The Perfect Classroom

In my opinion the perfect classroom is defined more by its atmosphere than by the materials within it.  Many school districts, especially those located in large cities, do not have budgets that support allocating resources that would likely be found in 'the perfect classroom'.  It is for that reason that I find equal importance in a teacher's ability to use the resources they have to teach students with different needs in the most effective possible way.  Even simple things like ensuring that students can feel confident and safe when asking or answering questions is essential to perfecting a classroom.  Establishing mutual respect, rules, and routines with students can be just as important as the books or computer programs that can be found in a classroom.    

That being said, if given the opportunity to design the perfect classroom I would ensure that I had all the materials necessary to help students achieving at different levels reach success.  I would have books, of multiple genres, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and plays at varying levels of difficulty.  There would be posters on the wall encouraging creativity, good work ethic, and literacy.  There would also be a map on the wall which we could use for activities about the world's different places and cultures. The student's work would also be displayed throughout the classroom.  A word wall would have vocabulary words and other words students wanted to learn to define and spell.  The students have individual desks but also have seats at round tables giving them the opportunity to work collaboratively in small groups.  There would be an schedule that can be adjusted for each day's activities posted in a location that students could easily see and a calendar to remind us of important dates.  There would also be an area for the class to get together for shared reading.  Ideally there would be iPads or computers for the students to use to help them become technologically literate, and to also do activities that reinforce the skills we work on as a class.  A smart board can also be useful to encourage student interest and participation.    

Ultimately, I would like a classroom that offers students a safe and encouraging learning environment where they can be excited to learn and grow not only as readers and writers, but also as individuals.