Classroom Set up

Now for the fun part! Setting up the classroom :)


Since I have two positions, I like to have defined space for my preschoolers and for my elementary students.  One half of my room is our "centers or free choice time" the other side is my work table for my elementary kiddos, a direct instruction work area for my preschoolers (also used as a seperate work area for my elementary kids), my desk area, and individual work desks for my elementary students that have a structured 1, 2, 3 work system.


Direct Instruction for Elementary:
I kind of explained this in a previous post but in this area, I have an awesome shelf with multiple spaces in it. On each shelf, I separate my things  that are specific to each students' goal work. I also label on the front of each shelf the students' names so in case there is a sub or if my associates do direct instruction work they know what to pull.  In a box next to that, I have my reinforcers/rewards for my students. Also hanging in that area are my students' progress monitoring clipboards.

Work at Desk:
Also in my classroom is two "work at desk" or independent work areas. Each area has a shelf (bought at target) with 3 shelves within them. At the beginning of the year, I have my associates make a 1, 2,3 work system. Things that I put in here for my kids to work on, is work that my students have already mastered. We take the first few weeks of school to teach them how to match their number, do their work, return their work task, match the next number...and so on...Dividers for this area were made out of pvc pipe and sheets from Walmart. (see pic below) I also have a specific shelf in my room that has the work tasks on them only. They are divided out by student skill level so it makes it easier for my associates to pull for them to do independent work.

Below is a panoramic picture of what my classroom looks like. Let me know if you have any questions!!

Half of my classroom..From left: Desk area, direct instruction, independent work area, message center.

Independent work area with 1, 2, 3 set up.

Shelf with work tasks

Student Organization

The next organization part I start (it takes quite a long time!) is organizing all of my students things. I have a .5 time resource position and a .5 time self contained preschool program so there is a lot of paperwork and things to be put together! 

I start by color coordinating all of my students things. Their lockers and picture/object schedule is a certain color, their table spot, their progress monitoring clipboards, their spot at group. This way, I do not have to have their confidential information on display AND they know where their designated spot is to allow for consistency. Each child has a daily notebook that gets sent home and that is also in their color. 

After that, I go through their IEP goal work and print each of their goal pages. I make sure all of their progress monitoring sheets are printed and up to date and put on separate clipboards according to each child and their color. After I have gone through all of their goals, I create a spreadsheet with each students name and their goals. I write on this document weekly so I can input it online from a simple sheet and am not running around looking for their scores. 

 For my preschoolers, I have clipboards that have all goal work are hanging in my "direct instruction" work area (where I do goal work with them). Their most current progress monitoring data hangs on clipboards there.  Also, in my direct instruction area I have an awesome shelf that has baskets where I can put all of the things I need for direct instruction and can put my reinforcers. 

For my morning students, I have a shelf that has their current progress monitoring data (that is covered). Each student has a "mailbox". There is where their associates (if they have one) leave their daily clipboards with any progress monitoring data so I can write it in my spreadsheet. It is also where I leave any papers for them to take home. 

For my morning kids' progress monitoring, I have bins that have each goal work in on a shelf.

Color cordinated locker spaces (Some students have schedules that are not stationary and some have object to object schedules)

Direct instruction/goal work shelves

Progress monitoring data clipboards

Picture (sideways) of my students' daily notebook.

My elementary students' daily data/weekly data. Also, each child has a clipboard that opens so I can insert any social stories, etc.