Pictures+and+Description+of+Areas+in+Elementary+Classroom

There are six facets of the physical environment in a classroom. These facets are:

1) Floor 2) Wall 3) Countertop 4) Shelf 5) Cupboard and closet 6) Ambience

First and foremost, I believe that every elementary classroom should have a rug on the floor. This rug should be theme appropriate and colorful. This rug should act as center to the classroom, where the children get some if not most of their instructional time. Another component that I like in elementary classrooms are floor lamps. Floor lamps and rugs make the room feel more homey and comfortable. I love having a smart board in the classroom and hope that I will have one at my school. I also like these pictures with the ABC's, these pictures are the cue pictures for the letter sounds. The last pictures are educational posters to help the student remember the information taught.



This is a picture of a writing seat. This seat has all the stuff for the student to complete their writing assignment and it gets them out of their desk for a little while. I would use this as a center. I really like this seat pocket idea. This helps keep the students library, content, and workbooks from getting torn up in their desks.



The seating arrangement of a classroom is an ever evolving thing. Something that works one year, may not work the next. This is an example of an idea that I found on pintrest. This set up of the seating would let each table group have their own set of materials and books. All of the supplies they need would stay together and they would be in charge of keeping up with their own stuff. I also like the idea of having a basket for finished work on these shelves or even a basket at the end of each table group if the bookshelves are not an option. I am finding with each placement and visit to different classrooms that I like desks over table. Tables offer no storage, where as desk let the student be in charge of their belongings.



Center time, made easy. These shelves will let the students be in charge of their work and keep everything neat and organized for you. The next picture shows how the students would get to their centers, the names are moved everyday and the centers are changed out weekly. The last picture show differentiated centers.



This is an example from my kindergarten placement, they had a writing center during center time and this is where they got ideas and wrote from. The next picture is a picture of the teacher's reading table. This table is also used during center time to separate the students to cut back on talking.



My kindergarten placement had a reading loft. I really like this idea, because not only do the kids feel like they are getting a treat, but it takes the readers away from the movement and noise of the regular classroom so that they can focus. I also like the idea of having an area in the floor with pillows and bookshelves blocking the view from other classmates, but not the teacher. The last picture features a more open concept.



Bulletin Board Ideas



This teacher's desk features a place for student's to make their lunch choices. This would be great because they could turn in homework, agendas, money and make their lunch choices all at one time.The next pictures are examples of ways teachers can stay organized. Cubbyholes help the students help the teacher stay organized, every time they get back a graded assignment they put it there until the end of the day when they take it home. The next picture is organization to help parents know what comes back and what stays at home. The last picture has is a tool that you can stick to the board so that while you are up teaching you do not need to go back to your desk for supplies.