Julia G. Thompson

January 1, 1970

Welcome to Issue Twenty-Five!


Special Note: You can follow Julia Thompson's advice for teachers at TeacherAdvice@​Twitter.com. Twitter is a very quick and easy way to grab a bit of professional advice on the run.

As the new school term approaches, teachers everywhere are gearing up to meet its challenges. We find ourselves checking out the sale pages in the newspaper (after the initial shock of seeing the dreaded "BACK TO SCHOOL!" headlines passes) and finding other ways to get ourselves organized.

We eye our professional wardrobes to see what we need to spruce up or even iron after a summer of wearing flips.We all tend to think of the practical, easy-to-manipulate things first, then deal with lesson plans and the bigger picture of instructional needs later.

This issue is one geared to help you do just that--get your classroom in shape. Once your room is ready, then you can take a deep breath and get to work,knowing that you are well-organized and ready.

In the lists below, excerpted from , you'll find suggestions for how to get the physical environment of your room in order.

The Essentials of a Productive Learning Environment

The First Step: Evaluate the Room

• You will save time if you take a digital camera, paper, pencil, and a tape measure with you on your first visit. Photograph the room thoroughly and be sure to measure areas such as shelves, storage areas, bulletin boards, and the chalkboard and/​or whiteboard.
• Look for equipment and furniture that needs repair or that pose safety concerns.
• Survey the room for items or areas that have the potential to distract your students.
• Count the student desks, tables, chairs, and computers to determine if you have enough for your students. Make note of any necessary repairs.
• Survey the room to determine if you have these other essential classroom items:

o Operating instructions for the heating and cooling systems
o Keys to the door and any lockable cabinets
o Windows and blinds that are clean and in good repair
o Sufficient lighting
o Overhead projector and screen
o Bookshelves
o A desk and chair for the teacher
o Empty and usable file cabinets
o At least one pencil sharpener
o At least one trash container
o A computer for the teacher to use
o A classroom phone
o An intercom system
o An American flag on display
o A television monitor


Arrange Your Classroom for Learning

• Begin your room arrangement with large items of furniture such as book cases and file cabinets because their placement will probably be permanent.
• Put bookcases and other large objects against a wall.
• Student desks should be in the middle and front of the room.
• Try to spread students out as much as you can. If your classroom is overcrowded, arrange desks in rows to maximize space.
• You will need an area where you can confer with students in small groups.
• Consider traffic flow. What routes will students have to take to sharpen pencils, staple and turn in papers, dispose of trash, and pick up materials?
• The teacher’s desk should be in the back of the room so that you can observe all students as they work without disturbing them.
• Save time and steps by placing a file cabinet, bookcase, and computer near your desk.
• You will need to set up an instructional area in the front of the room where you can deliver information, give directions, or demonstrate an activity. You will probably need a chair, stool, lectern, or table for this purpose.
• Two trashcans will minimize distractions caused by students walking around in search of the container as well as make it easier to keep the room neat.
• Supplies need to be neatly stored in a logical and orderly fashion so that your students won’t waste instruction time locating them.
• Minimize distractions with careful placement of furniture or equipment. For example, do not place student desks near an open door.

A productive learning environment will serve these purposes:
• Make it easier for you to teach and students to learn
• Welcome students so that they feel valued and appreciated
• Encourage student achievement and effort
• Provide a safe place for students

To create a well-ordered classroom that is a pleasant work space, consider adapting the following suggestions:

• Be careful to consider traffic flow patterns when planning room arrangements so that students can move about with ease.
• Arrange the room with furniture and materials that are comfortable, age-appropriate, and practical.
• Take into account the various tasks that must be performed in your classroom each day so that you can create flexible arrangements of furniture and materials.
• Make sure that the furniture is the correct size for your students. Each child should have a comfortable place to work.
• Position furniture so that students are able to see the instructor during whole-group instruction and the instructor is able to see all students at all times.
• Encourage student ownership and independence with readily accessible materials that students can locate and distribute themselves.
• Make every effort to provide a space with adequate lighting and comfortable temperatures.
• Aim for decorations that both directly and indirectly instruct students. For example, a word wall provides direct instruction and a wall of photographs of your students working together provides indirect instruction and encouragement.

Don’t Just Decorate, Instruct!

Even though your classroom décor should be attractive, the emphasis should be on creating an environment that teaches content. Here are some ways that you can use the décor of your classroom as a teaching tool:
• Post a daily word, fact, Web site, open-ended question, study skill, brain teaser, current event, or problem.
• Display photos, models, posters, articles, various types of maps, primary source documents, and other information related to the content under study.
• Display advice from various experts, from older students, or well-known people about how to succeed academically.
• Set aside areas of your room for students to work independently on reading, writing, board games, practice items, and remediation or enrichment materials.
• Use word walls to make an interactive representation of the key vocabulary terms in a unit of study. Here’s how:
o Although they began with younger students, word walls can be used in almost any classroom to:
 Introduce new words
 Arouse interest in an upcoming unit of study
 Reinforce learning and vocabulary acquisition
 Help students make the connection between new learning and previous knowledge
o Introduce no more than ten words a week. As students master the words, remove them and add others. The ones you remove can be used for review.
o Words can be typed or handwritten on note cards, on cutout images or shapes, on chalk boards, or dry erase boards.

How to Organize Your Own Work Area

• To organize your work area is a challenging task because you must create a private space within a very public area.
• Arrange your work area efficiently in a triangle with your desk, filing cabinets, and book shelves as the points. You will also need a space within the triangle for a computer as well as a place for paperwork.
• Teach students not to take items from your desk without your permission.
• Your desktop should reflect your personality, but also be businesslike and professional.
• Many teachers find it easy to stay organized by developing colored-coded systems for managing various types of papers.
• You will also need to create systems for organizing electronic paperwork such as email, grades, software programs, and passwords.
• Save time by labeling everything with large, easy-to-read letters. Be specific. For example, a folder labeled “Plans” is not as helpful as one labeled with the name of a particularunit of study.
• Organize desk drawers by grouping similar things together. Keep the things you use frequently near the front and the materials you use less frequently at the back of each drawer.
• Many teachers prefer three-ring binders to keep papers organized. Be sure to color-code and label the spines for quick reference.
• You will need a calendar, a to-do list, and a place to record appointments, messages, and other important information.
• If you leave your desk clean at the end of the day, you will find that the start of the next day will be more pleasant and productive.