Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram are all filled with images of inspiring classrooms. I find it inspiring to see other teachers' classrooms. It makes me think about how I can make my classroom a more inviting, engaging learning space. My mind often races because I've taught elementary, middle, and primary school. I am a fan of organization, hate clutter and want to involve my students in the design of the room.
As I enter my 22nd year, here are a few thoughts that keep me awake at night.
- What changes can I make in my classroom to better suit the needs of my middle-school readers and writers?
- How can I make our learning more visible, i.e. Students' writings, recommendations for books, or projects should be visible throughout the classroom.
- What new read-alouds can I introduce to my classroom to increase student interest in reading and reading?
- How can I organize my classroom library better to encourage students to read?
- How can I set up the classroom so that there are flexible areas for writing and reading?
Although I'm now in my 12nd classroom year, the structure of my classroom and teaching is still evolving.
Here are some essentials to have in my room…
ELA Wall Word Wall
The ELA Word Wall in my class is an essential tool. My ELA Word Wall is a great tool for storing information and is at the perfect level for my students to reach when they need help remembering concepts. My students are expected by me to be familiarized with a wide range of terms in order to answer questions or respond to writing prompts. So, I built this wall. This space is a great resource for students who have forgotten a particular term.
Classroom Expectations
In the district where I teach, my students and I are focused on a "R Factor" strategy. This is based on the idea that "an incident plus our response equals the result." The classroom expectations I've created are meant to reflect the work we do in our district. This way, my students will be reminded regularly of what is expected. I want my students to realize that even though they may not always be in control of the world around them they have the ability to influence the outcomes. These classroom expectations can be used to inspire students to become thoughtful people.
Photos of My Students
My bulletinboard is not completed yet, because my students still haven't arrived. I have created this "#CurrentlyReading…" bulletin board so that I can capture my students reading on our very first days together and throughout the entire year. This idea has three purposes. First, middle schoolers are fascinated by seeing their own and other people's pictures. This display lets us see the entire class that makes up our classroom community. Second, students see what each other is reading. My students are the ones who recommend books to each other. Students can ask each other about the books in their hands to determine if they are interesting or worth reading. The students will then create a book "photo" as they read the various books. This "photobook", when hole-punched with a binding ring, can be used to show students the different books they've been reading throughout the school year. This is a creative way to keep a log of books read.
Flexible seating spaces
Did you realize that middle schoolers enjoy curling up to read? The reading experience is enhanced by a comfortable chair, a space with carpet, and pillows. Spending a lot of money is not necessary. You can find classroom-friendly items at garage sales, Goodwill and Facebook.
A library within a classroom
Half-Price Books are the perfect place to buy books for my classroom on a limited budget. As an ELA instructor, I want a library in my classroom that will encourage students to read. It's my job to ensure that students have books they want to finish. It is important to have a diverse classroom library.
An area of the wall that is empty
I'll be displaying student work and anchor charts in the next few weeks. I leave blank wall space to make it easy for students and teachers to see the anchor charts.
This week, I begin meetings and my professional development. It's still a few weeks away before students enter the classroom. I'm sure I'll have a few sleepless nights as I anticipate the exciting year ahead. It is inevitable that I will change my plans as I learn more about my students, and how they want to use our classroom. What matters most is not how my classroom is set up, but my relationships with my pupils.
If you want to try some of these in your classroom, you can save a lot of time by purchasing the bundle below.
Good luck to you as you start your new year. You can do it!
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