Classrooms need to be set up to make sense to both students and adults. Organization is a key component to having a successful classroom. In addition, classrooms need systems that make sense to both students and adults. Systems keep students engaged and on task. You can have a nice, organized classroom set up but you also need to teach the systems in order to have success.
Classroom Set Up Components
The key to classroom set up is creating the environment. The environment should be structured and organized. When setting up your classroom, you will want to include areas that serve specific purposes. Some areas to consider include a whole group area, centers or stations, independent work stations, a finished work bin, cubbies or bins to put away personal items, a library, and a calm corner. Use visuals to label these areas so it is clear to everyone. Here’s a great example of a classroom floor plan.
How Environment Sets You Up For Success
When the environment is organized and structured, it helps reduce prompts needed from adults. This then builds independence within students. If a student knows where the finished work bin is, they know to always turn work into that bin when they are finished without having to ask. When areas are labeled and schedules are put in place, students know exactly where to go and when. For example, when it’s group time, students may have an assigned seat they sit in at the group table.
Using a Variety of Classroom Systems
There are so many classroom systems you can implement in your classroom. You can create a system for early finishers as shown above. Many of the visual supports, like schedules, are made when you set up your classroom. However, it’s super important that we also teach students how to use these visual supports so they are effective systems. You can set up independent work systems, individualized task plans (see photo below), reinforcement systems, and more. If you want to learn how to set up a 3 drawer work system, check out my blog!
How Systems Set You Up For Success
Systems are beneficial to both students and adults in so many ways. Classroom systems build independence, which reduces the reliance on adult prompting. Students are quicker to begin task initiation – a crucial executive functioning skill. Clear systems also help reduce challenging behaviors because students know exactly what is expected of them. This keeps students productive and engaged in tasks.
Having an organized classroom setting and distinguished classroom systems promotes student learning. We need to start with a structured classroom to set up the environment for our learners. We also need to set up systems that will help our students to be more independent. Both a classroom set up and classroom systems are necessary for our students to thrive!
Check out the Simple Self-Contained Setup 101 if you need tips for your classroom.
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