Like many things in life, routine will fall short if you do not have good systems. Classroom layout ideas that work are no different. Finding the right system for organization, materials and resources that make sense for your classroom and teaching style is an important first step in becoming a more responsive teacher. Here are a few tips that have helped me to integrate assessment right into my teaching day.
How to Layout a Classroom
This is a broad question that you will likely find many different ideas and answers if you do a Google search. There are many ways to set up a classroom depending on number of students, classroom needs, teacher personality and focuses in the classroom or school.
3 important things to remember- minimize “things”, keep clear pathways and make it feel like a home to build your community. Think about the value each “thing” you add will provide to your class and avoid anything that is overstimulating. I like to use all the real estate in my room for things students will use on a regular basis such as an assessment wall (see below) and important vocabulary rather than random posters to fill space. Keep clear pathways to keep traffic moving efficiently and think about the important focus and values you want to include for your community. Student-centered classroom are important in my classroom community. One way students can get involved in the learning process is through self-assessment. This is one of the main focuses I use as I set up my classroom. Read more below on how to do this in your classroom.
4 Classroom Layout Ideas with Formative Assessment in Mind
These 4 spaces not only help my students to be involved in their learning but allow me to create a system for formative assessment that are effective.
1. Assessment Corner
This is so important to have with an assessment system. It is the hub for my organization and keeps me on track. I start here every morning as I grab pens, anecdotal note pages and rubrics that will be needed for that day.
I use the phrase Students Make Progress “SMP” to remember all of the steps of this assessment corner. The S stands for system. This includes the planning, collecting and using data to drive instruction. How does it all work on a daily basis? The M stands for materials. Everything needed for assessment is easily accessible so time isn’t wasted looking for highlighters, flair pens, or student work because let’s be honest, time isn’t something we have extra of as teachers! The P stands for paperwork. Paperwork lends itself to any anecdotal note forms, formative assessment templates or feedback sheets that may be used to support the formative assessment process.
Creating this assessment station well takes prep and thoughtful planning but reaps the benefits if done with effort and diligence. AND the best part..once it’s done, it’s done for the year! Download this FREE guide below to get a more in depth, step by step process on how to set up an assessment corner in your room.
Don’t skip this MOST important step in setting yourself up for success!
2- Student Station
Creating a student station is fun and interactive. This space is for all materials students may need during independent, partner or group times. Included items may be clipboards, marking pens, sticky notes and highlighters. Sometimes prompt cards or strategy based tools may be here to support a lesson. This isn’t a place for math or writing tools but rather a station with tools that support collaboration and reflection. This space can be paired nicely with a reflection zone (see below).
3- Collaborative Classroom Layout Ideas
Next, set up student work spaces. I call these smart spaces. Here are the two that are used most frequently.
Student Led Spaces–
This is less structured than assigning spots during independent or partner times. Students choose anywhere in the classroom to work as long as it follows the rules of agreed upon in your room. Below is the process that I use to create a Good Spaces anchor chart with my students.
- Gather students on the carpet for a discussion.
- Set the stage by talking about all of the exciting things students will learn this year and begin looking at the classroom layout together
- Brainstorm a list of possible places students could work alone, with a partner or even a group.
- Create an t-chart with good spaces/not good spaces or a rules chart to give boundaries for all the places students could work. Hang this above your student station.
- Let students practice choosing a space that follows the good spaces or rules chart and take notes on how they do!
- Come back together and give specific feedback to students.
Allowing students to be a part of the process is so valuable for a student-centered room!
Zones–
Zones are more structured and helpful to students that may have more difficulty working independently. Consider your teaching style and behavior needs of the class to how direct you need to be with these zones. Here is the process that I use for creating zones.
- Make a map of your classroom on paper
- Mark zones for students to work. If you will allow students to work alone in places other than their seat, you will need to find the same number of spaces as students in your class. If you only want to create zones for partner or group work then divide the number of students by two to create partner zones or by the number of students you would like in a group.
- Create tags to hang from the ceiling, tape on the floor or wall to mark the zones in your classroom.
- Gather students on the carpet to discuss zones. Lay it out very directly so this can become a system in your classroom. Show them the map, explain the zones and how they will be used.
- Allow students to practice the zones independently, with a partner or in a group.
- Observe, take notes and come back together as a group.
- Discuss how it went and give specific feedback to students.
With either method, you will likely need to have a discussion or create some rules around sharing spaces. The structure will vary depending on your class. Students can lose privileges of flexible spaces and zones and try again once they can use them the right way.
4- Reflection/Feedback Station
The last step to figuring out how to set up a classroom with formative assessment in mind is in a reflection or feedback station. This can look many different ways! The purpose of this station is to have a reflection space for students to think about their work before submitting or reviewing after they receive feedback. It is a place where their final thoughts, reflections or formative assessment will go after a lesson is complete. This is also where the community part can come into play! We have an inspirational wall near this station so students can write kind notes about their mindset such as “I can do this!” or “I am smart!” There are many opportunities for student growth here. These are a few of my favorite ideas to include.
- Objectives for the lesson for students to consider
- “Here’s what I’m Thinking Chart”
- Bin for exit tickets and a place to turn them in
- Rubrics or scales to self assess
- Positive affirmation chart
- Space for students to write continued wonderings, questions or things that are clear
- Mailbox for private notes to teacher
A quick formal reflection with the whole group is still important here but you can decide depending on the lesson if students need to visit the reflection station before or after that discussion.
Try it out!
Draw a classroom map, create a new station or gather some materials for formative assessment and give it a go! All of these 4 layout ideas support instruction for a collaborative, student-centered classroom where students are involved in their learning through the assessment process.
Let me know if try one of these classroom layout ideas and don’t forget to download this FREE comprehensive guide to walk you through creating an assessment station in your classroom!
