Setting Up Your Classroom Tips & Ideas

1. Think About Classroom Layout

Before I start setting up a classroom, I sketch out my ideas for where I want everything to be in my room.

I think about desk arrangements, other classroom furniture placement, where the small group table will go, what types of bulletin board displays do I want, etc. Sketch the layout and then move all the furniture into place.

2. Create Bulletin Boards & Visual Displays

This is my favorite part of classroom setup! Map out what kinds of bulletin board displays you want to have. Will they just be visual displays, inspirational quotes, content boards, or student work displays? I think it’s good to have a variety of these types of boards in your classroom.

Think about what content visuals will be important for student reference. You will want those in the front of the classroom where students can look at it all year long.

You might also want an inspirational quote in the front to keep your students motivated all year long. You can also display your learning targets on a front board as well.

3. Create Designated Spaces In Your Room

I like to have a teacher area, student area, classroom library area, and small group area/learning space.

Think about the traffic flow in your room. Consider how you and your students will move through the room.

I like to create a *student area* where students can go to get their supplies and turn in work.

This is my student area. I have turn in bins on top of the shelf. Below is where I keep all extra community supplies and students can come get what they need if they don’t have a supply or find one on the floor and can return it. Then I have student supply bins where students store their individual supplies that I don’t want stored in their desk…aka anything that distracts them!

Figure out where you want your teacher area. Some teachers prefer the back of the room and other like it in the front of the room. Find out what works best for you and your classroom. I decided to ditch the teacher desk and use my small group area to as my teacher area.

I’m obsessed with this whiteboard top small group table! You can grab the reading and writing bulletin board letters here.

Good luck setting up your classroom and let me know if you have any questions below.

For more classroom ideas and tips, follow me on Instagram @faithfullyelementary.