Creating an Effective Physical Classroom Environment Every teacher knows that a safe, clean, comfortable and attractive classroom can stimulate learning and help build a classroom community. But for many teachers, setting up the physical environment of their classrooms can be quite daunting, especially when faced with older buildings, crowded.
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Inside: We’ve set up our toddler and preschool classroom this week for the friends and family theme. We made a family tree and a friendship banner and sang some fun friendship songs!
Friends and family is always part of our toddler and preschool classroom, but we like to focus on it as a theme towards the beginning of the school year.
On the first day of school we ask our families to provide a copy of a family photo that we can display on our family bulletin board all year long. The children love to point their families out to their friends, and having a family photo in the room is comforting to a child who is experiencing some separation anxiety.
We also talk about being a good friend right from the first day of school.
The friends and family theme can involve quite a few activities, even though we are continuing to keep things rather simple since it’s still September.
Setting Up the Classroom: Friends and Family Theme
Take a tour of our classroom set up for the friends and family theme:
Light Table
Lots of building took place with our translucent light color blocks. Some of our children were able to stack quite a few of the squares, too!
Related: Fun Light Table Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Dramatic Play
We had family dining using our felt food. The children loved carrying conversations while pretending to eat!
Related: 25+ Dramatic Play Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Table Activities
Some of the items we had on our table this week:
Block Center
We used our train table for our doll houses for some family play.
Art
We painted people figures with watercolors and created a friendship banner that hangs in our classroom.
See how it was made here: How to Create a Friendship Banner (Free Printables!)
Easel
We cut paper into simple house shapes and painted them with watercolors.
Music and Movement
We held hands, sang, and moved to the song Come and Make a Circle by Susan Salidor. This is a short and sweet song about friendship, plus it reinforced our shape of the month, the circle.
Books
Some of the books we read this week:
Writing Center
We drew on house-shaped paper. Some of the children were able to draw the members of their families, too!
Science and Exploration:
We continued to explore the shape of the month, the circle. I placed some foam circles inside gallon freezer bags, added some dish soap, and then sealed and taped the bags to trays. The children then pressed on top of the bags to move the circles around.
Sensory Bin
We had fun washing babies in warm water with wash clothes and sponges.
More ideas for the friends theme:
More toddler and preschool themes:
Planning your themes for the year? We’ve done the work for you!
I am so excited to be a co-author in each of these 20 themed unit lesson plans!
20 lesson plan units – each with its own theme.
In each unit you will get:
24 preschool learning activities for your spring theme, including literacy, math, science, art, fine motor, and more! A great resource for teachers and homeschoolers.
24 preschool learning activities that cover:
Literacy
Math
Science
Fine Motor
Sensory
Gross Motor
Art
Social Studies
Music
Circle Time
Social/Emotional
Math
Science
Fine Motor
Sensory
Gross Motor
Art
Social Studies
Music
Circle Time
Social/Emotional
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by Annette Breaux and Todd Whitaker
In our ongoing observations of teachers, we continue to notice that the most effective teachers’ classrooms all look uncannily similar. And, of course, the same can be said for the less effective teachers—their classrooms all look uncannily similar.
It seems that no matter where we go, the students all act the same in the classrooms of the most effective teachers. And yes, no matter where we go, the students all act the same in the classrooms of less effective teachers. We are, of course, speaking in generalities here.
Let’s take a look inside of less effective teachers’ classrooms first.
Here is what they all seem to have in common:
◆ The classroom looks disorganized. There is “stuff” everywhere.
◆ Lessons lack luster and excitement.
◆ The teacher does most of the talking, and the students do little listening.
◆ There is little, if any, evidence of structured routines and procedures.
◆ There are lots of teacher warnings directed at misbehaving students.
◆ The teacher is reactive.
◆ Objectives are vague and often confusing.
◆ There is little teacher movement around the room. The teacher generally stays toward the front of the room. Guess where most of the behavior problems occur! Farthest from the teacher.
◆ Lessons lack luster and excitement.
◆ The teacher does most of the talking, and the students do little listening.
◆ There is little, if any, evidence of structured routines and procedures.
◆ There are lots of teacher warnings directed at misbehaving students.
◆ The teacher is reactive.
◆ Objectives are vague and often confusing.
◆ There is little teacher movement around the room. The teacher generally stays toward the front of the room. Guess where most of the behavior problems occur! Farthest from the teacher.
◆ There is an overuse of worksheet-type activities.
◆ Consequences for behavior infractions are inconsistent. The severity of the punishment is usually in direct proportion to the teacher ’s anxiety level.
◆ The teacher openly shows frustration.
◆ The lessons are usually “one size fits all.” Unfortunately, most fit none.
◆ Technology is often used “for the sake of using it” as opposed to being used to enhance the lesson.
◆ There is little positive reinforcement.
◆ Teacher enthusiasm is lacking.
◆ Consequences for behavior infractions are inconsistent. The severity of the punishment is usually in direct proportion to the teacher ’s anxiety level.
◆ The teacher openly shows frustration.
◆ The lessons are usually “one size fits all.” Unfortunately, most fit none.
◆ Technology is often used “for the sake of using it” as opposed to being used to enhance the lesson.
◆ There is little positive reinforcement.
◆ Teacher enthusiasm is lacking.
Now for the good news
We could go on, but we think we’ve made the point. Now for the good news.
Here’s what we saw in the classrooms of the most effective teachers:
◆ The classroom is organized. A place for everything and everything in its place.
◆ Lessons are inviting and exciting.
◆ The students do most of the talking and the doing, prompted by the teacher ’s questioning and guidance.
◆ Routines and procedures are evident. Students know exactly what is expected of them.
◆ There are no teacher warnings for student misbehavior. If a rule is broken, a consequence follows. If a procedure isn’t followed, the teacher provides more practice.
◆ The teacher is proactive.
◆ Lesson objectives are clear and measurable.
◆ There is constant teacher movement around the room. Behavior problems are almost nonexistent.
◆ There is little dependence on worksheet-type activities. Lessons are highly interactive, and students remain engaged in meaningful activities.
◆ The punishment for any given infraction is consistent (and rare).
◆ The teacher does not show frustration. Even in the case of misbehavior, the problem is handled seriously but calmly. The teacher always appears to be in control.
◆ Activities are varied to meet the needs of all learners.
◆ Technology is used, thoughtfully, to enhance lessons and learning.
◆ There is constant positive reinforcement.
◆ Teacher enthusiasm is evident and contagious.
◆ Lessons are inviting and exciting.
◆ The students do most of the talking and the doing, prompted by the teacher ’s questioning and guidance.
◆ Routines and procedures are evident. Students know exactly what is expected of them.
◆ There are no teacher warnings for student misbehavior. If a rule is broken, a consequence follows. If a procedure isn’t followed, the teacher provides more practice.
◆ The teacher is proactive.
◆ Lesson objectives are clear and measurable.
◆ There is constant teacher movement around the room. Behavior problems are almost nonexistent.
◆ There is little dependence on worksheet-type activities. Lessons are highly interactive, and students remain engaged in meaningful activities.
◆ The punishment for any given infraction is consistent (and rare).
◆ The teacher does not show frustration. Even in the case of misbehavior, the problem is handled seriously but calmly. The teacher always appears to be in control.
◆ Activities are varied to meet the needs of all learners.
◆ Technology is used, thoughtfully, to enhance lessons and learning.
◆ There is constant positive reinforcement.
◆ Teacher enthusiasm is evident and contagious.
You now have a blueprint for what an effective teacher ’s classroom looks like. Try it on for size, and get your teaching organized. Management is the key to success. Just do it, and be at your best! For an organized teacher is a happier one than one who has let things come undone.
Two helpful downloads:
► 7 Things Effective Teachers Do EVERY Day
► 7 Things You Can Do to Be a More Effective Teacher Tomorrow
► 7 Things You Can Do to Be a More Effective Teacher Tomorrow
Editor’s note: This is the first of three excerpts that MiddleWeb will share from the just-published 2nd edition of the bestseller Seven Simple Secrets: What the BEST Teachers Know and Do! by Annette Breaux and Todd Whitaker. Thanks to Lauren Davis at Routledge/Eye on Education for helping us gain permission to offer these posts. (See the second excerpt: Teaching for Real Life.)
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Annette Breaux is a former classroom teacher, curriculum leader and professional development coordinator in Louisiana, where she developed FIRST, an influential teacher induction program. Breaux is a popular speaker on education topics, author of 101 Answers for New Teachers and Their Mentors, and co-author of several books with Todd Whitaker, including Seven Simple Secrets; 50 Ways to Improve Student Behavior, and Making Good Teaching Great. Follow her on Twitter @AnnetteBreaux.
Todd Whitaker is a professor of educational leadership at Indiana State University and a prominent education author and speaker. Whitaker has taught at the middle and high school levels, served as a secondary school principal for eight years and as a district-level middle school coordinator. His many books include Leading School Change, What Great Principals Do Differently, What Great Teachers Do Differently and The 10-Minute Inservice. Follow him on Twitter @ToddWhitaker.