With the school year wrapping up in just a few short weeks, it is never too early to start thinking about the next school year. By now, most teachers have a good handle on their incoming caseload and can start creating a good plan to take away from the busyness of August. In the upcoming series, I will help you check off some beginning-of-year task items to lighten the load for next school year.
Start With the Foundation – Physical Structure
Physical structure refers to how each classroom area is set up and where materials and furniture are placed.
Mapping out and planning the room’s layout is essential and should be the foundation for getting your classroom off to a great start. By designing the physical structure of the classroom, we can provide organization for our students, staff, and visitors and help students understand and predict what activities will be occurring where and what the expectations are in each area.
Step 1: Consider the following areas when planning for the physical structure of the classroom:
- Direct Instruction Area (individual student work spaces)
- Centers
- Independent Work Area
- Large Group Area
- Organizational Area (classroom supplies, etc.)
- Play/Leisure Area
- Small Group Area
- Transition Area (home folders, schedules, etc.)
- Sensory Area
- Calming Area
Step 2: Determine what items could create physical and visual boundaries.
Use furniture to create physical boundaries:
- Bookshelves
- Dividers
- Tables
- Desks
Use visuals to segment the different areas of the classroom:
- Velcro tape
- Rugs
Step 3: Consider the auditory and visual distractions in each area.
Consider where each location is and the surrounding areas to minimize noise level, and cover shelves with fabric to minimize visual distractions.
Step 4: Expectations
Students must be taught the expectations for each classroom area. Develop a plan for teaching these expectations.
