A classroom map is included in my portfolio because another aspect of creating a caring classroom community is having a student friendly classroom. I am very organized and I also plan on having a very organized classroom. Students desks are set up in rows but I will be flexible in moving them for group work activities. Something unique about my classroom is that I will have something called a "student desk." This will be a small table that has extra pencils, a pencil sharpener, a stapler, and some tape. Most teachers get frustrated with students forget a pencil and don't come prepared, and as much as I understand that frustration, I will have bigger battles to deal with. It will be made clear that I want my student to come to class prepared but if they forget a pencil they can borrow one from the student desk, instead of sitting there and not being productive. I don't want to take away from class time because a student forgets a pencil. Also, in the beginning of the year I will be giving a classroom tour. I will walk around the room with my students and show them where everything is, what is and isn't off limits to them, and the reason why I have my classroom set up the way I do. By doing this, students are clear as to why something is the way it is, and also shows how this is not only my classroom, but their classroom too. I think I want to create a small area that is off limits to me, the teacher. Maybe having a journal drawer for students to just their journals in after weekly writings of how they are feeling and what is going on in their lives. When students are ready for me to read their journals they can remove them from the teacher off limits area. This way, there will be areas off limits to the students and an area off limits to me creating an equal or fair classroom. I like having a homework board for an entire month because if I assign a project and don't assign the due date until two weeks the project is assigned, students will be able to visually see when that project is due. My unit boards and vocabulary walls will change depending on the unit.
Research done by Wannark and Ruhl shows the importance of the seating arrangement in a classroom. Row seating is more effective in preventing disruptions and getting more work done. However, for group work and collaboration, putting desks in groups are more beneficial. A classroom is multidimensional, unpredictable, lacks privacy, contains simultaneity, a joint history, and immediacy. Keeping all of these things in mind, you need to set up your classroom in a way that is student friendly, and attempts to avoid disruptions and other behavioral problems (although we know this is not 100 percent possible). It is also important to include all aspects of Maslow's hierarchy of needs is also something to keep in mind while designing your classroom. Students should feel safe and comfortable.
As a result of creating this artifact, I have learned that every teacher has his or her own methodology or practices. Each teacher is going to set up their classroom differently and thats okay but giving your students reasoning as to why your classroom is set up the way it is helps them understand why you want things that specific way. I also learned that I will never be able to chose the exact set up I want because all classrooms are different sizes and will come with different resources. Keeping organized is definitely key for me and as long as I maintain organization, I will be able to successfully set up an effective classroom. The atmosphere in the classroom also depends on how the class is set up. Making it students friendly helps create a caring atmosphere. I am hoping that I will be able to set up my classroom just like I made in the picture, but no matter what I will always put my best foot forward and use the resources I have to the best of my ability.