Creating a Vibrant Classroom

The best classrooms are not only efficient, they're enticing. They are brightly colored and almost magical in terms of their appeal to children. They include lots of books, objects, student-produced work and artwork. They have snakes, birds, and other animals for students to look at and think about. However, building a classroom environment doesn't happen overnight. If you are just getting started, here are some ideas to consider at the beginning of the year and in the months ahead.

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Things to do at the beginning of the school year:

• Supply your classroom library with books of different genres, topics, and reading levels.
• Arrange books by genre, topic, and reading level.
• Create a chart for signing out and returning books.
• Place colorful alphabet letters on a wall for a future "Word Wall."
• Designate a bulletin board for student work.
• Design a wall space where students can introduce themselves to each other (an "All-About-Me" poster, a letter describing some favorite activities, etc.).

Things to do throughout the year:

• Add section for student book recommendations to the classroom library.
• Add new books to your library based on your curriculum and students' interests.
• Co-construct colorful charts as you teach reading and writing strategies (see examples above).
• Develop bulletin boards and displays for units of study.
• Add to your Word Wall.

Grouping and Routines That Support Learning

One of the most difficult decisions teachers face is how to group students in ways that promote reading, writing, and talking. Below are some ideas for building a framework of grouping options and related routines throughout the school year.