Preparation and Materials
General classroom furniture and supplies:
- Student’s seating: Pods or tables in table groups. Groups of 4-5.
- Learning Centers/Stations: I will have at least two half circle tables for centers. I will have bins for the manipulatives, numbered cards, cubes… etc.
- Teacher’s desk location: In the back of the classroom (open format- not closed off to my students).
- Supply areas: There will be a supply area at the front of the room. As well as, I will keep additional supplies in the cabinets, at the back of the room and if I have a separate sensory room.
- Special activity: Reading carpet at the front of the room.
- Bulletin Boards: Largely blank to start the year. As students' progress with learning the teacher will create bulletin boards and posters of work done by students or concepts learned. At the start of the year, I would probably have rules, procedures, and quotes that will help mold our classroom into a community that works together to enhance our education. Other wall information: I will have the alphabet on the wall for a word wall. In addition, I will have a birthday poster for my students in my classroom. I will also have posters that show information about the emergency routes to take on a ring on a hook by the exit.
- Pencil sharpener: Near the front of the room or near the sink area. I only want an electric sharpener (no wall mounts). Students may not use the sharpener during the day. If they ever break a pencil they may put the broken pencil in the ‘broken pencil’ basket and take one from the sharpened pencil basket. These baskets will be placed next to the pencil sharpener. I will either sharpen pencils or eventually create a job for a student to do at a non-distracting time (either at the beginning or the end of the day).
- Trash can locations: Near my desk, the front of the room, and back of the room.
- Overhead projector stored? Hopefully connected to the ceiling. Otherwise below the computer or onto a cart.
- VCR/DVD-TV location: Hopefully mounted onto the wall. If not, I will ask a custodian if I am able to mount it to the wall or am I able to put it on a cart of some sort. Also, I will ask if I can put the TV cart in another room (either the staff lounge or keep it in the media center storage closet of some sort).
- Tape recorder: In the middle of my desk.
- How will they be stored- No backpacks in the room. The students will keep their backpacks and coats in their lockers.
- Desks- They may have a pencil box on their desk. In the pencil box, they will each have three pencils, two erasers, one highlighter, one sticky note pad, one sharpie and a small box of crayons. Depending on how much funding I get, I will either provide the notebooks/folders that they students will need. Or I will send a list home to their parents/guardians telling them a detailed list of the materials that they will need.
- Where will they be stored: Next to table pods. And extra supplies in the back of the room.
- What materials will they keep and what will be in supply area: They will keep a pencil box with a pencil, highlighter, and eraser. Everything else will be in drawers or locker.
- How and where will students keep other belongings brought to school? In their locker. They do not need supplies other than the ones I have provided. Unless they have writing utensils in their pencil box.