Part of the importance of classroom management is the space in which learning takes place. It is important that each aspect of the classroom serves a purpose and is designed with optimal classroom management in mind.
One huge aspect of classroom space is the word wall. More and more schools are making this space mandatory and teachers need to make the most of this learning tool in the classroom.
There are two main aspects to a word wall: the type of word wall and the activities related to the word wall. There are in fact many types of word wall to choose from and this choice will directly impact the learning activities students can do.
For more information on the types of word walls and numerous activities that can make the word wall interactive, read:
Word Wall Lessons
- Keep a clipboard with you at all times for informal assessments – use sticky notes with each child’s name.
- Keep a mailbox on your desk so that students can write notes to you – no more tattlers!
- Color code!
- Use vocab words when teaching a lesson and then add them to the word wall.
- Build a simple puppet stand
for shows.
- Have students create hand-made signs for areas in the classroom.
- Use a story telling apron made out of flannel board felt.
- Purchase transparent Highlighter Tape
!
- Make boxes out of 2 milk cartons – make one side name, arrow up for I understand, arrow down for I don’t understand, green light/red light for answering questions.
- Use a thinkmark – This allows students to write their thoughts as they read a book.
- Journals – split into color folders and collect a different color every day to write back.
- Hedgehog desk – “I need space” place for children to choose to go to instead of getting into a fight.
- Color code baskets for each subject for assignments.
- Read books aloud on tape for the library.
Classroom management is more than simply the words and actions of the teacher and students. The layout of the classroom can have a huge impact on the student’s behavior as well.
If there is a specific behavior problem you face on a regular basis, consider the classroom layout an how it may be impacting the behavior. Here is an example:
One teacher’s class had difficulty lining up quietly. With a bit of reflection, he realized that his seating arrangement was such that the students had to bump into those already lined up when getting out of their seat and lining up, causing students to chit chat and get out of line.
He split his seating arrangement in half and sent kids through the middle and to the back, stringing the line of students around the back of the classroom instead of across the front. This new arrangement helped students line up more quickly and quietly and saved a lot of frustration.
