My dream classroom, for a second grade classroom or earlier, would be spacious and have room for the kids to move around in from area to area. There would be a reading corner with books to read and they could borrow them from the classroom library. The would be a kitchen area for the children to play in, which is by the round table. The shelving units would used to store manipulative and other classroom materials such as writing tools and toys to play with. Children learn best by using their hands and imagination to grasp concepts. There would be a circle time rug for story time to be read in. The small child sized sofas (which comes from Maria Montessori) would be movable to use in both circle time and in the library area. The TV would be movable throughout the classroom to be used for different activities. The Projector in the classroom represents an Interactive White Board. I will be using both in the classroom, the TV will be used to show older movies that are still on VCR or just educational lessons, while the Interactive White Board will be used to help teach lessons that met both standards and are fun such as a synonynms and antonyms game. The tables are arranged in promote collaboration and relationships in the students. The chair at the end of the first table, will be used so I can sit at the table and discuss with students, it will be moved from one table to the next table. If need be, the tables can separate into their own tables. The arrangement of the classroom, is to help promote student success and help everyone feel comfortable. The way my classroom is arranged is, specific so that the students desk can not only double as their space, but as a center time. Which is why the desk can pull apart very easily to create more center time activities. The teacher desk is placed at the 'back' of the classroom so that when I am not actively engaged with the students, which I will be the majority of the time, I can watch what every student is doing. The desk will serve as an extra storage unit, where I will keep all paper work, organized in cubbies on my desk, that will have functions, such as an in and out box.
groups to help The color of the classroom will be a light cream color, I am choosing a neutral color because as a early childhood teacher, and this is a second classroom or younger, I plan to display the works that the children do on the wall and have pictures up, and calendars and lessons. I then plan to accent each area in a different color, such as the bean bags in the reading area as blue, which is shown to be a relaxing color. The other areas, such as the bulletin board in the classroom will be a bright color, to draw attention to it. Research has shown that this warm mix of pastel colors will provide a relaxing environment for the kids in which they can relax and concentrate on the work that is ahead of them.
The classroom will be organized in a method that is both functional for the teacher and students, but as well as functional for visitors. Everything in the classroom, will be labeled where it goes. The students will have their backpacks and coats hung up in the hallway along with a small cubby, so that it does not become a distraction. The reading area, will have the books separated into the specific reading level, so that students can read at their level and move on easily, knowing what is the next level. The materials for the centers will be organized on the shelf nearest the center, in boxes so that it can be pulled from easily. As the teacher, I will go through and update the material on a daily/weekly basis, to fit the lesson we are doing. The children when they are assigned work, that is not group work, or even it is, they will have the option of taking the work to a place they feel more comfortable. If they need to read for the assignment, they may take it to the reading corner or the couches to get comfortable on. Everything in the classroom will be movable, so that the students are learning, what is their best way to learn. On top of the shelving units, there will be mailboxes for the students, where they will get their grades back, or even notes of encouragement, to help boost their self-esteem and confidence.There will be two computers in the classroom, where the students during center time, will have time to do an activity. The students will have access to the Interactive White board as well, when we are doing lessons. While there will not be a lot of computers in the classroom, as I plan to utilize the computer room or laptops that are available to the room. I predict that by the time I am teaching, much of the technology in the classroom will be portable, such as net-books and tablets, and won't have to be stationary, so I would utilize that for lessons, and have the children familiar with it. We would go over safety on the computer and work on projects together, and have typing lessons, so that the children are able to type correctly and fast! The technology in the classroom will help to promote their active engagement, as well as developing the skills they will use later on in life, ie typing.
Students with exceptionalities will be included fully into my classroom. Everything we do will be accessible to them, changes in the classroom will be made to fit their needs. If they are in a wheel chair, then they can be seated at the end of the table to be able to work collaboratively with the other students. The spacing of the classroom will be adapted to fit their needs, but the classroom furniture will all be child-sized so that not only will they be able to reach but so will every other child as well. If a child is learning English as a second language, I plan to consult my co-workers and the parents of the child through many means, to help them learn the beset. I will be ever learning to help, suit the gifted children in my classroom, I will have options for them to do, they can work on higher level work, and help the children around them, if they are able to. I will also work on dividing them into level groups, so that they are able to get a higher level of learning; I plan to do this by, involving other teachers to help in the classroom. Also in my classroom, we will be a diverse and welcoming room, at the beginning of the year, we will all sit down and talk about how every one of is different, but that we are all people and have feelings. I will do this in order to prevent teasing.needs of the children in my classroom. As their teacher, and the teacher of multiple children, I plan to keep a record of what the children do, so that if a professional consults me on what the children are like in my classroom, so that they can be diagnosed and get the proper tools they need, I will have it. I will consult their previous teachers, for information as well, so that I am well informed. I will keep an eye out for twice exceptional students, who are both gifted and have an exceptionality, one of which is often hidden by the other. For the
Anything that I will be teaching to the children, they will be actively engaged in. I plan to teach to all their intelligences, whether it be musical, or naturalistic. I will teach in a variety of ways, so that they are never board, whether it be, by taking the lesson outside, or having the kids, help to teach the book we are reading! In order to make accommodations for all my students, I plan to use differentiation in the classroom, which is basically knowing that "one size does not fit all", as a teacher, I have to teach to the students interest and their needs. Every student can learn, but if you teach them the way they can't learn, then they will never understand.As a professional I not only plan to grow my professional learning community, through many different sources, such as consulting experts and attending all professional development. I plan to expand my personal learning network as well. I will do this through a variety of ways. One way that I am already doing it is, Pinterest. On Pinterest, I am creating a section for all my teaching ideas and classroom ideas, where I can consult and read up on it myself. I am constantly learning new things, about everything, whether it be from how to clean a cut or it be from how to properly get a stain out of a shirt. Anytime I have a question about something, I look it up to find the best way possible to do it. I consult those around me, for help as well to help my knowledge grow. I am an evolving learner, constantly adjusting what I learn, by forgetting what I have been taught before. Not only are we teachers and people, we are learners.
The students will stay connected to other students, by having to work with them in group projects and talking to them on a daily basis. As a classroom, we will decided on a community project, and put thought and research into, to help the community out. We will also visit community organizations such as the police station, the fire department and the library, so that the children are familiar with their community and individuals in the community. Community members will be invited into the classroom to come share their jobs, and what they do for the community. As a class, we will pick a quarterly project, based on the students levels and their interest and consult experts to find out information on what we are doing. For example, if we are writing a book as a classroom, we could consult an expert on the subject, if the books is about an animal or location. The classroom will be involved with many different individuals around the world via Skype communications, that I will set up with another school. We will involve the outside community constantly, I as the teacher do not know everything, but as a community we know a great deal. The best way to teach is to have others come and teach as well, such as if I am teaching the children sign language, I can have someone that is fluent in sign language teach the lesson one day, same with any other language! The community is a great resources to the classroom. The parents of the children will always be welcome into the classroom to help out and to watch their children do certain activities, many parents can even help to teach a lesson on something they are considered an expert on! As a teacher, I plan to send out a weekly email update of what is happening in the classroom and what the kids are doing. As well as having the kids, help to create a classroom blog of our projects to show off. It is a great way to help the kids hone their technology skills as well as show of their work, and keep parents involved!
No comments:
Post a Comment