Samantha+Selimo

My Classroom Floor Plan · I would like my classroom to be set up as openly as possible. I think the best way I have found middle school students to learn when it is teacher based instruction time is in individual desks; therefore, the center of my classroom fits a rug, white board (smart), and 20 student desks. (Atwell) · I have the desks placed facing one another… there are 10 desks turned towards the other 10 desks. This is so students are all equal and it creates a debate like environment. I want my students to present their own opinions in class, but I want others to do the same and almost play “devils advocate.” My 8th grade SS teacher had our desks set up this way and it made the room more open and felt more student-based rather than sitting and starring at a white board and teacher. · I do not think teachers should use or should want to use their desks very often, so I have placed my desk off to the side of the classroom with a “teacher-only” shelf behind it. I have added 2 chairs in front of my desk so this area can be used for conferences more so than anything else. · There are 2 student tables placed on either side of the desks for group work, projects, etc. · The kidney table can also be used for group work, but its main focus is to serve as the publishing center for paper. I have put 4 chairs around it. My plan is that one student will sit behind the table while 3 others sit in front. The 3 sitting in front will be discussing the other person’s project to help them publish it. They will take turns doing this (Rief) · I have a more closed off section on the opposite side of the classroom with a round table. This area has 2 book shelves with paper, project materials, and some research based books on it. This area will be the writing draft center. It is more secretive, because at this point students might not want many people to see their work and they need no distractions in order to complete it. I have added an easel back there so they can also do group work, practice project presentations, or when I need to do small group talks or mini lessons this area can be used. This area is also great for lit circles. · The back center of the room is my “cozy” library. We have a big circle rug with some pillows and bean bag chairs around it. There is a wall of shelves including YAL. I agree with Hicks and Rief that it is nice for students to have comfortable settings to read in. · In the top left corner we have some computers. This will be the technology center. The storage unit is near this center to hold computer programs, ESL programs, grammar programs etc. · Behind both the student table and the kidney table there is another shelf which will hold publication materials. Fun things like stickers, markers, posters, colored paper, glitter, etc. (Rief) · In the front of the classroom near the teacher desk I will have a big bulletin to have students work posted (Atwell).