Re-Imagined Classroom

http://teacherpop.org/2015/05/how-to-efficiently-pack-up-your-classroom/

I want my classroom to be colorful and interactive.  I knew in my mind what I wanted my future class to look like and then when I saw this image, it was exactly what I was thinking. Different cultures are represented through the ceiling art, and tables split into small groups will help the children to interact with one another. 

http://ckite.blogspot.com/p/art-centers-in-classroom.html

This art shelf is great.  I want to make sure that the children I teach have the opportunity to draw and create.  Some of my favorite memories from elementary school came from art.  It's an easy way to express yourself, no matter your skill level.

http://booksforthebarrios.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/12-Polo-South-library-reading-section1.jpg

While the set up of this picture is interesting, mostly I love the book shelves.  Having options different books to read in the classroom is important to me.  Having basically grown up in a library, I know how much knowledge can be gained simply by instilling the desire to read in the hearts of children.  I want to make sure I have books of different levels and in different languages.  I’ll avoid books with strong themes that might cause conflict in the classroom.

https://wilnjen.wordpress.com/classroom-rules/

I've always liked the idea of having simple class rules posted in the class room. That way the kids can have a simple reminder about what we do and don't do in the classroom.  I want the kids to come up with the rules themselves at the beginning of the school year, that way they feel more accountable to follow the rules.

http://lambandblonde.blogspot.com/2012/11/room-love-blackboard-walls.html

I've always thought it would be really cool to have a chalkboard wall in a classroom.  If it couldn't be a whole wall, at least a really giant chalkboard that isn't the same as the one I use to teach on.  I loved being able to write on the chalkboard when I was growing up, and that way the kids could write or draw on it whenever they wanted.  This would also be a good way to get the kid’s personal artwork into the classroom.

My classroom will be light and happy.  Studies show that increased light improves moods and productivity.  I want to have bright colors that emphasize the light and mood of the classroom.

We will have a word wall with vocabulary words we are learning each month.  I want to have these words listed not only in English, but in common languages like French, Spanish, German, and any other languages that students in my class may speak. 

 I love having lots of colors and activities.  I like the idea of having a big mat on the floor that kids can sit on instead of being at their desks for some of the lessons.  I want to do the reading type activities on the mat.  I remember in kindergarten we would sit on the mat and our teacher would write words up on the whiteboard and we would practice saying them.  We would also be able to sit and listen as the teacher read to us.  It was fun to know that every day for our reading lessons we would be able to leave our desks.  Desks are great for doing individual work, but I feel like especially when working with younger kids, it's important to be able to move around.  The desks will be better for projects and written assignments.  I want to have different shelves that the students can always access that hold different resources like blocks, paper, books, etc.  During the lessons, I want to have visuals and hopefully incorporate the different resources into what I'm teaching.

For writing and math lessons, I hope to be able to start with the class listening to me and then be able to break apart and work in small groups.  Within their groups, I want to frequently mix up who they’re working with.  Sometimes I want those who understand the concept to teach it to those who aren’t understanding until they’re all on the same page.  Other times, I think it would be beneficial to put the kids who are ahead together and those who are struggling at a different table.  That way I can spend extra time with those who are struggling. 

I want to teach younger elementary children, and at this point in their lives, they are open to learning and those who have difficulties in their lives might be more open to talking to me about it.  Because of this, I feel that the way I interact with them can have a huge influence on their future.

In my class, we don't speak bad about one another.  That is one of the more important rules.  We also don't cheat or take things that don't belong to us.  Instead of punishment, I like the idea of just not rewarding kids who misbehave.  Like if everyone got extra time outside, if kids were misbehaving, they wouldn't get to go out and instead would stay inside to keep working (this as an example, I'm not sure how it would work exactly).  Each week I want to assign homework, but give them the entire week to finish it.  I realize this means that most of the kids will finish it on Thursday night, but as elementary kids, I want them to spend more time outside exploring then doing homework.  This way they do have a homework packet to finish but it won't take all their time.

A typical lesson in my classes will have instruction, then some type of activity to help us learn the topic, then applying it on their own with individual help available to those who need it. I feel that the topics will mostly come from required things that the state education department requires, but the speed and amount of focus placed on each item will be determined by what the kids need help with at the time.  For example if the kids in my class are struggling with subtraction, I won't worry about moving forward until the majority have it down.  The specifics of how I will teach it are unknown to me for the time being, seeing as I haven't studied that yet, but I will teach with love and patience.  During the lessons, I want the kids to know that the subject is important, but not as important as knowing that I'm there to help them if they need it.

During the lesson, I'll start by having the students line up by some topic (birthday, height, number of siblings, etc) and number them off to get them into random groups.  In a simple geometry lesson, I would start by giving each table a huge pile of geometry pattern blocks and ask them to cover the whole table without any gaps.  All the tables would end up with different patterns, so then we could walk around and see the differences between our patterns and those of others.  After that, each table could talk about which shapes fit together nicely and which ones don’t.  Then we could come back together as a group and talk about angles and hopefully through our discussions, they can discover why some angles fit together and others don’t.

Hopefully my students are actively engaged in the lesson.  I picture some paying close attention, some squirming in their seats, because that's what elementary kids do, and probably a few not paying attention at all.  If I can pick out who struggles to pay attention in the beginning, then hopefully when I give them individual assignments later, I can go check on those students and make sure they understand and give them one on one attention.

I love pretests and post-tests.  That way I can see clearly how much the students have learned.  If I test them at the beginning and end of units, I'll be able to see how much they know before and then focus my teaching to the things that they don't understand.  Then if I give them a similar post-test, I'll be able to see how far they've come.