Mia Fiedler

Dream Classroom Paper

As I was designing this classroom, there were multiple things that were important for me

to include in the design process. As a preservice teacher, we are encouraged to start planning and

start to think through how we would set up our classrooms. This class gave me great insight on

some important things I had never considered before while thinking about my future classroom.

The first thing I decided I wanted in my classroom were tables for my students. I arranged them

in a U-shaped design around the carpet seating area. I had always wanted a U-shaped seating

arrangement, because it affords my students to interact with each other and encourages

discussion. I wanted a space where discussion and interaction were encouraged, and with this set

up, my students will be able to see all their peers faces which was also important to me. With this

set up, students can’t have all their supplies in front of them or easily accessible. Since I want to

teach younger grades, I think this would be a good way to limit distractions while I am teaching.

This is an example of a negative affordance because I am trying to decrease behavior. However,

there are some downsides to not being able to have all their supplies on hand. I decided to add

the bins on the table so they can have access to the essential items they will use every day for

class. I also saw chair sleeves utilized in previous field experience, and I thought it would be a

great way to help with storage. The bins will allow them to have access to pencils, erasers,

scissors, glue and other items, while their chair sleeves will allow them to have access to things

like folders and notebooks. I think this will allow them to have access to materials without

having to get up and go to their cubbies every time while I am trying to teach which will allow

for a smoother lesson. I choose to draw a rug with dots on it, so my students can have assigned

spots when they sit down on the rug. This will help them keep a routine and stay in assigned
spots. This will also hopefully act as a positive affordance, and help my students stay in their

personal bubbles and keep their hands to themselves. The way the dots are positioned allows for

every student to be able to see me as the teacher and the board. Since my students will need more

storage, I have drawn cubbies where each of my student will have their own area to hold things.

They can keep things like headphones, markers, calculators, and additional or extra supplies in

there. They are placed in accessible areas around the classroom, so my students won’t have to

move that far to reach them. However since they aren’t right next to my students, I have created

a negative affordance because I have made it slightly more difficult for students to access their

other materials. The laptop or iPad cart is placed in the corner of the room, but it is a cart so we

can move it if need be. If is also located in a very accessible area for my students. I wanted a cart

so the devices wouldn’t always be in front of my students and cause distractions. In the front of

the room, I have a white board, and either a smart board or a projector. This will help me be able

to write in real time in front of my students, and project things like slides. I also have a word wall

displayed in the front of the room, where my students will be looking every day. This ensures

that they know where to look if they have problems with writing or reading. I also included a

calendar, and a bulletin board in the front of the classroom. I will use the calendar every day

during morning meeting, so I wanted my students to be able to see it. This will also help them

see what day it is, and important events or things coming up. The bulletin board I will use to

display reminders about school or class activities. I wanted it to be in the front of the class so

students can identify the information easily. In the corner, I have bookshelves and comfortable

seating for my reading nook. I wanted the reading nook to feel cozy, and students to feel safe and

relaxed. I have lamps to help create the cozy environment, and different chairs, pillows, and rugs

students can sit on and relax and read a book. I wanted the area to feel inviting so students would
feel encouraged and want to read. Since I want to encourage reading, I created a positive

affordance and made it easy to want to read in the reading nook. I choose to put my health station

in this area, because I thought it would add to the feeling of safety. The health station would have

things like lotion, band aids, Chapstick, hand sanitizer, and tissues. These are all basic things that

would help to make my students feel more comfortable in my classroom, and things that I

believe are important for them to have access to. In the teacher corner, I have shelfed and storage

for my teaching materials. I have a swivel chair, so I can move it from my desk to the semicircle

table. This affords me to move back and forth quickly and save room in my classroom. I wanted

the table so I would be able to work with my students in small groups, so they get the individual

attention they need. I can also work with my students based on skill level because there are seven

chairs. I have the students’ mailboxes next to the turn in boxes, and next to my desk to its easy to

grade and just pop the worksheets into the mailboxes. They will know where to turn in and find

their assignments, which will help with consistency and routine. This is another example of a

positive affordance because I have made things easy and very accessible for my students. I also

have a snack station located by my desk. I wanted my students to be able to have snacks and

food, but I would put limitations on when and where they could eat it. I also placed it next to my

desk so I could have some control over when students try to take from the snack station. I would

keep it stocked with healthy choices like fruit and granola bars. It was important to me to

incorporate natural lighting, which is why I have two windows in my classroom. I also have class

birthdays posted in that corner of the room because I always thought it was a fun thing my

teachers did to help create classroom community. I have a chair there for me in case I wanted to

have my students meet over there instead of the front of the room to switch things up. On the left

side of the classroom, I have lots of storage including game and toy storage, and art supplies. I
wanted a place I could put all the items I could need for art projects and teacher prep. I also have

some extra pencil holders so students can grab them as they need them by the art supplies. I will

have students ask before they go through the art cabinet. I wanted a place to store games and toys

for when we have free time or play time. Since I want to teach the younger graded, I thought this

would be important. I have an additional bookshelf for more storage and a greater selection. I

also was thinking about organizing the bookshelves by reading level so students could just look

in the bookshelf that suited their needs to make it easier to find a book. I have my class

expectations posted on this wall. It is an area that will likely have heavy traffic, and it is easy to

see from around the classroom. This will be a spot for me as the teacher and my students to refer

to when they need reminders.

This set up will be the most beneficial for my classroom because it utilizes all six keys.

The safety key is being met by making sure my students have their basic needs met by having a

health and snack station. If students don’t feel like their basic needs are being met in a classroom,

they won’t feel like they’re in a safe environment. Having the classroom expectations posted

ensures my students always know the expectations. They are clearly identified and stated so they

can have a sense of reassurance and routine. The classroom expectations also tie into the success

key. Having students have their own cubbies and know where to look for materials and where to

turn in their homework also applies to the success key. Setting routines is very important for

students, and all these details will ensure my students will be successful in my classroom. The

love and belonging key are being met because of the way my tables are set up, encouraging an

open, classroom community. It emphasizes inclusion and ensures everyone is involved and

celebrated. The class birthday’s also ties into the love and belonging key, as well as the value

key. I want to make sure every one of my students feels valued and loved, so making sure that
my students know I know about them and their lives, and value them is very important in my

classroom. I also help make them feel important and recognized. The freedom key is present in

the way I have allowed for multiple seating options and arrangements in my classroom. I know

that students need to feel autonomy, so making sure that they have options in the classroom is

very important. The stations also tie into the freedom key, allowing students to use the stations at

their discretion, and use them properly so they can continue to use them. Finally, the fun key is

present in the colors, and the way the classroom is set up. The reading nook, the game cabinet,

and even the way the tables are arranged can all speak to the fun key. The classroom is set up in

an interesting way that I think will help keep students engaged and excited to come to school

each day.