Importance of Classroom Arrangement 

 

     The set up of a classroom is very important to how a classroom is being managed. The teacher needs to make sure his/her classroom is arranged for the students to be productive. The teacher also needs to make sure their classroom has a positive environment for the students as they enter the classroom. Another key fact a teacher needs to consider is that their classroom needs to be ready for learning everyday. This is because in order to manage a classroom with proper discipline, a product and active classroom set-up is important. The students need to be placed in an arrangement that will keep them focused on the lesson and not deter them from learning.

     I have personally found out this year how important it is to have a classroom set up in just the right way in order for students to learn. I do not know how many different times I have moved my room around already and the first day of school hasn't even come yet! I want to make sure that my desks are in the just right spot so that all of my students can see no matter where they are or where I am. 

 

Instructional Arrangements 

 

• Large-Group Instruction

  • Where a large group of students are in a group during the instruction. The students collaborate within the group. It is usually done before small group instruction where the main material is gone over. 

• ​Small-Group Instruction

  • Small group instruction typically refers to a teacher working with a small group of students on a specific learning objective. These groups consists of 2-4 students and provide these students with a reduced student-teacher ratio.

• One Student with Teacher

  • ​One-on-one instruction with a student. The student has the teacher's full attention. 

• Adult Helpers with Students

  • ​Adult people who come in to help with the students and the classroom. They are just like another teacher in the classroom who is able to help the students. 

• Students Teaching Students:  Peer Tutoring

  • ​I always think that students can be the best teachers out there! I think it is important for students to be arranged so that they can help each other with questions. Peer tutoring specifically is one student to one student helping each other. 

• Students Teaching Students:  Classwide Peer Tutoring

  • ​Classwide peer tutoring is where any student can help among the classroom not just one specific classmate. 

• Students Teaching Students:  Cooperative Learning

  • ​Cooperative learning is an educational approach which aims to organize classroom activities into academic and social learning experiences.

• Material with Student:  Seatwork Activities

  • ​Seatwork activities are specific activities that students can do in their seats without having to get up and move around. This is helpful when you don't want students disturbing each other.

• Material with Student:  Self-Correcting Material

  • ​Self-correcting materials are materials where the student knows the answer immediately. Some examples would be flashcards, answer keys, or computer games. 

• Material with Student:  Instructional Games

  • ​Instructional games are games that can be used in order to reteach or enhance a lesson. Some students need the game aspect of the lesson in order to fully understand the material. 

• Material with Student:  Technological Tools

  • ​Technology is a big part of many students' lives so anytime technology can be used in a lesson it should be used! Anything from a SmartBoard to a calculator can be used to interest a student! 

• Material with Student:  Homework

  • ​Homework should be used and looked at in a way that it is extra practice in order for students to better learn the material. 

Scheduling

     Scheduling is very important in a classroom as far as when to do certain subjects. Scheduling can also be very complicated when trying to plan around specials such as Music, P.E., and Art.When making my classroom schedule this year I ahd to collaborate with the 5th grade teacher because we could not have Math or Reading at the same time due to a paraprofessional pulling some of our kids out for extra help. 

     Scheduling also has an effect on when the subjects take place. Especially Reading and Math. It is has my goal to have Reading and Math right away in the morning, but with my speials it was not possible this year. My para has noticed that when she pulls one of my students out to go to the resource room, she does a lot better in the morning with Reading and Math in the afternoon. We decided with the Math in the afternoon because Math is easier for her than Reading.  

 

Classroom Equipment and Uses

Recording:

     Recording is very useful in the classrom because if a student is absent then you as a teacher can record the lesson and send it to them by email so they don't miss out on the instruction. Students are also used to watching everything online or through a technical device so recording gives them the option to do that. If students ever have to refer back to a lesson, then they can do so by looking at the recording.

Projector:

     Projectors are not a very common thing anymore where I work at. Some of the high school classrooms have them, but in the elementary wing we all have SmartBoards which serve as a projector. Our curriculums are aonline and each lesson has projectables so we can show them to the students using our SmartBoard. 

Computer:

     I do not know what teachers and students would do without computers in today's society. All of my Math and Reading curriculum is done online now wiht my students. My students complete their math assignments online as well as read their stories online. I think that computers are a necessity in today's education. 

Miscellaneous:

     There are many types of technology that can be used in classrooms to better a child's learning. Some little device that I will be using in my classroom are Kindles because of my student with dyslexia. If the story is being read to him he can follow along very easily, but in order for him to read, it is very hard. The student doesn't like to be singlged out so I am allowing all students to read their books on a Kindle, but the only difference is one will listen to it. 

Learning Management System:

     A learning management system (LMS) is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of electronic educational technology (also called e-learning) education courses or training programs. A learning management system may also provide students with the ability to use interactive features such as threaded discussions, video conferencing, and discussion forums.