There is no right way to go about setting up a functional classroom. You can always change your set up as you go, so don’t feel compelled to set it up in a particular way. The students honestly don’t care that much about the classroom. They care a lot more about how you treat them and talk to them each day. Whether they do it intentionally or not, the kids will destroy your classroom. They will draw on your things, rip them, spill on them – you name it, it’ll happen. It’s certainly important to put effort into your classroom, but there’s no reason to take it so seriously.
Setting Up A Classroom Quickly
The important thing is to realize there is no reason to set up a classroom before the school year begins. I really don’t spend more than an hour each year setting up. I am a real deal hard fan of the idea that teachers shouldn’t work over the summer while they are unpaid. So I make sure to plan out my set up well. I take a few minutes at the end of each school year to organize my “go box.” Inside this box are the things that I know I’m going to want and need during the first week of school. Everything else CAN WAIT.
I’ve also reorganized my classroom in the middle of the year (a LOT). When things aren’t working the way you want them to, it’s important to recognize the problem. And then work to fix it. This for me, a lot of the time, comes to the arrangement of desks, but perhaps that’s just a me thing.
What to Buy For A Classroom
And another thing! You should not go out and buy anything for your classroom before talking to your school. More than likely, they have materials for your room, like a stapler and pencil sharpener. In my case, I got a box of Expo markers on the first day, and that was it. So my first year teacher shopping was a little crazy… And after five years of teaching, and five years of classroom set ups (long story) I have the perfect list of things that you need in your room.
Well the list has some things you’ll definitely need, some things you definitely want, and somethings you’d probably want. Now, it’s not a shopping list, like “hey go buy these exact items.” But it’s more like a checklist. For instance, you are going to need some kind of turn in bin for the kids to turn in papers. I gave you a link to mine, but you don’t have to use mine. You can use the lid of a paper box from the school copy room. There’s two great parts to that. One, it’s free, and two it’s easy to refresh every once in a while.
Here’s the list of things you definitely need for setting up a functional classroom:
- Turn in bin
- Returning papers bin
- Absent student work system
- Stapler
- Hole Punch (Single) (Triple)
- Pencil Sharpener
The important thing to remember is that when your classroom is set up and functioning, you can spend less time cleaning, organizing and looking for things. And that means you’ll be able to spend your time on the more important things. And that is one of the habits you’ll need to get yourself out of the classroom when the bell rings. Setting up a functional classroom doesn’t have to take over the entire last week of your summer. Take it easy, and know it’s not that big of a deal.
