Maria Colin

Professor Anthony

SED 464

October 11, 2020

Classroom Layout

It is important for students to feel safe and comfortable in a classroom. Therefore, I have

organized my room in a way that will feel welcoming for them, but also provides an environment

that will enhance their learning experience. As Karen Bosch (2006) writes, a classroom should

be “organized to support teacher instruction and student learning” (pg. 9). Below you can find

how I will organize my classroom to guarantee a positive environment for both my students and

myself.

Desk Arrangement

This is a 7th grade English Language Arts classroom. The first thing one will notice when

walking into my class is that the desks are arranged in a U-shape. It is important to me that

students have not only a good view of the board but that they are also able to see each other

easily for our in-class discussions. It is important that there is an open concept in my classroom

as I believe that will allow for better communication among my students. There will be two

students per table and I will assign the seating chart. This will allow me to keep a better track of

each student and help with taking attendance as they sit down in the beginning of class. 

The U shape helps students have a good view of the board and of each other, but it also

gives me space to walk around the desks and have better contact with the students. I want to be

able to easily walk around the classroom to reach the students if they have questions about
specific assignments and also to keep that proximity when a student is misbehaving or getting

distracted.

Teacher’s desk/computer

I chose to have my desk in the left hand corner at the front of the classroom. This allows

me to have a full view of the classroom once students are in their place while also being able to

see the door. Having a glimpse of what is going outside is also important, as it helps me protect

my students if anything happens outside; it gives me a better chance of avoiding being caught off

guard. 

My desk will be U-shaped because it gives me more room to have a desktop computer on

one end, space in the middle for my grading or other desk materials, and I am planning to save

the other end of the U to have individual students come work with me if needed; if there is a

lesson they constantly have trouble with or need special instruction. Having a spot for a student

by my desk will also be used as a disciplinary measure, if a student keeps getting distracted, for

example, they will have to sit by me while they are doing their work.

I placed the pencil sharpener and note paper next to my desk because that proximity to

me gives students less leeway to get distracted or just go up there to waste time. Behind my desk

there will be additional storage and countertop space. This is where I can place my personal

belongings among other classroom material that must be kept away from the students. 

Instructional technology

The only desktop computer in the classroom will be on my desk. That will be my tool for

grading, taking assistance, communicating with parents and other teachers, and for anything that

I must display on the board. The students will have their own laptops, and there will be a special

cabinet for them to store them and charge them at the end of the day.
 There will be a pull-down projector screen on top of the white boards and an overhead

projector for any lesson that requires a presentation. In the countertop behind my desk there will

be a small printer for emergencies or small projects.

Remaining room items

 Windows: I want to display student’s work on the windows. I plan to integrate artistic

work into our readings, and I think having it displayed on the windows is good

motivation for them. It also lets them know that their work is appreciated.

*If I work in a school where classrooms don’t have windows, I will display

students’ work on the bulletin boards or on a designated wall spot.

 Bulletin Boards: there will be two big bulletin boards at the end of the classroom. 

o BB 1: This section will contain information meant to help students succeed in my

class. Students will be able to find general formats for all the main assignments,

resources, and contact information. The list of our classroom rules will also be

posted in this section. 

Another important segment of this board is the Work Covered section. At the end

of each day I will write what pages in our textbook were covered and any

assignments completed that day. It will be the student’s responsibility to check

this calendar if they were absent the day before so they can make up the work.

o BB 2: the second bulletin board displays our “Must Read” section. This section

contains a list of recommended books by students in the class (pre-approved by

me), encouraging/educational quotes, and possibly book-related student artwork. 

 Walls
 o Signs relating to my class will be displayed along the walls. Cool facts, book

posters, signs about grammar rules (for example: their, there, they’re), among

other things.

o There will be a sign that states some sentences that lead to respectful discussions,

such as:

 I respectfully agree/disagree with you ___ because ___.

 I was thinking about what ___ said and I am wondering ___.

 What do you think?

o On the wall next to the door there will be a poster of an acrostic that spells the

word WELCOME. 

o The Golden Rule will be displayed on one wall. 

 Book shelves

o I want a lot of books available to my students. They can check them out whenever

they complete assignments and sit in one of the reading corners. There will be a

donation dropbox in case students have any books they would like to donate.

Books will not leave the classroom.

 Reading corner/Work area: 

o Reading corner: once students are finished with their work, they will be allowed

to check out a book from my “library” and read quietly in one of the reading

areas. Students can also “purchase” 10 minutes of reading with the right amount

of MissCo Tickets. *See Positive Consequences section for more information on

MissCo Tickets.
o Work Areas: reading corners will double as work areas for students. I can pull

small groups of students to the side if they are having trouble with specific

assignments or parts of a lesson. Students can also choose to work in groups in

these work areas. 

On special occasions, a student may “purchase” a seat in a work area for one class

period. 

Classroom Layout: Table 1