Creating Classroom Climate
Some of the many factors that go into creating a classroom environment are the tangible aspects of the classroom. Below is a diagram of the type of physical classroom that I envision being conducive to learning, and following that is an explanation of the different components of the physical classroom.
The floor plan was created using http://classroom.4teachers.org/.
Each element included in the classroom diagram has a purpose, listed below:
- The student desks are in groups of four. Although I would not set the classroom up this way on the first day of school, I envision this being practical throughout most of the school year. With desks in groups, the students would be able to work together easier without having to shuffle the furniture around. Grouped desks also allows for friendships to take place between the students at a table group. Students often feel bonded to those they sit with, which creates an atmosphere in which no one is left out, since everyone has a table group that they belong to.
- Student chairs are set up to make it easy for each student to see the front of the classroom (with the white board).
- The kidney table at the back of the room allows a teacher to work with a small group of students at a desk. This table is ideal for working in centers or for working with students that need either extra reinforcements or extra challenges in a particular subject area.
- The plain rug allows for a comfortable story time or devotion time to occur. There are shelves nearby with lots of books to choose from, but limited distractions as the teacher would sit in the corner, and the students would face the teacher. The students wouldn't be able to see the rest of the classroom this way, which would help them focus on the story.
- The rug with the bean bag chairs and sofa allows students to relax and enjoy their private reading time. There is enough space for one table group or center to use that rug at a time.
- The teacher desks are facing the classroom in opposite directions. Even when at the desk, a teacher can still keep an eye on the classroom easily.
- The storage unit allows teachers to keep materials in a separate place that students cannot access, while the shelves along the classroom wall allow for space the students can use to turn in assignments, store textbooks, and keep materials like scissors, glue, and markers.
Even more important than the physical classroom arrangement is the intangible classroom climate that the teacher will create for the students. Read about the intangible classroom climate in the sub-tab labeled "Nurtured Heart Approach."