Mathematics And Science Teacher Education Program Teacher Support Network Sample Lessons

CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION

I. Set the Stage

A. Post Rules

1. Teacher standards
2. Simple and clear

B. Class Procedures

1. Materials required
2. Put daily (weekly) agenda on chalk board
3. How to take role
4. When it is appropriate to move around room
5. How and when to sharpen pencil, get a drink, etc.
6. How and when to turn-in and pick-up assignments
7. Classroom clean-up

C. Misconceptions

1. Students should know how to behave.
2. Rules are announced. (wrong! Rules are taught.)
3. If you do a good job at the beginning of the year you
won't have to deal with problems later.
4. Students dislike classroom rules.

II. Room Arrangement

A. Optimum Arrangement: puts least amount of distance and fewest
barriers between teacher and any student in class.

1. U-class
2. Teachers desk

B. Common Arrangement: desks in rows with teacher's desk at front.

C. Alternative Room Arrangements (no single best)

1. Function of type of furniture.
2. Function of the type of lesson.
3. Changes day-to-day.

D. Laboratory Arrangement

1. Around perimeter
2. Back of room
3. Front of room

E. Bulletin Boards

1. Short term

a. Current events
b. Notices

2. Long term

a. Posters
b. Themes under study
c. Student projects

F. Displays/Demonstrations

1. Short term
2. Long term

This web page is under the supervision of Dr. Patricia Backer. She can be reached at pabacker@email.sjsu.edu or by phone at (408) 924-3214. This page was last updated on July 14, 2004 .