Creating a Functional Classroom Space
Let’s be real - most teachers fall into one of two categories as far as classroom setup goes: it’s either one of your very favorite things to do or you despise it. Which one are you?! I have always been the teacher who LOVES setting up a classroom, and often spent a good chunk of time over the summer thinking about it and prepping. My husband used to tell me all the time to stop, relax, and enjoy the summer - but I genuinely enjoy planning for a classroom setup, so it’s fun for me.
If you’re here, I bet you’re starting to think about and plan for your classroom for the upcoming school year. I’m SO excited you’re here, because this is the second post in a 4-part series all about how to create a classroom space that is beautiful and functional! Did you know you can do both?!
In the first part of this series, I shared my top 5 tips for creating a beautiful classroom space. I love a pretty classroom. BUT, when planning your classroom, that should not be the only part you think about. Nor should it be the most important part! We must think about creating a classroom that functions well.
Who is our classroom for? Our students.
What is the primary function of our classroom? To be a place where students can learn.
This should be at the forefront of your mind when planning your classroom for the upcoming school year. Here are my top 5 tips for planning a functional classroom!
1. THINK THROUGH classroom SPACES
This is an essential step to planning your classroom! Make a list of all of the different areas you will need in your classroom. Then plan specifically to make each space as functional as possible.
For example, if I am going to be using technology in my classroom, I’d think through how to make that area function well for us. House all student headphones in that area, create posters that show students how to login, label the computers with numbers to easily assign students to a station, etc.
I know it seems like a lot, but it’s a critical piece of planning for your classroom. If you give yourself time to really think through and plan these things now, you will have setup your classroom for success before your students have even entered the room. This also helps you not to add a lot of “fluff” to your classroom since you know exactly what you need in each space.
2. MAKE YOUR LAYOUT MAKE SENSE
One year I quickly learned that having my classroom library right next to the computers didn’t work for us - students that were supposed to be reading were distracted watching classmates play a learning game on the computer. Think through these different things to help you plan where you’ll place different areas in your classroom.
For example, If you’re going to be doing reading centers - how will that look in your classroom?
Maybe students will grab materials and take them back to their desk to work on them. It might make sense to have one area where all of your reading center materials are stored for students. Plan for how to make this area a one-stop shop for students to have everything they need in one place.
Perhaps you plan on having different stations in your classroom - library, technology, writing, etc. Strategically plan where you will place different stations for students in a way that makes sense. You probably don’t want all of the stations right next to each other since students would likely get distracted by their peers.
3. plan classroom routines
If you’re a new teacher, you may not even know all of the things you’ll need a routine for. But let me tell you - the more routines you have, the smoother your classroom is going to function. You may not think routines and classroom setup have much to do with each other. But if you have thought through how you want your students to use the spaces in your classroom, you can easily set them up for success.
For example, one year I implemented a homework turn-in system that worked well for me. I planned for students to come in, unpack their things, and turn in their homework. I set my room up so that their backpack bins were kept right by the homework turn-in station. So after they unpacked, they could easily go drop off their backpack in a bin, and turn their homework in - all in one easy spot instead of wandering all over the room. I also put this station right next to our classroom door, so that as I stood there greeting students, I could also check off who had turned in their homework. BOOM! So. Functional.
My friend Stephanie at The Simple Classroom has an amazing freebie you can use here to help you think through different classroom routines!
4. have purposeful decor & bulletin boards
Make sure your classroom is full of things for your students. After all, the classroom is for them to learn in. You don’t need fluff and lots of decor that serves no purpose. Only include the things that are must-haves for learning in your classroom. Your room can still be pretty and functional - think about what must-haves you need in your classroom (alphabet line, ten frame posters, word wall, etc.) and make them fit your colors. If you start with a list of the things you definitely need in your room, and work from there, you can be sure you’re being purposeful with what you include, rather than the other way around.
Basic and Brights Printable Alphabet from my TPT Store
5. BE FLEXIBLE
Okay, this isn’t something you can exactly prep over the summer - but it is KEY! Once your students are in your room, and you’re getting to know them, you’ll start to notice that some routines and spaces don’t function well. And that is okay. In fact, you should expect that not all of your routines and set-ups are going to work perfectly once you throw students in. Let your students guide you in tweaking things as necessary. When I first started teaching, I felt insecure about this and kept some routines in place that should have been ditched from the start. I felt that I was failing them if I changed a routine. I now know that that is the opposite of the truth. Don’t set students up for failure in your classroom. Help set them up for success by changing things when necessary to fit your specific group of students.