Classroom Layout
Posted by Diane Badden on 04 Aug 2010 | Posted in: Classroom Management, The Mailbox Books
Should my reading table be at the front or back of my classroom? What’s the best location for my sensory table? Where should I put my classroom library? Laying out a classroom isn’t for wimps, is it? 
Every teacher wants his or her classroom to be set up for optimal learning and classroom management. Perhaps the biggest challenge in meeting this goal is being aware of the many things that need to be considered. For example, there once was a teacher who was quite pleased with her classroom layout until she realized she’d left no room for her students to line up. Yep, that was me! This consideration completely slipped my mind.
What are your tips and strategies for classroom layout? Think about the teacher who is setting up a classroom for the first time, the teacher who is moving into a different classroom, or the teacher who is looking to improve the layout of her existing classroom. How can you help? Are there certain considerations that drive your classroom layout? Where do you start?
To thank you for sharing your ideas, all posts made before the end of Friday, August 6, will be entered in a drawing for a free copy of our classroom management book Super Simple Classroom Management.
Good luck!
Diane
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49 Responses to “Classroom Layout”
More Comments Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 » Show All Comments
More Comments Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 » Show All Comments
I have a nice corner in my room that I’ve used as my cubbies, in the past. This year however I’m thinking about making it my reading corner, with a nice rug, and the wonderful natural light. The one important thing that I have to keep in mind is that I have only 1 outlet, and that I need to be able to stand anywhere in the room and be able to see everything and everyone in the room. I also make sure that my center areas are clearly defined. Also, since I teach Pre-K, I make sure that everything is at their eye level- which is easier said then done
Be sure to keep enough space around the room to spread out on the floor- even intermediate grades need floor space for group work and centers. More importantly, be flexible! You may need to rearrange after only a few days or weeks.
Harmony,
I gave up my teacher desk my first year teaching. I have a counter top that is my teacher space, but it’s too tall for the kids to really utilize well. I have a two drawer filing cabinet for report cards, cum folders and parent contacts. All my books are stored in the cabinets or in the closet and all my teacher made things are kept in hanging folders either on the counter, under the sink or in the closet. (It really depends on the space you have). I keep a little caddy on my small group instruction table that is full of “Teacher Tools” that only I use. Also, I have two three drawer sets of rubbermaid drawers (the ones that fit a stack of paper). I label them one for each day of the week, and the odd drawer is for notices for me from the office. I keep handouts, worksheets, books and any other materials I might need for that day in the draw. It makes it nice for when you’re out for a two day in-service because you can just pull out the two drawers and put a lesson plan on the top of each drawer! I love not having a teacher desk! During the school day, I never have time to be at desk, I’m always working with kids so if I ever need to spread out, I just use the kids’ tables afterschool!
I teach kindergarten, so I always start with my meeting area. I try to figure out what I will need at my fingertips while we are doing whole group instruction. I’ve reused play kitchen furniture for this space several times. A fridge with the doors taken off makes great cubbies for storing markers, erasers, white boards, and other quick materials kids might need.
Next, I decide where I want my classroom library. This changes every year based on what worked or didn’t the year before. I always want there to be someplace soft for the kids to sit, and also a place for various sizes of books (big books, charts and trade books).
Then I play with where my small group instruction table will be and make sure that I can see everyone easily from that spot. Finally I get to my tables and other furniture.
Keeping my materials organized and together is important too! Each year I’ve tried something new. This year I’m going to have a supply bin on every table with each compartment labeled so the kids know where everything belongs.
I teach preschool so for me I arrange my centers from quietest to loudest. First I have 2 computers with headphones stationed off in a separate area,next is the cozy/ quiet area, next is reading, then science, home living and block center. Music is stationed off separately. Art and Discovery area or located in the center of the classroom. Tables are placed at the end of the classroom. My classroom is very open for easy supervision of the children.
I have to say that my classroom is never “set in stone” for the year. Over the summer I go into my class and actually get down on my knees to scope out how my arrangements are looking. As a preschool teacher I need to put myself at my students’ level and be sure everything looks appealing, is easily accessible, etc.
But once the kids come in I am ever-observant of what works and what doesn’t. I am not afraid to change things around after school. Actually my kids always love to see who can notice what is different first!
ndisilvio @ gmail . com
I teach preschool and it is very important to me to have space
How much space should I save for my circle time area.
I feel I have wasted space because I usually leave a large area for my circle time. I could have up to 16 kids in my pre school classroom. My room isn’t very big and I sure could use that space to make a new center. Any sites where I can see classroom set ups? Thanks
I have been teaching for 35 years and I still get excited for that first day. I have already been at school getting things ready for the new year. I have never been in the same room more than two years in a row so I have had lots of experience arranging things. New room again this year and the first time to teach 2nd grade to the same kids I had last year. I like the idea of having everything you need to teach for the day in one place. I always get everything ready at the end of each day for the next day. Having Mon-Fri. folders helps as I do my lesson plans and get books and teaching materials ready for the next week. I try to have this done by Thursday if possible but it doesn’t always work. I love having my centers around the perimeter of the room and make my library really cosy with a rug, a tent, pillows, stuffed animals, and lamps. My kids love the library and really help to take care of it. Don’t be afraid to change anything that is not working after school starts. You can make great plans but sometimes the class you have may need to have changes made. Flexibility should be every teacher’s middle name. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions. (parrishp@shcsc.k12.in.us)
I am not a very visual person, so I find it difficult to figure out where everything should go and make the most of my class space. One thing I do keep in mind is being able to easily access wherever each student is. I have found this important with tending to discipline problems as well as being able to monitor my students with health issues.
For those of you who have given up your teacher desk, what do you do with all those supplies and files that you kept there?
Figure out what is most important to you first and start there. My large group time is important to me (also takes up the most space) so I start there. Then it is smal group , etc. How come classrooms are always too small? There is never enough space for everything.
This is my first comment on the Mailbox blog. I am returning to 4th grade after several years as a 6th grade science teacher. I am excited, but I have been tossing around ideas for arranging my room all summer. I have enjoyed reading all your entries. I hope to synthesize many of your ideas as I plan. I have always had my desk at the back of the room, so that it is out of the way. I know I will keep that the same, and I intend to have all my tools for my writing workshop in one area. I am still trying to decide where to put everything else. Thanks!