1. Classroom Design Brooke Byington 2/24/16 First Grade

2. Steele’s Six Functions of the Classroom Setting. Security and Shelter Social Contact Symbolic Identification Task Instrumentality Pleasure Growth

3. Security and Shelter The classroom setting provides physical and psychological security and comfort. Physical- Functioning and safe classroom. Physiological- Warm and comforting environment. All classrooms have doors which lock and can only be opened by someone who has a key. This makes the students feel very safe and protected in their classroom. The students love to curl up with a good book on the reading rug. This is a good “retreat area” for them.

4. Social Contact The classroom setting is arranged to suit the amount of student interaction desired. There are many different ways to set up a classroom so children can interact appropriately with one another. Many teachers put desks in clusters, especially for younger ones, or put desks in a horseshoe for older students so they can still partner up but are more focused on the board or doing individual work. This is the set up for a first grade class. The desks are in large clusters, where students can interact with a lot of other students and help each other if needed or share ideas. My practicum teacher pointed out that this wasn’t the best arrangement due to some students backs being turned to the white board, and that gave them more reason to be distracted or not pay attention.

5. Social Contact This is their “circle area” which consists of a whiteboard, a chair for the teacher, as well as a rug for students to sit on. This is a main place for students to interact as its where they share stories from their weekend, discuss books they have read in class, and much more. Its good to have spaces like these in your classroom so students get to move around and interact with each other in more than one setting.

6. Symbolic Identification Tools of symbolic Identification can be used throughout the classroom to engage students and get them to participate such as number lines or maps of the world. They can also be symbols which designate where certain things in the room are, or things such as the daily schedule or calendar. Symbolic Identification can also include things like student work or posters. The class has a set of posters about different animals they are learning about. Lots of symbolic identification here! Month charts, ABC’S, the class calendar, and a number chart. These are great resources for students to have.

7. Task Instrumentality Everything has a place and a function! Your classroom environment must be set up in the best possible way so tasks can be accomplished easily and there is a nice “flow” to the classroom. This includes the location and practicality of centers, students desks, computers, and other components of the classroom. This is a great area with lots of different functions! This features the teachers desk and a small group table where students can work collaboratively. This area also has a cabinet where teacher supplies are(off limits to students.) This is an area where students can grab anything they need- paper, pen, glue, all sorts of materials. It is out of the way of the students, but still accessible to them. The great thing about this is that students don’t need to ask the teacher for materials, they can just grab whatever they need!

8. Pleasure An attractive and aesthetically pleasing classroom. Studies show that students learn best in an aesthetically pleasing classroom environment. This could mean having different colors and textures, having a cozy space, and artwork throughout the classroom. This is a good wide shot of the classroom which shows multiple aspects of an aesthetically pleasing classroom. The teacher has posters on the walls, clothespins which hang student artwork from the ceiling, and rugs throughout which provides students with comfy spaces.

9. Growth A learning-enriched environment. The classroom has a lot of materials and different resources which encourage students to grow and develop their skills. Includes things such as reading, creating, exploring, and discovering. Lots of materials here! The pet lizard for exploring and researching about different animals, legos for building, and other games for creating. Reading time! These are the students individual book baskets which provide them with multiple books that are on their reading level. The books get switched regularly and also change as their reading level does too.

10. References Weinstein, C. S. & Romano, M. E., (2015). Elementary classroom management: Lessons from research and practice (6 th Ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.