Ideal Classroom Layout
In a classroom in which collaboration and exploration are highly valued, it would benefit students to work in groups instead of individually. For that reason, I plan to use round tables instead of personal desks. While this may be unconventional for a fourth grade classroom, I feel the round tables will facilitate more discussion-based activities and help to build social skills between my students. For the issue of storing materials, there will be storage shelves placed throughout the classroom in which students will keep binders containing notebooks and folders for each subject area. Pencils, markers, scissors, glue sticks, and other materials will be stored on the shelves near the teacher's desk and taken out only when needed. This will allow students to focus on the activity at hand rather than messing around with materials. I have also included a reading corner with a rug and bean bag chairs. This area can serve as a quiet spot for students to read or work on assignments when necessary, as well as a safe area for students with behavioral issues who need to take a break from classwork. I hope this layout will create an open, comfortable, and safe classroom that allows for students to collaborate and explore.