Design a Classroom

I designed my classroom with the idea of function to form. This classroom is designed to

work with grade school level student’s 2nd – 5th. The room is divided up to allow multiple

activities to take place at one time if needed. When entering the room, double stacked cubicles

are to your right. There is enough space for 30 personal cubes so each student can have their

personal space to keep their items such as jackets, backpacks, lunch/snacks, and other school

materials. Beside the cubies is a counter and sink. A great space to be able to clean up craft

projects, wash hands, and have space to leave art or craft projects to dry or set. Next to the

counter and sink is a walk-in storage closet area to keep all instructional and classroom materials

organized as well as a space for teachers to hang and store their personal items as desired.

This classroom set up allows for traditional instruction style where desks can be placed in

such a way to face the instructor/board/projector, work in pairs or groups of four, or work

individually, based on the need and learning styles of the students. Instructional focus is pulled

away from the door and mostly away from the windows. Bookshelves are used to divide the

classroom. The larger side of the classroom is where all the personal desks are set up along with

the whiteboards, projector, and bulletin board. The other side offers a library nook that can be

used for independent reading, group reading space, or other group floor activities. On the back

side of the storage area by the class library is the computer area where the two computer

workstations are housed. On the opposite side of the classroom library is where the kidney table

is located where instructors can work with individual students or groups. Classroom

demographics likely vary from year to year. This classroom set-up accommodates the variety of

needs each classroom of students may require. Students with ADHD and learning disabilities

who need extra support to stay focused or may work more effectively independently can be
seated at desks closer to the instructor’s desks or separated from pair or grouped seating as

needed. The classroom set up allows for multiple seating options for students in wheelchairs and

any seating arrangement can be easily changed to accommodate a wheelchair. The gifted

students in the classroom could benefit from being placed with groups of varied learning level

students. This allows for peer instruction and scaffolding. The gifted students could also benefit

from being paired or grouped with each other from time to time to enhance their understandings

of standard learning. This classroom set up provides the flexibility to switch things up as needed

with placement of students. English learners can be placed or sit themselves according to their

preferences, though some may choose to sit with each other as it may be helpful for them,

depending on their individual needs. I personally like to give students the option to sit where

they like and then adjust throughout the year as needed to provide the most effective learning

environment for each student. Color, culture, origin, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status

would not have any bearing on where a student would be placed in the classroom.

My class will be a culturally responsive classroom and a classroom that communicates

respect for each other and the world we live in. Recycling stations will be present in the room as

well as information on clean energy and how we can help protect the environment we live in will

be posted. The library in the classroom will offer students with culturally diverse books that

offer students cultural understanding that may be new to them as well as books that they

themselves can relate to. One culturally responsive bulletin board will be “Who I Am/Who We

Are!” project in which each student brings in any item that represents them in some way. The

project board will represent the unity and inclusion of diversity. Another bulletin board will

display new figures every month that highlight various achievements, work, or art from BIPOC

and other minority members of society.