The first day of school can be stressful for teachers as well as students. The stress can be lowered dramatically by having a teacher classroom setup plan to get started with classroom organization. Successful teachers start getting the classroom organized well before school starts. These are the first three steps to setting up a classroom.
Many new teachers think a catchy or cute room theme is necessary. It’s not. Before school begins, the main priority should be getting the room, the student supplies, and the teacher supplies organized. Eye-catching bulletin boards can be added later, and perhaps a parent will be willing to help with the task.
In most schools, a new teacher is handed the keys to the room and left to get the room ready alone. The room will probably be messy and bare. Follow these steps in this order to set up the classroom quickly, and be ready for students on the first day of school.
Arrange the Desks in the Classroom
Doing this task first gives a sense of accomplishment. Once the classroom desk arrangement is set up, it is easy to organize everything else. The layout depends on the teacher style and goals for the classroom. If a teacher wants a quiet classroom, desks in rows are preferable. If there will be an emphasis on cooperative learning, desks in groups work best. How to Plan a Classroom Seating Arrangement gives more ideas on the topic.
Check Classroom Technology
The second important task is to check all of the classroom technology to be sure it is in working order. This includes overheads, whiteboards, projectors, computers, listening centers, and audiovisual equipment. Anything that isn’t working properly will need a work order to get it repaired or replaced. Just before school starts, the maintenance and technology departments may have many requests, so it helps to get this done early.
Get Student Supplies Ready
Student supplies should be placed on or in the student desks so they are prepared the minute they walk into the classroom. This includes nameplates, (unless students make their own), homework folders, paper, and pencils, and cheap student whiteboards. Have an assignment or activity for the students to do on their desks. Books do not need to be handed out until the students are in the room.
After doing these three things, the bulk of the work is done to get ready for the first day of school. The article How to Set Up a Classroom shows the next three tasks in the teacher's plan for classroom organization. They are setting up the teacher desk and classroom supplies, making the lesson plans for the first week of school, and getting bulletin boards, bookcases, and student filing systems ready.
Once these tasks are complete, the room will be ready, the teacher will feel prepared, and the students will feel welcome. Using this plan as a guide will reduce the stress of preparing for a successful beginning of the school year.
For the rest of this plan, read the article How to Set Up a Classroom.
Suzanne Pitner - Suzanne Pitner is a teacher and published writer. A member of RWA and YARWA, she writes fiction as Suzanne Lilly.
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