Learning Environment Requirements

The purpose of a learning wall and learning environment is to provide students with easy access to materials, examples, targeted skills, topics, and strategies that align with the focus of learning. The learning walls should be neat, clear, and current, ensuring that resources are readily available. Teachers can support students by modeling how to use these resources and tools during the teaching block, making them an integral part of the learning process.

Classroom design and organization is an intentional process that involves strategically planning, organizing, and building a learning environment to maximize student thinking and learning. It aims to meet the diverse needs of students by promoting structures that establish and maintain classroom routines, support cognitive development, and create a safe space for social and emotional learning.

By using wall space and furniture strategically, teachers can enhance the efficiency of lessons, ensuring they meet both the academic and behavioral needs of students. Thoughtful classroom design fosters an environment that encourages engagement, supports student growth, and facilitates a positive learning experience for all students.

What are some things to consider when designing and organizing a classroom?

1. Visual Schedule to create predicability for events and reduce student anxiety

2. Communication Wall to support opportunities for all students to communicate needs and wants during class time

3. Interactive boards with Anchor Charts to support learning of current skills and concepts

4. Curriculum Framework area to display instructional goals, learning intentions and success criteria of a lesson

5. Calming Sensory Area to support individual student sensory needs

6. Library Area for independent or partner reading

7. Independence Board to display steps that will promote independent thinking and autonomy

8. Dedicated "Circle Time" Area for group direct instructional activities with visual schedule

9. Organizing furniture to create natural spaces for activities for group rotations, using storage areas strategically to hold necessary tools, manipulatives, etc for each type of activity

10. Dramatic Play Area for students to be creative and be imaginative participating in pretend play activities that promote higher level thinking and turn taking (ECSE, TK, Kinder)