Before a new school year begins, you’re going to want to set up your classroom for your students. This is often a fun part of going back to school as you get to choose the decorations that will be used, how to arrange the desks, where students will sit, and the activities that students will do when they are back in the classroom. There are a few do’s and don’ts that you should try to keep in mind so that your room offers a fun and safe learning environment for children.
Student’s Work
Try to showcase the work that your students do as much as possible. Although you might not be able to put every single piece of artwork or every poem on a wall, you should try to set aside an area where you can put several items. This can show students that you’re proud of what they have done. Try to showcase the work of some students one week and other students the following week so that everyone has their work displayed.
Role Models
When decorating your classroom, try to display a few role models on the walls so that children can learn about them and strive to reach their goals while in school. You could hang posters of people who aren’t as well-known as others and images of people who are prominent in various fields, such as politicians, singers, and children who have been successful in being role models. You can get ideas about who to display by reaching out to another teacher or someone who works in the educational field.
Don’t Clutter
You want to avoid cluttering your classroom. This can be a hazard for children as they try to navigate around the room, and it can sometimes be a sign that you aren’t organized or focused. You could get small bins that go on a stand for children to put their supplies in or a bookcase with several shelves and hangers so that children have somewhere to neatly keep their bags and coats.
No Grading
Although many students ask each other about their grades, you want to avoid putting grades on a wall in the classroom. This can make some students feel as though they aren’t as good as others. It can also make some of the students who earn top grades feel as though they might not have to do as much work as others.
Graphics
Your classroom should be an environment children want to visit each day. Walls should feature colorful images, such as posters of what they will learn about during the week or fun jobs that the students will perform. You can also hang balloons or other images that feature each student’s birthday. If you engage with children in a way that they understand, then they will usually be more receptive to what’s being taught.
Lighting
If there are windows in your room, you don’t want to cover them. Natural light can brighten the room and can sometimes help to brighten the mind instead of using a lot of artificial lighting. You don’t want your students to sit in a room that’s dim as this can make it difficult to see assignments on the board and on paper.
