Effective Classroom Set Up for Engagement and Accessibility

Summary

Learn how to set up your classroom to maximize functionality and accessibility!

tan text on a navy background reads: effective classroom set up for increased engagement — The classroom is often referred to as a third teacher because when the setup is thoughtful and done well, it can increase student growth and independence.

Elementary classroom set up can be overwhelming. With all the wonderful ideas, you can easily go down the Pinterest rabbit hole (maybe that’s how you ended up here!). Next thing you know you’re knee-deep in Target and Michaels bags wondering where to begin. Put down Tiktok, close the Target app, and keep reading to learn how to effectively setup your classroom for increased engagement and accessibility.

Are you thinking about how to set up your small group work space? Grab this guide to effective small groups and learn the best space as well as effective strategies to keep your students engaged and small groups on the move!

Effective Classroom Setup

First, think about what effective classroom setup means to you. What are your goals with the space? The classroom is often referred to as a third teacher because when the setup is thoughtful and done well, it can increase student growth and independence.

a pair of mismatched tables is shown. text above reads prioritize functional over cute. — When creating your classroom, prioritize functional over cute.

Where to Start?

Starting a classroom setup is the hardest part! First, visually take in your room. Note doors, whiteboards, or chalkboards, outlets, counter, and other items you cannot move. These will anchor your room and you will build your spaces around these items. Pro tip: sometimes you can move whiteboards and chalkboards! Kindly talk to your custodial staff but remember they are super busy this time of year. It’s okay if it doesn’t happen right away!

After you have noted things you cannot change, try to chunk your room into different spaces. Where will students work? Will there be a teacher area – what will it look like? Try to limit the room to 3-4 chunks depending on the size of your space. Here are some of the more common classroom setup areas.

a first grade classroom is shown. text above reads: chunk the space in your classroom to help define its purpose — Try to limit the room to 3-4 chunks depending on the size of your space.

Whole Group Space

The whole group space is often the focal point of the room. It generally centers around a large whiteboard. As technology becomes more integral to daily teaching, it is nice to try to find an outlet for this space as well. Ideally, the area should be clear of visual clutter to support students focus on the lesson. Rotating anchor charts can be a nice addition to the whole group space as it can provide students with reminders of the lesson as they move on to small group or independent work just make sure to remove anchor charts that are not relevant to the lesson.

Student Work Space

Student workspace is a huge piece of an elementary classroom setup. First, think about the type of work you are hoping to encourage. Maybe you want to support collaboration, so you are opting for grouping of seats or perhaps you want to support focus so your students will be more spread out. When creating a student workspace in your classroom, opt for flexibility. Teachers are not mind readers and our elementary students are still getting to know themselves as learners. When your student workspace is flexible, students can discover the spaces where they can focus best and become more successful.

Teacher Space

Creating a teacher space in an elementary classroom setup is totally optional! What teachers need is a space to meet with small groups of students, with materials readily available. Get your free 7 Steps to Successful Small Groups guide for step-by-step instructions on creating a welcoming, efficient small group space. Due to the make up of the classroom, many teachers opt to utilize their small group space as their desk, or to use a more traditional desk as a small group space. I prefer to use a kidney, or trapezoid, table as my desk. I have plastic drawers underneath to keep my materials organized and it makes it extremely easy to meet with kids to provide personalized instruction.

Library

A library is a crucial place in an elementary classroom! It is where students discover themselves and learn about those around them. As Dr. Bishop famously stated “Books [can be] windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors”. Creating a classroom library that is diverse and welcoming allows all students to see themselves in their classroom while learning about those who are different. But how to set up your library in an elementary classroom? This could be its own discussion! I opt for many, organized choices.My library has books organized by content and series (Mo Willems is always a hit!). I also ensure the library is always open so students may access it freely. When setting up your classroom library, make sure it is easily accessible with clear spaces for walking and books can be grabbed without lots of digging.

Calm Down Space

Many elementary classrooms benefit from a calm-down space. While this space doesn’t need to be big (in fact it shouldn’t be), it provides children an escape from needing to be “on” all the time. Most effective calm down spaces are in a corner, away from an exit in the classroom. They generally have a place to sit and one or two sensory bottles or activities for students to focus on to give themselves a break. I like to have my calm down space in the corner behind my desk because it physically shows students that I am there for them. Often, students will opt to share what is going on while I am sitting at my desk and they are utilizing the calm down space.

Less is More

When thinking of your elementary classroom set up, less is more. Less things on the walls, less stuff in the room. When you have less things, you can be more intentional with your teaching. Student engagement also increases because they are focused on the skills at hand, rather than distracted by physical or visual clutter. Beginning the year with an “unfinished” room allows students to take ownership of the space, creating a positive community within the room. It is everyones classroom so make sure your students get a say in how it is set up too!

Classroom Set Up Examples

When setting up your classroom, it’s okay to change your mind! As you use things or put things out you may move things around. Think functional over cute. How will kids see the room? What will they be able to access? Here are a few elementary classroom set up examples to get your ideas flowing!

Making the Most of a Small Classroom Set-Up

Classroom sizes can vary and having a small room can feel restricting. How can you possibly fit all the things!? Well, you can’t. It is helpful to prioritize materials based on frequency of use. When using a small classroom, decluttering every back-to-school season can help teachers find clarity in their instruction, while increasing student accessibility. When setting up a small elementary classroom, short bookcases can easily create pockets within the room while still giving teachers a line of sight.

Best Classroom Set Up

Well, here is what you’ve been looking for the best classroom set up for elementary students! Just kidding…there is no best classroom set up. What worked great one year, may not work great the next. Each group of kids that walks through your door is unique and will benefit from various changes in the environment. The best classroom set up is one that is responsive, and changes with the needs of the students within its walls. Using the classroom as a third teacher can increase teacher effectiveness and student success. Pro tip: give your kids a heads up if you are moving big pieces of furniture, it helps prepare them for the visual change.