Our classrooms must be thoughtfully planned, created and modified to ensure the environment maximizes independence and learning. When designing the layout of your classroom, it is essential to consider how you will define each area of your room. Visually and physically defining spaces will tell students where the space is located and the boundaries within that space. Defining areas is especially important when establishing your classroom routines and expectations at the beginning of the year. By thoughtfully designing a layout, you will maximize student independence, increase focus and decrease frustration.

You can define your spaces in multiple ways. Here are some examples:

• Dividers
• Furniture
• Visual Labels
• Colors
• Shapes
• Images
• Tape

How you define your space will depend on the ages and the needs of the students you teach. For example, color tape might work well for a secondary student, but a student in an early childhood classroom may need a divider or furniture to define the space.

Below, on the left, is an example of a classroom layout consisting of four centers and a whole group area. The centers are all color-coded with bookshelves and dividers as a concrete representation of the centers' boundaries. These visually and physically defined spaces also help reduce distractions during instruction time. On the right, are pictures of some of the centers. You'll notice how they are visually defined using colors and rugs.

Below are additional examples of ways to define the areas of your classroom.

Below is a classroom tour of Emily Rajtar's classroom at United South Central in Wells, MN. Emily did a fantastic job visually and physically defining her classroom using rugs, dividers, symbols, colors and furniture. Emily assigned the centers a color and labeled the area with a large colored circle. Emily's classroom includes an arrival and departure area, transition area, small group, whole group, 1:1 instruction area, play area and independent work stations.

• Transition area with individual student schedules

• Different centers

• Snack area

• Morning meeting area

• Independent work area

• 1:1 teaching area

• Arrival/Departure area

• Break area

• Play area (younger students)

• How much space do you have?

• What type of furniture is in your classroom?

• How will you define areas?

• Do you have a student that needs their own area?

• What will students do with homework and home/school communication?

• Where will your supplies go?

• Is it functional and student-centered?

If you are a new teacher, this may seem overwhelming. If you feel overwhelmed, you can focus on designing and defining one area of your classroom. Think about the one area in your room that could use the most help and start there. For example, if your students are walking (or running) away from your teacher time center making it difficult to teach because you're constantly trying to get them back to your center (we've all been there!), then start there!

If you've been doing this for awhile and you have your classroom layout down, think about the different areas of your classroom: Are they functional and student-centered? Are your areas free of unnecessary distractions? Consider adding fabric over the front of distracting shelves or perhaps add a para prep station.

Next week, we will go over the second step in your classroom set up: schedules!

1. Creating a classroom layout that is visually and physically defined ✔️
2. Providing, teaching and using schedules for EVERYONE
3. Providing, teaching and using visual supports
4. Explicitly teaching routines and expectations

Check out the Back-to-School Theme's First Unit! Theme units include original songs, books, and activities that support students’ skill development and generalization with content that’s fun, accessible, and theme-based. These monthly units now include an expanded Social Studies suite, containing fun, theme-related activities that reinforce cultural engagement. Included in all Themes First! units are lessons, activities, and worksheets for group and independent work at a wide range of levels.

Date/Time: October 3rd, 2023 from 3:00-4:30 PM

Where: Virtual

Description: Join us for the first ASD EBP Webinar (formally known as STAR Webinars) of the 2023-2024 school year! During this webinar, we will discuss strategies to train paraprofessionals to provide individualized instruction in the classroom. Topics will include creating training time, creating paraprofessional schedules, and training paraprofessionals to run centers/stations. 1.5 CEUs will be provided.

Date/Time: October 25th, 2023 from 4:00-5:00 PM

Where: Virtual

Description: Take your classroom set up a step further by setting up structured centers in your classroom. Topics include different types of centers, setting up each center, teaching students to rotate through centers, and teaching paras to run centers.1CEU will be provided.

Feel free to contact me for any questions or concerns via email or phone. I'm also available to chat via Zoom Mondays from 7:30-8:00 AM and 3:00-3:30 PM. If these times do not work for your schedule, please email me and we will find a time that will work for both of us.

Tuesday Tips 'N' Tricks is made possible by Minnesota Low Incidence Projects