Design A Classroom: Elementary School-Grade 2 Morgan

Rodgers
3. Think about the aesthetics of your classroom. Is it a culturally responsive classroom?
 Is it a reflection of your personal worldview or of the diverse students in your
classroom?
- The reflection of my classroom is based off both my personal world view and the
diverse students in my classroom. All placement is my personal perspective of
what would work best for me as a teacher and the students. I needed to provide
enough room in the classroom for accessibility to everything and every child.
Strategic placement of desks can affect the learning process. Some desks were
placed together, and others by themselves. Each child is seated in a specific area
that would best benefit their education.
 What values do you want to communicate through your environment/bulletin boards,
decorations?
- Hard work, respect, and kindness are just a few values I would emphasize in the
classroom with visuals. Images or quotes from leaders or cultures can help
motivate students, especially if their interests or backgrounds are represented.
Respect of other cultures and kindness can present a positive environment and
encourage children to be respectful and considerate of others.
 What do the artifacts on the walls communicate to students, parents, or me about what
is important?
- Artifacts such as showcasing student’s work would communicate the
responsibility for their learning and display diversity in the classroom. Learning
aids such as maps or diagrams would communicate what students are learning in
class.
 What do you want the environment to “teach” those who are in it?
- The ideal classroom would reflect a positive, safe environment where all children
are valued.
 What types of books will be included in your classroom library?
- I would include a variety of genres into my classroom library (e.g., fiction,
nonfiction, fantasy, science, biography, culture, etc.). Students should be exposed
to all types of books to support their interests. Students would then be able to
choose from many different options to find out what they are really interested in.
Include 3 ways your classroom is culturally responsive.
1. Establish an “artwork on loan” program where parents “loan” the classroom
their artwork for a period of time.
2. Presenting photos of different cultures and asking students to bring in family
pictures or drawings.
3. Display short sentences of what the student’s families mean to them.
4. Include two accessible learning materials. Identify the students who are using them and
why (e.g., specific computer program for ____ student, adaptive equipment/materials).
1. Visual aids, for example flashcards, are great teaching tools used for the entire
classroom but can especially be beneficial to ADHD and learning disability
students. It can be helpful for ADHD students who may have a difficult time
 organizing their work and thoughts. Learning disability students could use
flashcards to help them better understand the information.
2. Computer Software Apps, for example I-Ready, can be used for English Learners.
I-Ready provide instructions in the student’s foreign language to then help them
with grammar and other elements of the English language.

5. Write a one to two-page summary of why you designed your classroom the way you did.
See criteria below for specific information that must be included. You do not need to address
placement of the stationary items such as windows, whiteboard, door, class library, etc. As a
teacher, you will have no control of those locations.

I began my classroom by first laying out the teacher desk and the kidney table. I included

two teacher desks, one in the front and back. I wanted the teachers desk separated and farther

apart for the teachers to cover more area of the classroom. There are “eyes” in the front and the

back of the room. I then observed the diversity of students in my class to decide where each

student should be seated. I strategically placed the 3ADHD students near a teacher’s desk so the

teachers can keep a continued focus of subjects pertaining in class and minimize distraction. The

3 English Learners were placed at a table with different learners so that they can provide

additional help. The different learning children sitting with the English learners can also learn

diversity of thought and cultural backgrounds. As for the 4 learning disability students, I paired

them with gifted learners. Through my experience as a student with dyslexia, I placed elementary

through middle school students with a gifted learner. The gifted student I was seated with was

very helpful to me. Gifted learners can help students with learning disabilities. I placed visual

impairment students in the front of the classroom to ensure they have a better view of what is

being taught. The wheelchair student is placed near the door, so it is more accessible, and they

have more room to line up or needing to exit. The typical development students I placed last and

made sure to place them with at least one other different learner to provide inclusion and

diversity.
 I have included three ways my classroom is culturally responsive. Establishing an

“artwork on loan” program where parents “loan” the classroom their artwork for a period of time

helps to facilitate learning by viewing the world from different perspectives and ideas. Presenting

photos of different cultures and asking students to bring in family pictures and displaying short

sentences of what the student’s families mean to them encourages cross-cultural dialogue.

Including these three into my classroom will showcase their diverse backgrounds, values and

beliefs. It also gives not only the students but their families a chance to be involved with their

children in school. Studies show that students are more productive when in a diverse classroom,

as they push themselves harder when they are surrounded by people from different backgrounds.

There are two accessible learning materials I plan to use in my classroom is a visual aid

(flashcards) and computer software app (I-Ready). Visual aids for example flashcards, are a great

teaching tools used for the entire classroom but can especially be beneficial to ADHD and

learning disability students. It can be helpful for ADHD students who may have a difficult time

organizing their work and thoughts. Learning disability students could use flashcards to help

them better understand the task. Computer software app for example I-Ready, can be used for

English Learners. I-Ready provides instruction in the student’s foreign language to then help

them study grammar and other elements of the English language.

By incorporating the three different culturally responsive ways into the classroom and

placing each individual learner in a specific space, I hope to see a progression throughout the

year of student academic growth.