My classroom would be ideal for kindergarten to 2nd graders. To create my 21st century classroom, I used Classroom Architect which is available on the internet. The projector at the front of the room would be an interactive smart board where most of the teaching and learning would be done. To the left of the door when you walk in the room would be the sink, to clean up any spills or for the students to wash their hands. Straight ahead when you walk in the room would be the my desk. It is at the front of the room so that I can see all of the students and I can also monitor who goes in and out of the classroom. I would have two types of tables for the students to sit at, kidney and square tables to give the students a variety of where they can sat. I would also switch the students assigned seats once a month so they would get to know everyone in their class. Each desk would have a laptop at it and a shelf under the desk where the student could store the laptop when it is not in use. When the laptop is not in use, the students can charge their laptop since the charging cord would plug into the ground and reach up to the charging shelf. In one of the back corners of the room, the "clothes storage" would be where the student cubbies are located. The students could store their backpacks, lunchboxes, and coats in the cubbies for the day. Next to those would be the circle rug where the students would gather for group discussions. The student of the week would get to sit in the bean bag chair and Iwould sit in the chair at the top of the rug. In the other corner, there would be a bunch of storage shelves for toys, games, learning devices, etc. Also in that corner, there would be the classroom iPads and leap pads for the students to use during free time or when instructed to use. The easel's on the one side of the room would be white boards with markers for me to use as an alternative teaching device in the classroom.
When I was researching online, Bright Hub Education suggested using welcoming, calming, or creative colors, while also remembering to keep it simple when choosing colors to paint the classroom. I think I would use shades of yellow and orange to paint my walls to really make my students feel welcome and at home. I would also put a quote or two on my walls such as "never give up" or "always try your best" to motivate the students each day. My furniture in the room would be gray, black, or white with the cubbies and shelves being wood. My carpet would be green to add to the welcoming colors. I arranged my desks the way they are to encourage group work with other students and so that all students can see the boards easily. According to the article I found from Stanford University, "students working in small groups tend to learn more of what is taught and retain it longer than when the same contents is presented in another way." I also believe that working in a group, especially as a child really does help a student succeed since it is an alternative way of learning the material provided by the teacher. If I had a student who was handicapped I could easily have them sit at a table by removing a chair. In addition to the laptops at every desk, the smart board and iPads would easily be assessable for all the children to use. The smart board would be used to teach the lessons of the day to the children and it will also be used by the students to answer questions, play games, etc. You can learn about the different types of smart boards on the smart board webpage. The apps on the iPads would be used for different group activities and during the students' free time. The leap pad devices would mainly be used during free time to help students improve their reading or math skills. The laptops at each students desk would be there for them to look up things online and even complete homework or classwork. Since the students are younger, they would receive step by step instructions on how to use the software from me and there would be security settings on each laptop. For students with exceptionalities, accommodations can be made in my classroom very easily depending on their disability. Everything in my classroom is very accessible for every student. I would have many different ways of teaching the material including hands-on, visual, and auditory sources to support all the different types of learners I could possibly have in my classroom. Teacher Vision has an article that can help teachers find ways to adapt their classrooms for students with exceptionalities.
I would continue to expand my Personal Learning Network and grow as learner because I would constantly have to be looking up the latest technology trends for teaching or even the newest apps for students to use. Before the students use the apps or visit certain websites, I would have to figure out how they work and make sure they are age appropriate for my classroom. I would also be learning new ways to incorporate the smart board into my lesson plans each day and even new ways to get the students involved with learning and technology. In my classroom, I would have Skype sessions to possibly communicate with students in other classrooms around the state. During the Skype session, I would like to teach a group lesson or even play a review game between the two classrooms to help the students prepare for a test. I would keep my parents connected to the classroom by allowing them to visit my classroom during open houses, parent-teacher conferences, or by appointment with me. I would also communicate through email with the parents about important events and the their child's success in the classroom.
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