Domain 2: The Classroom Environment

2e: Organizing Physical Space

Example 1: HANDICAP ACCESSIBILI! " I #se $a%les in my classr&&m %eca#se
&' $he c&&(ing an) ea$ing $ha$ $a(es place here* +e ha,e space -here -e
can m&,e chairs &#$ &' $he -ay -hen -e nee) $& s$an) a$ $he $a%les .'&&)s
prepara$i&n/* Beca#se &' $he 0 1&&r &#$le$s $ha$ rise a%&,e $he 1&&r2 -e are
#na%le $& m&,e $a%les ,ery 'ar* his crea$es limi$e) space %e$-een $a%les
-i$h $he larger classes* he $a%les ena%le s$#)en$s in -heelchairs $& si$ a$
$he $a%le -i$h $he &$her s$#)en$s easily* he se-ing machines are (ep$ in
$he cen$er c&#n$ers %#$ are near $he 1&&r2 -hich is n&$ easy '&r a -heelchair
%&#n) s$#)en$ $& ge$ his &-n machine &#$ an) rea)y* N&r is i$ easy $& ge$
ar&#n) $he $a%les $& $he c#p%&ar)s -here $he s$&rage $&$e $rays are (ep$*
+e )& m&,e chairs2 $a%les an) s$#)en$s as nee)e)*
here is &ne (i$chen $ha$ is han)icap"accessi%le* A -heelchair can 3$
a$ $he sin( c&m'&r$a%ly* An a)#l$ pers&n in a -heelchair c&#l) #se $he
%#rners 'airly easily %#$ $he &,en in $he (i$chen is n&$ $ha$ accessi%le*
Al$h&#gh i$ is a -all #ni$2 $he )&&r s-ings )&-n li(e a reg#lar &,en -here i$
sh&#l) s-ing $& $he si)e .pre'era%ly $& $he le'$ in &#r (i$chen/ s& $ha$ $he
pers&n )&es n&$ ha,e $& reach &,er $he )&&r* As i$ is se$ #p $here is a g&&)
chance &' a pers&n %#rning $heir arms ha,ing $& reach #p &,er $he h&$ )&&r*
LEA4NIN5 A4EAS "" a%les are #se) '&r )es(s an) lec$#re area* 6s#ally $he
$a%les are place) separa$ely &,er &ne 1&&r &#$le$* S&me$imes i$ is easier '&r
me $& -&r( -i$h e,ery&ne %y placing $he $a%les in$& &ne rec$angle &r in $-&
l&ng $a%les an) place $he s$#)en$s a$ $he &#$si)e &' $he $a%les* ha$ -ay I
can reach e,ery&ne2 see -ha$ $hey are )&ing an) n&$ ha,e $& -an)er all
&,er $he r&&m*
A$ $imes I -ill #se $he cen$er c&#n$ers as a )em&ns$ra$i&n $a%le s& $ha$
e,ery&ne is ar&#n) me* his has -&r(e) 7#i$e -ell -hen I am )em&ns$ra$ing
a se-ing $echni7#e* I ha,e '&#n) $ha$ I nee) $& place &ne &r $-& $a%les
al&ng -i$h $he cen$er c&#n$er -i$h $he larger 8
$h
gra)e classes -hen $hey are
prac$icing meas#ring ingre)ien$s* I can -a$ch $he s$#)en$s %#$ $hey can
sprea) &#$*
I$ has %een a pleas#re ha,ing c#p%&ar)s '&r e,ery$hing* 9ery li$$le has %een
place) &n $&p &' c#p%&ar)s* +ha$ is ,isi%le &n $&p &' $he c#p%&ar)s $en) $&
%e $he &,ersize) s#pplies &r s#pplies %r&#gh$ in %y s$#)en$s $ha$ are $&&
large '&r $heir %ins* I ha,e %een $rying $& (eep $he r&&m as nea$ as p&ssi%le
s& as $& n&$ )is$rac$ $he s$#)en$s 'r&m learning* he &ne area $ha$ is
2e: Organizing Physical Space, continued
cl#$$ere) is ar&#n) $he $eacher:s )es(* I ha,e %een $rying $& (eep $he )es(
$&p cleare) &n ;ri)ays %#$ $he 3ling has %een )i<c#l$ $& (eep #p -i$h*
Example 2: COOPE4AI9E LEA4NIN5 = +e #s#ally #se c&l&re)2 n#m%ere)
s$ic(s $& )e$ermine small gr&#ps* O$her $imes2 i$ is $he pers&n -i$h a speci3c
'ea$#re .i*e*2 l&nges$ hair2 &l)es$ in age2 3rs$ names alpha%e$ically2 &r a
cer$ain c&l&r &' shir$s>$&ps/ an) $hen c&#n$ &?* Sel)&m )& I le$ $he s$#)en$s
selec$ $he gr&#ps* +e #se gr&#ps $& s#mmarize in'&rma$i&n 'r&m chap$ers2
c&&(ing gr&#ps2 an) s& &n*