Today it was time to face it - furniture moving day. Let me first stipulate that the custodial staff at my school are fabulous - I've never worked with better. However, somehow I always end up moving furniture on my own when I first come in after summer break. This is the typical scene when I first walk in- ingeniously piled tables, boxes, and various items.
When I begin to set up my classroom, I think function first. I teach grades 3 and 4 in a multiage setting, meaning the grade 3's will remain with me for their grade 4 year as well. I'll need a whole other post to talk about the differences between that and split classrooms.
First, we need a meeting area. This is first, not only because it takes a large amount of space, but because it is the most important thing we do at school. We meet and we talk, and we listen. This is where the most important learning usually takes place - not sitting alone with our books. This is where we check in with each other to begin the day, where we share our explorations and questions, where we encourage each other and challenge each others' ideas. This is where we read together, discuss problems and big ideas, and make decisions. It is the heart of our classroom.
Second, we need spaces to work. Our work spaces are multi-functional - they must afford places to meet with small groups when we work together on a project, but must also afford quiet places for us to focus on our own thoughts. They may be used to experiment with magnets, plant seeds, play number games, paint a still life, write a story, or create an array of items to multiply or divide. In my classroom, we use tables that can accommodate many configurations, and I try to build in nooks and crannies for those who like to have quiet time.
At the end of day one, this is how it looks. There are still boxes and miscellaneous items everywhere. But the main function of each of the spaces is becoming evident, as are the traffic flow patterns.
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