Before
After
History & Science wall
I like to do my ELD instruction in combination with history and science. This way, I am able to easily apply GLAD strategies to teach the concepts. With 6th graders, their independence allows for them to be the ones creating most of the GLAD components with some support from the teacher. I have them complete performance tasks based on the standards that ask them to complete pictorial inputs, CCD charts or other components (2-column notes, graphic organizers, etc.) as part of their learning. At the end, they are asked to complete a co-op strip paragraph (my favorite) to demonstrate understanding of the topic as well as their grammatical skills.
Math Wall
I like to make my walls useful and interactive whenever possible. I use Khan Academy in my classroom to monitor student progress/classwork.
- Therefore, I like having a list of the skills for each unit so that I can keep track of the skills students must complete on Khan Academy, it serves as a reminder for me as well as for students, especially if they were absent. This chart is also useful for any classroom observers that come in, that way they automatically know which skills we've been working on and when.
- The Khan Academy leaderboard is a great motivator. I am able to track student points by simply clicking a tab and then update the student points on Friday's.
- I also have the progress chart. As students complete/master skills they are given a percentage that represents how many skills they have completed out of all 6th grade math skills. Students are able to move their name to the appropriate box. This makes them responsible and aware of their own learning.
- We are an AVID classroom, so we use 2-column notes.
- Our class also completes untis of study that include performance tasks. I like to post all three performance tasks on the wall. We review each performance task the following day with a focus on a mathematical practice, hence the label.
Writing Wall
- Most schools have programs for the students to practice their typing skills. Our district adopted Typing Club. I simply have them go on there for 10 minutes daily after recess and on Fridays I updated their wpm rate.
- The white board is to display students that have received 100% on their weekly spelling test. Each star represents another 100%.
- Since my classroom is 1:1, the majority of our student work is digital and I did not want to have to print every essay out (we have limited ink/paper). Therefore, I decided to use QR codes to their writing folders created and automatically organized by using Google Classroom. Using QR codes saved a lot of space :). Several visitors to our classroom have come through and scanned the QR codes to view student writing.
- On the far right I have their writing goals. Similar to the math, students move their names into the pocket that they need to work on.
Progressive Discipline plan Wall
Our school requires our progressive discipline plan to be displayed.
- I love using Class Dojo. I give students points for using PBiS skills to socialize, as well as for being responsible and bringing their AVID binder and signed agenda every day.
- Students are able to use their points to purchase rewards as shown in the poster below.
- Consequences for not following PBiS are listed below and displayed for students.
Table group setup
Common core requires students to have group discussions. Therefore, setting up the classroom using table groups is more conducive to discussions. I have room for up to 34 students, so I have some groups of six and others of five. I found this crate idea on Pinterest. <--love it! The crates allow the students to organize their library books and binders outside of their desks, so it leaves their workspace cleaner. Also, I've found that placing the table materials at the center of the table creates problems as students want to argue about whose desks it should be on etc. and this eliminates that problem. I was lucky enough to be able to find colors that matched the materials so it adds a wonderful extra splash of color to my classroom <3!!
I can go into detail on any parts of the classroom setup that you'd like, just leave a comment for what you would like to see :)