
Retrieved on February 20, 2014 from http://wakeupyourwardrobe.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-my-classroom-wore.html
Structure
A key component of being an effective teacher begins with providing structure in the classroom. Providing structure maximizes student learning opportunities, minimizes distractions and generally makes the overall atmosphere of the classroom more pleasant. Most students will respond positively to structure especially those who do not have any structure or stability in their home life. A structured classroom also translates to a safe classroom and students enjoy being in a safe learning environment. It is essential to realize that the first few days of the school year often dictate the tone for the remainder of the school year, that is why Ms. Julia and Leslie find it very important to recite their classroom rules daily. Because they know from experience that once you lose a class, you rarely get them back. Rules and expectations should be laid out immediately and should be displayed in your classroom for everyone to see, this was done in Ms. Julia and Leslie's classroom as well. While reciting classroom rules they also provided students with specific scenarios and walk them through expectations as well as their plan for dealing with issues. This is for 2nd grade students.
Retrieved on February 20, 2014 from http://www.2busybrunettes.com/2012/11/06/the-whole-brain-teaching-rules-and-me/
Activities
Classroom activities should be designed to facilitate maximum learning and comprehension, they can be fun games through which students practice important skills in Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and Art. Ms. Deb's website is loaded with free classroom activity ideas to make your classes fun and exciting, and keep your students hooked on to learning. She has activities for Math, Language, Art, and many many more. Some of the activities mimic real-life situations, and call for students to utilize their skills to solve real life problems. Ms. Deb was a teacher and school owner who home schooled her kids, so she is very knowledgeable in this area, the classroom activities on her website will create an environment where learning is fun and exciting, and students are most likely to learn. This is for PreK and K students.
Retrieved on February 20, 2014 from http://livingmontessorinow.com/2012/12/27/more-than-a-years-worth-of-freebies-and-montessori-inspired-activities/
Organization
Ms.Suzanne's classroom was very organized and on her website she provided helpful tips for other teachers on how to achieve that organization in their classroom. The everyday classroom is more than just a place where teachers come to teach and students come to learn, it is a major tool of instruction for teachers, and it is a home away from home for students. The classroom is ultimately a place where students can learn, but it is also where they can come to understand responsibility, become social, and learn to work together. The classroom environment is very important to a student’s development, and therefore needs to be not only comfortable and non-threatening, but also a place suitable for learning. Through preparation and organization, an effective classroom environment can be shaped. This is for PreK to 3rd grade students.
Retrieved on February 20, 2014 from
https://www.learnboost.com/blog/10-creative-classroom-organization-ideas/
https://www.learnboost.com/blog/10-creative-classroom-organization-ideas/


