My classroom If you were to walk into my classroom in the fall and then again a day/week/month/semester later, it would not be the same. Many things change in my room throughout the year. Throughout the different levels and different districts there is one thing that I have kept the same: change.
My classroom is really just a tool I have to reach my students. There have been years where my room has rows and columns (not just because the health department told us we had to like this past year), groups, perimeter, large carpet meeting areas, individual carpet squares, and so much more. I use my room to fit each unique group of students. If you have ever taught, you can probably relate to the fact that no two groups are the same, and I believe that even the group you are with changes throughout the year.
One of the reasons I am constantly changing my room is to do what is best for my students, I have had years where I rearranged book cases to create walls to give students isolation from the class so they felt more secure and less distracted. Another time I made a giant circle and we all faced each other so we could do lots of community and character building. I have used groups a lot in my teaching and in various ways and forms. Sometimes, I need to use groups to build community and understanding, and other times to have academic supports. Group projects, and maximizing space are also common reasons for needing different types of grouping.
Though the layout of the room never seems to be the same, there are some norms that I incorporate consistently, like choices. In order to encourage students to work on self realization and identifying their emotions, frustrations, strengths, and weaknesses, I always provide multiple seat choices. This includes wiggle seats, desks with bouncy cords, tables to stand at, places on the floor to work, and desks that are open (meaning no assigned student sits there) for students to move to. My reasoning for this is that students, like adults, have people that annoy them, and distract them, and sometimes they just need some space. I create these spaces to ensure they feel comfortable and are able to make good choices that will benefit them.
A recent tool I use in my classroom is colored lights. On my walls I have areas that are specific to each subject I teach (this changes each year, sometimes all subjects, other times less). In these areas I post important takeaways, questions, wonderings, results, and current events. This was not really new but I had noticed that some students still would not utilize these areas as a resources to assist them. SO, what I do now is string colored lights as a border to these different areas. They are then hooked up to a remote that I use to turn on and off when I teach that subject or make reference to that subject. I have found that this helps students focus their attention better and is a great way to help them refocus their efforts. It is also a simple and easy way to assist in the transitions throughout the day.
My library and resources available to the students are arranged in a multitude of ways. This is a lot more work but it is done for a very intentional purpose...my students. I have things arranged by interest, topic, subject, author, purpose, level, chance, competitions, semester, series and more. This is all done to try and reach my students that are all motivated in different ways. I use catchy titles like, "Don't Let Your Parents Know You Read This," or "Future Scientist," also, "Strong Female Role," "Mr. Weaver's Favorites," "Classics," etc. Since we all have different ways we think I constantly try to find fun ways to have students search for materials. I have to teach this process to the group every year but what I find is that my students find new ways to search or think. By having them see new process I have found that they can problem solve or think critically better as well as identify or empathize with other students better. This has lead to great social growth with my classes as well and solving social conflicts in my classroom.
I have found that these strategies have helped me to reach my students, manage classroom expectations/rules/procedures, and build great sense of community with my students.
Below are my photos from my various classrooms and some of the trips we have done together. At each place that I have had the privilege to work at I have tried to instill a love of learning through fun and interaction with each other.