Part I: Classroom Organization A.

Physical The students desks are set up in the middle of the classroom in groups of four so they are in reading in small groups for cooperative learning but, also, they each have their own desk so they can have independence as well. Each desk will have a place for students to decorate their name on the first day of school. I will be placing students at desks according to student ability and personality, but for the first week it will be random since will not know them right when they get into the classroom. The desks are positioned so that all students can see the chalkboard, which will also have a roll-up projector screen when using an overhead projector. My desk is in the back of the room so that I can see all the students. Also, when someone opens the door to the room they should see the teacher in a straight view. There is a trashcan next to my desk which will be easy access for me and my students. Behind my desk I have a filing cabinet and storage area where I will display my diploma and other items that show off my personality. One of the cabinets will be locked so I will be able to keep my personal belongings inside when going to recess or other destinations. On my desk will be the lunch count/attendance, Kleenex, and a pencil holder where students will dispose of broken pencils and pick up a sharpened pencil so they do not disturb the class by using the pencil sharpener. Next to my desk is the small group table where I will meet with students to work on small group activities or to pull students aside if anyone is struggling; this can also be a table to work on guided reading lessons and a place for students to work on projects in class. My chair would be placed at the straight edge of the table while the rest of the chairs for my students would be placed at the rounded edge so that way I can still see the rest of the students while I am working with groups. Behind the small group table is the coat racks and a counter with the sink/drinking fountain. On the counter would be where any class pets would go as well as plants. This counter would also be where student mailboxes were, which is good because they would be on the same wall where they pick up their coats and backpacks. Below the small group table, sink, and drinking fountain area would be tile flooring so the students could place art projects and crafts on the table and it would be easier to clean up. The intercom, phone, and pencil sharpener is right by the door. There will also be bulletin boards over these items to display any educational stuff as well as

student work. Next to those are the computers. Having at least two computers for the students is a good amount so that I can rotate students each day so everyone gets a turn to use one within a 2 week period. Next to the computers is the designated reading area. There is a reading rug where the children would sit on while the teacher sits in the rocking chair to do a read-aloud. This rocking chair would also be used for a selected student to sit in during free time. Behind the rug is a bookshelf with books labeled by genre. During D.E.A.R., there will be a student that gets to sit in the rocking chair and will be determined by myself. The television would be next to the chalkboard mounted on the wall so that all the children could see. Mounting it on the wall would also give room for more storage underneath it. There is a bulletin board next to the chalkboard to display student work, as well as post up the alphabet, math facts, educational quotes, calendar, weather, etc. Next to the bulletin board would be maps of the world and also maps of the countries. The windows would be on the side of the room so they wouldnt distract students and there will be more storage under them for markers, crayons, glue, games, etc. All of these items would be organized in labeled bins. I am a very organized person so my room will have everything labeled and in bins. Overall, I think centering the room on the students and then having all the work space and extra supplies surrounding them is a good way to set up a classroom. That way the students are the center of the learning. B. Operational 1. Attendance Attendance will be taken according to how students choose which lunch to have for that day. When students walk into the classroom the first thing they will do is come over to my desk and put the popsicle stick with their name on it in the bowl labeled with the lunch they are eating that day; hot or cold. The students who do not put their popsicle stick in a bowl are absent. I have assigned one student as one of the room helpers who is in charge of making sure to count the lunches. They need to make sure that everyone placed their popsicle stick in a bowl and take the lunch count/attendance to the office (I will place a class list on my desk so they can check off names). I will also be double checking the lunch count to be sure that there are no mistakes made. This is an efficient way to take attendance so we can get started with our day right away.

2. Record keeping I think it is very important to keep track of my students grades as well as their behavior throughout each week. It will make my job a lot easier because at parent conferences I will be able to get out my grade book and have records of both. In the academic section will be the students name, date, assignment, and the amount of points they received out of the total amount of points the assignment was. I am also going to include the percentage. Everything will be organized into weeks and subjects. This will make it easier for me look up students grades if necessary. Along with having this in a grade book, I am also going to put everything into my computer. If my computer ends up crashing or anything, I will have everything in the grade book which is a good second resource. In the behavior section I will write the students name, date, and refer to the stop sign, which will be talked about later, and record how well they behaved that day in the book. The behavior section will also be organized by weeks. 3. First Day of School Before the school year begins, I will be sending a newsletter out to all the parents of my incoming students. This letter will contain an introduction about me, a basic overview of the policies and procedures for my classroom, a list of materials that the child needs to bring in on their first day, and any important events that are going on within the first 2 weeks of school. I will also include a letter to each student welcoming them to my classroom and let them know how excited I am to have them in my class. When the students come in on the first day, I will be standing in the doorway to greet them and direct them to hang up their backpacks and which seat to sit in. As we wait for everyone else to arrive they will be told to decorate their name card anyway they like, showing off their personality. As soon as everyone has shown up, I will introduce myself and tell the students a little bit about me. We will be going over the classroom procedures, the rules and expectations, and safety rules. I will inform the class that we will be practicing the routines and procedures every day so that they can get them down. Also on the first day, we will play a few name games so that everyone can get to know each other a little bit. We will continue to play name games for the first couple days of school.

4. New students If a new student is to come into my classroom after the school year has begun the whole class will do everything to make that student feel welcome. I will introduce the new student to the rest of the class. As a class, we will explain to them the class procedures and expectations. I will be sending a letter home with them for their parents explaining all the work we have done so far and that we are very glad to have their child be a part of our class. I will also let the parent know that they are welcome to contact me with any questions they may have. During free time, I will let the student explore the classroom and guide them around the room explaining where everything is. 5. Cleaning classroom and desk area In order to keep the classroom clean there will be a designated area for communal supplies: glue, markers, paper, scissors, rulers, etc.; all of these items will be in labeled bins. The only thing that the students will keep in their desks is books, assignment notebook, other notebooks/folders, and a pencil holder with erasers and pens/pencils. This way the students will be less distracted throughout the day. It is my students responsibility to clean up their desk area at the end of the day; nothing is to be on their desks or falling out and chairs need to be up. There will also be 2 cleanup helpers to check all the areas around the room at the end of the day to make sure everything is where it is supposed to be and that there is no trash on the floor. 6. Displaying student work Bulletin boards will be blank at the beginning of the year so that as soon as the students create their first project/activity their work will be put up on the boards around the room. Every couple of weeks we will be changing the material on the bulletin board so it is up to date with what we are working on, but it will always be something that the students create. Every bulletin board will have a clear heading of what is being displayed in order to inform others that enter the room. In front of the windows will be clotheslines in order to hang up any artwork that has been done. It is important for the students work to be up so that when their parents come in for conferences they can see what their children have accomplished. One thing I would like to do, if accessible, is hang items from the ceiling as well. If the ceiling is the proper material, we will be using paper clips to place in the ceiling with yarn or string attached to their artwork and the clip. I will do everything in my power to display my students work around the room where it may be available to do so.