Embedded Files
Floor Space
The learning space promotes creativity through colorful furniture and natural light. The seats are set up in table groups of four to avoid overcrowding and overstimulation. There is plenty of room to move around in the classroom, traffic patterns are clearly distinguished through the placement of furniture, carpets, and shelving. I prefer to incorporate round, group tables over individual desks because it promotes collaboration and student-led learning. A portion of this classroom has a small group work table where the teacher will meet with small groups of kids at a time and work on specific items and topics.
I also chose to incorporate a reading/calming corner, sensory/art centers, and (my favorite part of the classroom) a classroom tree. The classroom tree is a place for students' work to be displayed for the whole class and any visitors as a means for children to feel pride and accomplishment. I decided not to implement a "teacher desk" because I like the idea that the children and the teacher are a team. There are times when the teacher needs to set boundaries and be the leader of the class and other times when the teacher can step back and give their students responsibility.
I designed this classroom with my philosophy, student needs, and creativity in mind. My biggest goal in designing my classroom in this way was to provide my students with a comfortable, safe, and learning-inducing environment. I incorporate flexible seating to promote this idea of comfortability. Flexible seating is the practice of allowing and providing many different seating options for students. This ties into the theorists who bring up the impact of student responsibility. Giving them the choice of where/how they sit but setting the boundaries that it can be taken away if misused teaches them that they decide whether they earn this special privilege.
I have been in many classrooms through my field experiences that have been very colorful, crowded & overwhelming, small, and filled with lots of flexible seating. At first, I judged classrooms based on how they looked, I felt like the crowded rooms were that way because the teacher was messy and unorganized. I thought the overly colorful rooms that were decorated flamboyantly were exactly what I wanted my future classroom to look like. Through good and not-so-good field experiences I have discovered who I am as a teacher and what I want my classroom to look like. I now know my words were harsh and selfish, how a classroom looks does not always determine the value of a teacher. There are so many aspects that go into designing and organizing a classroom and the number one priority should always be to meet the needs of every student.
Wall Space
EGP 400 - Wall Space.pdfMy field experiences have taught me that posters that are short, simple, and to the point are the most effective. Posters with a lot of words may be very informative with a bunch of data but that is only effective if every student could have their own, personal copy of that one poster. In my opinion, the effectiveness of wall space depends on three main things. The ability to read a poster from afar, provide relevant information, and connect the information on the walls to my philosophy.
Academic: This wall space poster touches on the topic of the Five Senses. In this poster, children are reminded of what the five senses are and examples of how we use each sense in everyday life. I chose this poster because it is pleasing to the eye, introduces a vital skill, and can introduce students the the idea of sense impairments.
Building Community: This wall space poster has visual examples of how the students are expected to act in the classroom. Community is all about accepting one another for who they are, this poster touches on that idea. I chose this poster because it discusses the fact of building a classroom community while also being simple, eye-catching, and to the point.
Supporting Management: This wall space poster is all about giving students a positive visual and reminder to always find the good. I chose this poster because it is such an easy and simple way to support my classroom management through positive reinforcement.
Many theorists touch on the topic of positive reinforcement and the idea of encouraging good behavior and drifting away from full discipline. Theorists have also discussed the importance of giving students responsibility and opportunities to take control of their learning. The academic poster does just that! It gives students a clear, eye-level resource to review life skills and topics being taught in class.
Space for ALL Students
EGP 400 - Space for ALL Students.pdfPage updated
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