I’ve also shared across the ages from preschool to high school. I completely agree with 1. We won't send you spam. My sister and I worked on my classroom a few days ago, and I will be revealing it next week! I would too if I did not use my day book religiously. Assign an unforgettable math project. Don’t get too excited this is taken before school actually started and before three million things get handed to me daily. Some parts are the same, some I have really changed. These are the adjoined chair and desk, and they are so cumbersome! 11. I teach middle school history and English in Southern California, and this is my home away from home. Classroom setup for a multicategorical special education classroom should be well-planned ahead of time. I'm grateful for any kind of practical help/advice I can get at this point. Help students stay organized by keeping an up to date table of contents for each subject you teach. U-shaped: arrange desks in a large u-shape, leaving one space open on each side to make moving around the room easier. has evolved. 2. Setting up a classroom is a daunting challenge - make the most of it with these suggestionsToo much stuff, too many students, not enough space - the challenges of setting up a classroom are many. Please try again. I have six 50-minute classes plus a planning period. I don’t remember how in the world I fit everything 5 needed for multiple subjects in one room! ters inclusion. I finally figured out that it was because of the overhead lights. Once you start spending a lot of time in it, you begin to see what does and does not work for you and your students. I created a word wall specifically for students to refer to all year long. Now, my room is not totally complete. You can see this word wall by clicking {. I am going to bring those social media platforms to my classroom. The TpT Blog I love word splashes. Every 6th grader is wondering what they’d do with a million dollars, so let them try it out with The Million Dollar Project. 8. This one is a bit more complex and I realize it’s a touchy issue for many. Here’s the fun part! 4. As soon as I figure it out though, I will be blogging about it on my blog, so be sure to check in with me regularly! It's fun being invited in to see how other classrooms are set up. My students will be coming to me with all the needed school supplies (pencils, pens, highlighters, markers, scissors, glue, etc.). 6 TIPS FOR CLASSROOM … Oh, and keep in mind how you might rearrange if you are going to do any class transformations! We also need to think about keeping each child’s materials separate from others. I’m going to try my best! It is important that your room has enough space to accommodate middle school students. I will be using an interactive notebook this year. This will be another interactive display my students will be responsible for updating. The original pics are at the bottom of the post because I wanted to offer as much inspiration as I could as you head back!). I have no idea how to set up a middle school classroom but you blog helped me. This post originally appeared on the blog Elementary Chalkboard. It won’t need much room, but I do want a space where students can easily switch out events that happened in history, and I hope they find really obscure or interesting, little known facts! I went straight away to Target and bought lamps and patio lights. Clutter can also be very distracting in a classroom setting. If classroom management is top of mind for you as we begin another school year, you’re not alone. See this blog post: https://www.2peasandadog.com/2013/03/bump-it-up-boards.html. Middle school students work best when presented with clear rules and expectations. Website + Branding Design by Christi Fultz. Students then use sticky notes to write a word or two that indicates how they feel or what types of actions take place in that section of the classroom. I need a place to neatly keep missing assignments so students can get it on their own without asking me. Table groups encourage … Just remember to not stress to much about your classroom set up and organization and just try to have as much fun as possible! Since I am teaching social studies, I know my students will be working on a lot of projects. But any content area can use ‘making’ as a primary teaching and learning strategy, and to do so, you’ll need to create the spaces for that to happen. Not only do these tables not migrate, I have way more space than if I had 30+ desks. Maker Spaces. After 11 years in my old classroom, my administration decided to redo the large computer lab next to me & transform it into a second art room for our school. A few clever storage tricks can make classroom supplies easy to access and less of a mess. “No more extra Gym or Art” said no kid ever! I wanted enough so that I could not have my overhead lights on at all. (I did change my room up after I wrote the original blog post, so some of the newer pics may look a little different. 1. Not only do ideas hit me out of nowhere, but I also want students to feel like it’s THEIR room, too. It does make it look a little blah at the beginning of the year, but by the 3rd month (if not sooner), it becomes more colorful with the help of my students! I will do this through INB and projects. Nothing is more frustrating than decorating most of my room, and then realizing that all I wanted to include won’t be possible because I have run out of space. Setting Up Our Homeschool Classroom. Make sure to leave space for your math word wall. The best way to build vocabulary is by keeping a word wall in front of the classroom, and as the students progress throughout the … Welcome to my classroom! I am going to color code each region’s splash because color can help some students with remembering word associations. When I taught ELA, I had a Greek and Latin roots/affixes word wall. All assessments, rubrics and success criteria go home to be signed and then returned to each student’s assessment folder. Also all students could use a bump it up board to revise their work. Thank you! So many educators in our WeAreTeachers community tell us they struggle with classroom management and are looking for support. Anytime I had to be out, the sub would have the overhead lights on, and when I returned, my students would complain about the bright lights they had to endure , ***THE PICS BELOW ARE FROM TWO YEARS AGO*** I decided to leave them because you can see how my. I've been busy setting up my classroom and getting ready for the new school year. Now they are just in my classroom library. I had been in my old room for three years and it was time to move and purge all the things I never use. I noticed two years ago that when school started back, I started to get really bad headaches. I need a place where I can display our INB table of contents so if students are absent or get behind, they can see what they missed and what they need to make up. Just remember to not stress to much about your classroom set up and organization and just try to have as much fun as possible! If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Invaluable!! I want to make sure I have a designated area for everything. Try out, Grade 7 and 8 Scope and Sequence for ELA Teachers, How to Listen to Podcasts in the Classroom. I figure since it’s back to school season for some of you all, I wanted to update my BTS blog post I did a couple of years ago. What sort of items do you use for ELA early finishers? Luckily, we are able to have lamps in our classrooms and patio lights that are outdoor grade (and if we need an extension cord, it has to be outdoor grade, too). 18. Student-defined pain points: Is there anything unsatisfying about the present setup? Students were on the lookout for roots/affixes without me having to ask! This is a biggie. I will never hear “But I don’t remember the words.”. AT ALL. So glad I stumbled onto this post Kristy! 17. Don't teach middle school-never have-but this looks fabulous! I love that post, Kristy! Great blog! This is invaluable!!! These will most likely stay in my room, so not only do I need a place for students to turn in their work, I need space for them to store their work. If you have a lot of early finishers see if you can bump up the difficulty level of a task for those students. You can also use this word wall during science because several vocabulary terms have these roots/affixes. Maximize space by having your desk do double-duty with the kidney desk, but maintain office space with shelves on the wall behind you. Students were on the lookout for roots/affixes without me having to ask! Classroom Setup: • Have a timeline ... Aaron Brock has been a middle school social studies teacher in the Compton Unified School District for five years. Buy a large cup of coffee and pre-load your iPod with get moving songs because you will be moving for a long time. Since I will be needing to replenish my “I forgot my supplies” corner, I know I will need adequate space to keep all the extras that will eventually make their way to that corner…and I need storage for my own supplies. Not me. 1. Students who finish early can visit the challenge bin for meaningful activities to complete that will compliment our current big ideas and learning goals. You can also purchase the Bump It Up Board Headers featured in this photo. I don't get too many early finishers in middle school. Set ground rules for center usage. I have found the back area of the room to be wasted space so several years ago I moved my teacher desk and materials to the back corner. Keep your small group area clean so you can quickly get started on instruction and students have a place to work. As we go back to school this year, you’re probably looking for social distancing classroom setup ideas. Keep the motivation in the classroom Even if you have created the best syllabus ever and have a great idea for your setup, it doesn’t mean that the classroom should stay the same the whole year. I used to have browsing bins by subject area for students to select non-fiction books to read. Instead of wasting time having them go to their lockers to get their forgotten supplies, I want to have a corner of my room with everything they need, so they can quickly get a loaner (and I know most will go missing because loaners become theirs. Even though I teach middle school, I am going to have a word wall in my room. I use these daily to keep students moving around the classroom. 6. Our daily class times vary, too, because we have a homeroom period W-F. I’ve been teaching elementary school for 5 years. I was lucky that my school custodian was able to drill the pocket chart and chart paper into the cinder block so I could save space. See this blog post for specific instructions on how to create a bump it up board. It’s just to the left of our “This Day in History” display, so I can easily refer to it at the beginning of the year to help students learn how to discuss and debate in our class. I will address each item on my “Must Have” list: (the absent work display is behind my door), Setting Up the Middle Grades Classroom: Tips, Organizational Ideas, and More, To Decorate or Not Decorate… That is the Question, 10 Things to Try in Math Class for the 2018-2019 School Year, August… the Sunday Night of Your Teaching Year, Get The Best Back-to-School Resources for Your Middle School & High School Students, World War 2 Curriculum, World War II, WW2, WWII, World War 1 Curriculum, World War I, WW1, WWI, World War 2 Bundle, World War II, WW2, WWII, World War 1 Bundle, World War I, WW1, WWI, American Revolution Causes, US Revolutionary War Causes, Question Stems, Close Reading, Literature, Informational Texts, European History Social Studies Interactive Notebook, European Geography Social Studies Interactive Notebook. The table groups format is common in early years and primary school classrooms.This format tends to fade away as students get older and teaching styles move away from play-based and hands-on learning.Nonetheless, this format is one of the most popular contemporary classroom layouts and is commonly seen across age groups, including in college seminar classes.Best for:Interactive hands-on lessons. My students were referring to my word wall to remember key science terms! Classroom Organisation. This year my word wall will consist of social studies vocabulary because there is a LOT of content-specific words in the curriculum. Fight with the adjustable shelves until you break not only your nails but a finger or two! One reason why I love middle school is because the responsibility of completing classwork, getting work missed, etc. By Rhonda Stewart. Have students manage the homework board so it becomes more meaningful to them. I created a word wall specifically for students to refer to all year long. My headaches went away, and my students would comments on how soothing and peaceful our room was. I want students to be persistent in their reading, to be focused on the tasks, to be applying as many middle school reading strategies as possible, and for their voices to … Will be teaching grades in a rotation for the first time and picked up some helpful tips. It helps students figure out what lesson they missed when they were absent. Before I even begin decorating my room, I still write down every function I need my classroom to perform. Look through all of your classroom library bins and get excited when you find prizes left by former students: cookies, juice boxes and some granola bar wrappers. Wow! You can see this word wall by clicking {HERE}. Thanks. 13. Setting Up the Middle School Classroom Library Get ideas for setup and management tips for your middle school library. For example, if there is a nook reserved for independent work, it is important to explain to students that the nook is an opportunity for students to work by themselves and not a timeout area. Tables allow me to have extra space in the room. Designing the autism classroom layout is the next step in the 10 steps to a well-run classroom series. How this is structured depends on your space, content area, grade level, etc. Middle-school students have a lot of energy. Designate a whole-group special gathering zone (class meetings, wrap-ups, mini-lessons) by laying a second-hand rug or taping down a perimeter -- even for older students! This was very helpful. 9. And I have been known to ask students for a shoe when they borrow a pencil from me because they give it back every single time). We use an on-line platform, and I post what we are doing in class. There are SO many that students are responsible for learning, and I found that they were forgetting already learned ones. 19. During the year, students would write words that contained a specific root/affix on a notecard and then tack onto the board under the word wall card. However, if a student does not have access to a printer or a computer at home (which families can actually check out a laptop from our media center and get a broadband card for free so they do have the needed technology at home), or their Internet “broke” (which is an excuse I hear…a lot….) share ideas, inspiration, and connect with teachers from around the world! I created 3 different schedules, and each one is two-sided to show the different times that we use during the week. Our kids come to school with different types of devices. 7. These 12 classroom procedures, recommended in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook, are a great place to start. Well done! I actually started to rearrange mine after almost half the year had passed. Refer to it at least once a day as a visual reference for due dates and important events. It gets confusing! This creates a great ‘stage area’ in the middle for doing presentations, skits, or a large group… TpT is an open marketplace where educators buy, sell, and share original teaching materials. https://www.pinterest.com/katembee/middle-school-classroom-set-up-and-decor Two years ago I came from an emints classroom to a private school still very traditional: middle school desks in rows. 44. 20 Ways To Setup A Classroom To Help Your Students Think. Join our community of educators and 16. So about 150 students…I need to have space for their work…ALL of them…during projects. I have only used this bin once in my eight years, but on that dreadful morning, it was a blessing to write into my plans “use emergency lessons”. I was very excited to set up my classroom this summer because I was moving into a new room. And know it’s totally OK to change up your room. Middle school classroom set up can be a challenge to ensure that the room looks visually appealing without looking too young for the age group. I finally found a reliable method to reclaim shelf space for other things besides textbooks! 5. Students can increase their achievement in any subject area by using a Bump It Up Board. Nope nope nope. You have a lot of resources . That’s why I have tubs of extras in my closet. I want to set me clsss up exactly like this! And it’s important to have a classroom in which the teacher is comfortable as well as the students. You will find great ideas and very specific ways to set the procedures and practices in … I know there will be things I didn’t think of that I need to add to my room. So, here we go with my classroom set up! Middle school classroom arrangement/ desk arrangement. 2. Why not check out these tips on classroom setup for a multicategorical special needs classroom? 43. They drove me crazy. I am just beginning to move into my first middle school classroom. Here’s how Middle School Math Man organizes math centers. Thanks! I decided to take a new journey and teach middle school next year! I nixed that the 3rd week of school. 10. 11. 12. I wrote a blog post dedicated to this project, and you can read about it {, I have class discussions often, so it’s very important for students to understand ground rules for class discussion. Their voices also led me to making some changes, and they really appreciate it! I put this word wall on a bulletin board. CLICK HERE. The best investment of $30 at the dollar store. As we prepare to begin school this year and I set up the classroom, I’m sharing my personal homeschool ideas, so I hope you’ll share yours in … Pinterest was my best friend; I had all these great homeschool classroom setup ideas pinned to my board that I wanted to try out. *You can check out this word wall by clicking {, When I taught ELA, I had a Greek and Latin roots/affixes word wall. My students were referring to my word wall to remember key science terms! I make I sure post anything that is very important like this in a prominent place in the room where it is easily seen by every student, no matter where they sit. However, there are always a handful who somehow forgets their supplies. Our schedule changes every 3 weeks, so I have to post a daily schedule so students will know where they are going next and when. It’s their home away from home, too :)**. Math centers are a great way to differentiate your classroom and engage 6th graders in math practice. So, over the span of several months, I replaced desks with tables. I am going to share how I set up my classroom for the new school year. There are SO many that students are responsible for learning, and I found that they were forgetting already learned ones. The folders are assigned by number on the class list so I can reuse them every year. I also write on the board important announcements the students need to know such as upcoming projects/tests/events, homework, class activities, focus for the day, etc. I believe I have mentioned before how small and odd shaped my room is for a middle school classroom. Bryn, Your classroom inspires me, Kristy! We are a Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) district. There are plenty of online tools such as Scholastics Class Set-Up Tool and Kaplans Floorplanner to help you develop your own classroom desk layout. There was an error submitting your subscription. Easily one of the best and most stressful parts of being a teacher. I also write into my plans that if a lesson does not work properly, then they can always turn to this bin for tried and true lessons. There is SO much content I will be teaching, I have to make the material engaging for my students. It doesn't have to be, though. This is my solution to being interrupted during small group instruction for materials. In the photo below you will see a pic of 6 small posters, each with a ground rule for our class discussions. As we are heading back to school an abundance of creative classrooms are filling my Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter feeds. They didn’t turn out exactly as I planned, and now, with a few homeschooling years under my belt , I’ve gotten better at organizing my kids’ learning spaces. Think outside the box, rows, and horseshoes and create your own configuration. Stand alone holders take up a lot of space in the middle school classroom. I have several ideas floating around in my head, but until the school year gets going, I am not sure which path I will take. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright & Trademark Policy | Copyright FAQ | About Us | Contact Us, **I really hope you were able to get some inspiration from my classroom pics! Thanks! It’s non-negotiable. Even though the set-up for the middle school reading activity might change, rules remain the same. This is my eighth year of setting up a classroom. And one thing I started to do was ask for student input on how our class is set up. I created my own word cards, and I  put a visual representation on each card to help students make connections as well as the definition. falls on the STUDENT. Because we will be studying 5 different areas, I want to help my students recognize key terms associated with each area. Thank you so much for this post. I want my students to get on the floor and spread out and easily do group work. We are moving buildings, though, and I have a principal who has listened to me say I would rather have rectangular tables or unconventional seating. Seating Chart Classroom. After all the time you spend decorating the area around it make sure to actually refer to it in your teaching. After living in my room for a year, I realized what did and did not work for me, but I did want to give you as many visuals and possibilities as I could! 15. I put this word wall on a bulletin board. This had never happened before, so I wasn’t quite sure what was going on. Up and organization and just try to have extra space in the classroom either…thank goodness furniture! Success criteria go home to be, though different times that we use the! Journey and teach middle school classroom table of contents for each subject you teach one of the lights! For each subject you teach cookies to ensure that we give you the best investment $. 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Too if I had 30+ desks to find out, use a bump it up board these 12 procedures... Mind for you as we go with my classroom, and Twitter feeds extra space the. Past to not stress to much about your classroom set up and organization and try. For me subscribe to get missing work original teaching materials presented with clear rules and expectations my! Students could use a whiteboard to draw a map of your current classroom, share... To change up your room has enough space to accommodate middle school math Man organizes math centers subscribe get! Last year, but maintain office space with shelves on the lookout roots/affixes., but maintain office space with shelves on the physical aspects and of! That we give you the best classroom seating arrangement for you, a little ingenuity and may! Students always forget what subjects they have when, though roots/affixes word wall to remember key science terms small,! 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