Larsen 1

Tara Larsen
Professor Nugent
EDUC 231S
2 February 2016
Classroom Set Up
Grade Area: 7th
Content Level: History
Number of Students: 20
Design:

Rationale:
This is my classroom idea for a seventh grade, history classroom of about twenty
students. For the ease of this simulation, I have decided to make this classroom be my own
classroom, not shared with the other teachers. Students, instead, rotate into the classroom. My
space is set up in a horseshoe arrangement, with the tables as the main focus. Other items ring
around the outside of the horseshoe, such as the technology center, my desk, the student shelves
for their books/jackets/etc., and the reading corner.

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With the horseshoe, group and class discussion are easier to facilitate. With history, I
especially want the students to talk and debate the merits of historical actions. Projects and group
activities will be introduced into the classroom as well, giving the space inside the horseshoe a
purpose too. The horseshoe also gives me the opportunity to reach the students in the back
through open proxemics. The reading corner in the back promotes the idea that history is not the
only focus of this environment. The computers give the students an opportunity to seek out
information that they want to find. This room is about learning of all kinds.
The walls above the computer and by the door are reserved for student work and projects
for my classes. That way, the students can feel like they belong in the room. The back, by my
desk, offers a more personable opportunity to look into my life. The wall space in the front is
reserved for educational posters, and reminders of expected behavior while in my room. This
room might be theirs, as well, but it needs to be a room of respect, and education is the main
purpose of why they are here.
The area is set up to foster social contact. History is about people making decisions and
working, or not working, together. I dont want to be the only voice exploring the past; I want
my students to take charge of their learning, and work together to come to realizations.
PowerPoints and note taking are a part of the learning experience, which is why I have the
students facing the front board. However, other assignment and class work options are
encouraged. For example, students could make a tri-fold brochure to cover what they learned in
the section by accessing the computers on the side wall. Living notes, such as the small groups
acting out the main points of the section can be done in the center of the horseshoe. Students can
easily move in chairs to work at a table with others when it comes to group work. Students can
put up folders for testing or individual work so they dont look across. Debates can be done by

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having the outside rows argue pro and con on issues, with the perpendicular row being the
facilitators and decision makers. I want to utilize all aspects of the room, and with the
differentiation of learning, this was the classroom idea I had in mind.