5 Classroom Wall Essentials!

Hello again fellow educators, as mentioned before here is my second post focused on preparing your classroom environment for the 2016-2017 school year.

The classroom environment contributes to the academic and social development of each student who enters its universe. Therefore, we need to go beyond simply sticking or mounting subject charts as the means to create a motivating and stimulating environment. There are some elements which can be termed ‘Classroom Wall Essentials’ which are integral in helping to instill in our students a sense of responsibility, confidence, perseverance and cooperation.

Careful consideration and implementation of these ‘Classroom Wall Essentials’ can ultimately lead to classrooms where students are central in helping to foster a motivating and stimulating learning environment.

Classroom Wall Essential 1: The RULE CHART!

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Location: To the front of the classroom, where students can easily refer to them.

Purpose: to familiarize students to the expected behaviours toward others, while maintaining a safe environment to participate in learning (Marzano et al….2003)

Characteristics: The Rule Chart is generally introduced during the first week of school as the teacher and students become familiar with each other. In creating a Rule Chart, it is important to get an input from the students. In addition a few guidelines which can be followed are:

·        Always phrase your rules in the form of a positive statement.

·        Make sure that you do not exceed 5 major classroom rules

·        Ensure that the rules are stated clearly so that students can recall and learn them.

Classroom Wall Essential 2: The JOB CHART!

Location: A wall space which is easily accessible and viewed from anywhere in the classroom.

Purpose: to give students the opportunity to take responsibility and to ensure and maintain the smooth flow of instruction without interruption. The presence of a Job Chart provides the opportunity for students to engage in procedures and routines which engender the traits of responsibility and cooperation.

Characteristics: The role of each classroom job is clearly outlined to all students, since generally at the primary/elementary level students get the opportunity to participate in each capacity.

Some classroom jobs include:

·        Teacher helper

·        Lunch helper                    

·        Line leader

·        Paper manager (collects and distributes)

·        Library helper

·        Board eraser

·        Trash collector

Classroom Wall Essential 3: MOTIVATIONAL POSTERS!

Location: Any wall space in the classroom.

Purpose: to continually remind students that they are valued and loved, so to inspire and stimulate confidence in each child.

Characteristics: The Motivational Posters should be:

·        Eye-catching to students

·        Short phrases which can be chanted and learned

·         Promoting appreciation of self and others

·         Promoting positive attitudes to work and learning

Classroom Wall Essential 4: STUDENTS’ WORK

Location: Any available wall space at students’ eye-level

Purpose: to show students that their work is appreciated and they are significant in the learning environment.

Characteristics: In displaying students’ work in the classroom, it is important to:

·        Recognize ALL products and not just the exceptional products

·        Provide examples of the process and the product

·        Recognize the work of students by adding their names to their displays

·        Refer to displays during the instructional times

Classroom Wall Essential 5: SIGHT WORDS

Location: One or more designated wall areas which are easily viewed by students.

Purpose: to provide students with a word bank which they can easily access to improve in their reading and writing development. How students view themselves as readers and writers is integral to developing self-confidence.

Characteristics: The Sight Words are critical in students’ literacy achievement and must be:

·        High frequency words at the specific student and class level

·        Written in manuscript

·        Group alphabetically so words can be easily located

·        Grouped by subject area

·        Referred to often to ensure they are used by students in their oral and written communication

Fellow teachers as you prepare your classroom for your new students, I hope that you consider greatly the

 “5 Classroom Wall Essentials” mentioned in this post.

I would love to hear from you and see how you have implemented these classroom essentials.

Hope you are inspired!!