Organizing the Classroom

Training Session 5

Presenters:Candice Styer & Suzanne Fitzgerald

styer.fitzgerald@gmail.comwww.styer-fitzgerald.com

To prepare Progress-tracking data sheets and Reproducible Materials for easy use.

To create a classroom environment that supports student engagement and independence.

To set up a practical and consistent schedule to manage all interaction with students.

Training Objectives

Process of Implementation

Preparing Data Sheets & Reproducibles

Preparing Data Sheets & Reproducibles

Organize student notebooks in a way that accomplishes these three things:

1. Each student has his or her own progress-tracking data sheets divided into current lessons, past lessons, lessons yet to be taught.

2. Each student’s progress-tracking data sheets and Reproducibles are easily accessible for use by you or others, like para-educators, who might be working with the student.

3. Extra copies of the data sheets and Reproducibles for each content area and lesson are ready in case they are needed and are easily accessible.

Preparing Data Sheets in a Notebook

Put Extra Copies in a File Cabinet for Easy Access

Remember:

You will likely need multiple copies of each type of data sheet.

Keeping additional copies of all the progress-tracking data sheets increases efficiency & accessibility of materials.

A ready-to-use full set of Progress-Tracking Data Sheets comes with the Second Edition Student Package.

Be sure to pull out only the data sheets that the student needs for the lessons they are working on.

Ideas for Organizing Student Notebooks

Ideas for Organizing Reproducible Materials

ACTIVITY 1—PLANNING AHEAD Grab one Student Package

Pull out the Student Assessment & set it aside.

Looking at the remaining student materials,

think about how you will organize them for each

student in your classroom.

Classroom Environment

IDEAS FOR SETTING UP YOUR CLASSROOM

Separate work and leisure or break areas and reinforce behavior appropriate to each area.

Arrange furniture and materials for maximum independence.

Minimize distractions.

Create a welcoming atmosphere that encourages a sense of belonging.

Setting Up Your Classroom

Separate Work & Break Areas

Minimize Distractions

Create One-on-One Work Spaces

Create Independent Work Areas

Create Small Group Work Spaces

Create a Welcoming Atmosphere

Scheduling

THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHEDULING

Maximizes each student’s learning opportunities.

Eliminates down time.

Provides staff and helpers with a clear guide to their daily activities.

Scheduling

INCONSISTENT OR NO SCHEDULING

The likelihood increases that there will be: Excessive down and wasted time

Staff and student confusion

Increased behavioral issues

Insufficient time to work on IEP goals

Dependence on teaching to the group

Inability to carry out an individualized program to address each student’s instructional level and growth potential

Continue to:Scheduling Examples