The Importance of Classroom Design
Classroom design is very important. The classroom may be the only safe and structured situation in a child's life. Since the classroom is a location where the children spend a majority of their time, it makes sense the room itself is set up to be influential in a students education. I believe an effective classroom setup can influence a child's learning views and habits that can be continued throughout their educational experience. Students need an environment that is organized, engaging, and relaxing in order to learn. This page has pictures of my classroom. The page on classroom environment further details how my classroom is set up and organized to foster student learning and the classroom management page details procedures that are in place to help students learn. I have needed to move classrooms frequently in the last few years. I have taught large rooms with closets, I have taught in small portables, I have taught with state of the art materials and I have taught in rooms with little furniture or supplies. I have posted the different classrooms to show how the same elements are kept even though the space is different.
New Classroom 2015 to Present
I am at the same school, but I have been moved out our the building and into the portable. I still have my reading area, plants, and systems that are in the classroom for student supplies.
New Classroom 2013 & 2014
I am once again at a new school, and this time I have a classroom that is in the building. I still kept a lot of the same elements. This is the first time in my teaching career I actually had a wall I could decorate in the hallway outside my room.
New Classroom in 2012
Here is a slideshow of my classroom in 2012. I had a lot of teachers comment to me "Well if I had a really big classroom, I could also have my room set up like that," when I was in my old classroom. I needed to attend a new school in a different classroom. The classroom is different but I tried to keep a lot of the set up the same. I still have a small group area, math wall, science area etc. I try to have items kept in particular spaces for my students and I like to have items kept "away" so the room doesn't look cluttered.
Classroom Prior to 2012
Here is the structure of my classroom in 2011.