Choice Lit Topic: Classroom Design
There’s been a remarkable amount of brain research demonstrating how crucial environments are for learning. Cozy, well-lit and well-organized spaces are essential for literacy learners of any age. The constraints teachers face in designing and organizing their classrooms are enormous — from irritated fire marshals to fear of lice infestations, with limited budgets always at the forefront. You’ll be inspired by these beautiful classrooms, created by teachers who manage to design spaces any reader or writer would love.
Results
Classroom Tour: Portable Tools for Regulating Emotions
Mandy Robek shares a collection of portable and personalized tools to help students regulate their emotions.
Classroom Tour: Whole-Class Meeting Space
Mandy Robek shares the purpose and design of her whole-class meeting space.
Classroom Tour: Creating and Living a Classroom Charter
Mandy Robek offers a wise approach to developing a classroom vision with her students. They begin by discussing the way they would like to feel in the classroom. Then they...
Classroom Tour: Classroom Supplies
Mandy Robek offers a unique and powerful approach to community supplies in her classroom.
Classroom Tour: Flexible Seating
Mandy Robek shares a variety of seating choices students have in her classroom. She explains the reason for her choices and how she manages a classroom where no one has...
I Am a Listener Who…
Behind the small-group table, he sat on the floor with his legs outstretched. His head rested on the cabinet while tears streamed down his cheeks. Although I had seen him...
Building Trust in Our Classrooms
The beginning of the school year brings many demands: reading and writing assessments, seating charts, and binder setup, to name a few. It can be easy to hit the ground...
Classroom Tour: Manipulatives and Books
Mandy Robek shares the thoughtful ways she pairs math manipulatives and books while providing easy access to the tools for students. She also promotes engineering and design with access to...
Classroom Tour: Kinds of Spaces to Help Learning Blossom
Mandy Robek takes time to consider different places students will use in the classroom. She considers books, portable learning spaces, and the way learning will blossom over time in her...
Creating a Space
I pulled open one of the heavy double doors and stepped into the library. I marveled that when we returned after the summer break, this would be the place I...
Reclaiming Space: Weeding to Grow a Healthy Library
It’s a slow summer morning. I just finished a short walk, and now I am working in my backyard on the vegetable garden and flowerpots on the deck. I pull...
Morning Hike
On a recent writing retreat, several of us woke hours before breakfast and decided to hike one of the many trails surrounding the property. We located a simple map at...
Putting Together the Pieces of a Classroom (Classroom Organization)
My dad helped me move classrooms on a hot July day. A veteran class mover, he made me clean out my desk and declutter instead of rolling it as-is down...
From a Blank Canvas to a Community Space
For my first teaching job, I was hired three days before the beginning of school. With boundless enthusiasm, I eagerly purchased decorations at the local teacher store and spent the...
Building a Classroom Library with Students (and Navigating the Tricky Parts)
I intentionally started the school year with hundreds of books scattered on a few shelves because I wanted the children to construct the library. And yes, after 10 days in...
QuickTake: Leave Space for Personalization
Melissa Quimby advises leaving space for students to personalize the classroom when they arrive to start the new school year.
Setting Up the Intervention Room
It was the end of the school year, and we had just received an email from our principal containing next year’s school map. Changes in teaching positions and class sizes...
Quick Take: Using Mailboxes for Private Feedback
Christy Rush-Levine shares her system for streamlining passing papers and offering a place for private feedback.
Quick Take: Simple Classroom Library Organization
Christy Rush-Levine shares her simple system for organizing her massive classroom library.
A Minimalist Classroom
I walked in and got teary eyed. My classroom didn’t look right and it didn’t feel right. My classroom felt awkward, and I didn’t know where to start. I had...
When a Library Whispers
During the day, my classroom is active and lively with lots of reading and writing and sharing and learning. When the students go home and I am by myself, the...
