Don't decorate the classroom until you check with supervisors and custodians to ensure that your plans adhere to school policy, according to Cybrary Man’s Educational Web Sites. Some schools regulate decorations and classroom configurations. Ask the custodial staff how to adhere objects to the walls and if your classroom plan poses any fire hazards. Custodians may also be able to supply you with tools, extension cords, cleaning supplies as well as other supplies necessary to organize a classroom.
Choose comfortable seating and desks for your classroom. Don't situate the desks too far away from the projection screen or white board. Use bookshelves to separate different areas of the classroom, which may include a learning center, reading area, computer lab and eating area. If you have a computer lab area, don't set up the computers along windows because of the glare sunlight makes on the monitors. The reading area should have comfortable seating, bean bag chairs or a mat for students to sit on for story time or independent reading.
Depending on the age group of your class, you can arrange the seating in rows, a U-shape or in a semi-circle. Don't configure the desks in a full circle if you plan to instruct on a projection screen or white board because some students will have their backs facing the instructional focus point of the classroom. Typically, teachers prefer for students to sit in alphabetical order by their last name during the first week of class so that they can learn names. Teachers can change up the seating assignments after the first week to discourage cliques. This also prevents the same students from always sitting in the back of the classroom, where they may be less interactive. Name cards can be placed on the desks so that students will know where to sit when they arrive.
Use classroom walls for posters, display shelves, books and supplies. Don't cover all of the walls in an elementary classroom so that you have wall space that can be filled with students’ artwork, which allows children to feel a sense of ownership and belonging, according to the Education Place. Classrooms for older students should include models and charts to be used as resources.