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Daily Agenda on the Board
This let's students know what to expect for the class period each day. Knowing ahead of time what concepts they'll be working on, what the days activities will be, and the assigned homework, eases anxiety and helps make transitions smoother.
https://mathwithmsyi.com/2019/07/23/classroom-whiteboard/

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1. Pick up Classroom Binder
2. Sit in assigned seats
3. Welcome! Share one good thing about the week
4. Listen to Daily Objective(s)
5. Listen to Daily Agenda, ask any questions
6. Participate in Classroom activities and assignments
7. Clean up your space at the end of class
8. Leave class when dismissed

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Expectations Posted
Posting clear expectations in the classroom creates a safer learning environment. Students know what is expected of them and engages them in the learning process. "Create a few straightforward yet inclusive rules for your classroom. Too many rules will be hard for students to remember and follow, so try to keep it to five or six. That means the rules need to be broad enough to encompass all of the behaviors you want to avoid, while being clear enough that students understand what behavior is expected."
https://theknowledgereview.com/establishing-classroom-expectations-is-important-for-better-outcomes/#:~:text=Teachers%20can%20set%20classroom%20expectations%20and%20promote%20collaborative,personal%20responsibility%20to%20improve%20their%20learning%20and%20behavior.
https://www.centervention.com/classroom-management-plan/#classroom-organization-setup

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Flexible Seating
Students with ADHD often struggle to sit still in a chair. Allowing students to choose from a variety of seating including exercise balls or stand up desks helps them to focus on their assignments.

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Setting/Routine: Visuals in the Classroom

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Setting/Routine: Visuals in the Classroom

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Math Posters
Having visual aids posted in the classroom to help students remember the basics is important. Basic operations, Math vocabulary, Math cognates for ELL students, Order of Operations and an Integer Number Line are all helpful tools to have posted in the classroom.
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/teaching-tools/home.html

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Quiet Corner
Creating a quiet space in the classroom gives students a safe space where they can go to calm down, take a break, and think about wiser choices. This is especially important in a Special Ed classroom, when students may lack coping skills to handle frustration, social situations, and intense emotions.
http://fromseptembertomrsmay.blogspot.com/2016/11/firsties-go-zen-positive-behavior.html

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Classroom Jobs
Assigning classroom jobs save the teacher time and empowers students to take ownership in their classroom and learning. It's important to teach and model how to perform each job, then students can mentor other students when it's time to change jobs.
https://www.centervention.com/classroom-management-plan/#classroom-organization-setup

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Differentiated Instruction
Using a variety of teaching methods will better meet the needs of students who come from various backgrounds with different skills, knowledge, and motivations. (Kauchak & Eggen, p. 392.) For example, for one lesson, the material could be presented in a direct instruction format. The next lesson could be presented through guided discovery or cooperative learning.

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Support Materials/Assistive Tech
Especially in a Special Education classroom, support materials are vital, and required by federal law. (Kauchak & Eggen, p. 105.) Some students need noise cancelling headphones to be able to focus on their work. Other students benefit from fidget devices to allow them to concentrate. Students with dyslexia may need to use Speech to Text programs or devices that will read the written word to them. Assistive Technologies "prevent disabilities from becoming obstacles to learning." (Kauchak & Eggen, p. 106.)

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Assigned Seats
Students will have strategically assigned seats based on their individual needs. Some students may not work well near each other, they will be seated apart. Some students can focus better closer to the teacher and board, they will be seated near the front. Some students will feel more comfortable being able to see the door or the clock, they will be seated accordingly.

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"I Do, We Do, You Do"
This method has been shown to increase student achievement.
I Do - The teacher works through an example problem while students watch, listen, and ask questions.
We Do - The teacher presents an example and guides a discussion as the students work through the problem and practice the steps for solution.
You Do - Students then practice their new skill in small groups and on their own.
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/practiceguide/20

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Culturally Responsive Classroom: Equity Sticks

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Culturally Responsive Classroom: Equity Sticks

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Equity Sticks
Creating a set of equity sticks is easy and helpful. A teacher can write student names or numbers that correspond to the students on popsicle sticks and store them in a jar or cup. When calling on students in class, using the equity stick to determine who to call on ensures that the teacher is being fair and giving an equal opportunity to all students. Equity sticks increase engagement and participation.
https://sillyomusic.com/easy-equity-sticks-for-music-teachers/

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Culturally Responsive Classroom: Diverse Role Models

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Culturally Responsive Classroom: Diverse Role Models

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Monthly Motivation
To engender competence, I will choose a Monthly Motivational quote each month. The quote will hopefully be something they can remember and remind themselves when they are having a tough time, such as “I am not a genius, I just worked really, really hard.” (Luna, 2021.) I'll point out to the students that they, too, can work hard and master these concepts. The role models chosen will be diverse to show that people from all races, ethnicities, and diverse backgrounds, can be successful.

Luna, M. Z. (2021, September 30). 11 Famous Hispanic Scientists Who Changed the Course of History. Homeschool Spanish Academy. https://www.spanish.academy/blog/11-famous-hispanic-scientists-who-changed-the-course-of-history/

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Calendar
Including all holidays on the classroom calendar can help make the classroom a more inclusive, welcoming, and safe place for all students. Conversations about each holiday, especially those that may be less well-known, can serve two purposes. Students from those cultures or religions have an opportunity to share while other students will learn, creating a more understanding environment.

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Technology Provided
Various technologies are needed for today's classroom. Students will need a personal device to access materials, graphing calculators for advanced math, or headphones to listen to materials and block out distractions. However, not all students will be able to afford to purchase their own devices. Having devices available through the school, a classroom set of calculators, and classroom headphones and other support materials will allow all students to have the technology needed to be successful on their assignments and ensures equity.

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Student Access: Google Classroom
In this day and age, when students and teachers may be required to quarantine due to Covid or exposure to Covid, learning must be able to switch to remote at a moment's notice. Posting all assignments in Google Classroom will ensure that students can always access materials and assignments, even if they are unable to be physically in the classroom.

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Student Choice
Giving students some choice in their learning and differentiating instruction will create a more culturally responsive environment. When assigning a project, students can be given choices of how to complete the project. They could draw a cartoon, record a video, create a slide presentation, make a 3D model, or even come up with an idea of their own that will demonstrate their knowledge of the material. (Kauchak & Eggen, p. 392.)

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A Classroom Management Plan for Elementary School
Teachers. (n.d.). Centervention®. Retrieved November
26,  2021, from
https://www.centervention.com/classroom-management-
plan/#classroom-organization-setup

Dev@TKR. (2021, August 31). Establishing Classroom
Expectations is Important for

better Outcomes. The Knowledge Review. Retrieved
November 21, 2021, from

https://theknowledgereview.com/establishing-
classroom-expectations-is-important-for-better-
outcomes/#:%7E:text=Teachers%20can%20set%
20classroom%20expectations%20and%20promote%
20collaborative,personal%20responsibility%20to%
20improve%20their%20learning%20and%20behavior.

Kauchak, D., & Eggen, P. (2017). Introduction to Teaching:

Becoming a Professional. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson.

M. (2020, July 11). How to Set Up Your Whiteboard - Math
With Ms. Yi whiteboard.

Math With Ms. Yi. Retrieved November 21, 2021, from

https://mathwithmsyi.com/2019/07/23/classroom-
whiteboard/

May, J. (2021, November 30). Firsties Go Zen - Positive
Behavior Management in the

Classroom, Part One.
Fromseptembertomrsmay.Blogspot.Com. Retrieved

November 26, 2021, from

http://fromseptembertomrsmay.blogspot.com/2016/
11/firsties-go-zen-positive-behavior.html

S. (2018, July 30). EASY Equity Sticks for Music Teachers.
SillyOMusic. Retrieved November 26, 2021, from

https://sillyomusic.com/easy-equity-sticks-for-music-
teachers/

Teaching Tools | Resources for Teachers from Scholastic.
(n.d.). Www.Scholastic.Com. Retrieved November 26,
2021, from
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/teaching-
tools/home.html

WWC | Teaching Strategies for Improving Algebra
Knowledge in Middle and High

School Students. (n.d.). Ies.Ed.Gov. Retrieved November
26, 2021, from

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/practiceguide/20

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As summer winds down, many of us are starting to plan for back to school and dreaming up what we want our classrooms to look like. (No? Just me? Okay.)

In the next few blog posts, I will walk you through parts of my room. If you are like first year me and have no idea where to start, I hope this series of posts will give you some quick tips on classroom organization. If you are a seasoned veteran in the classroom hopefully you can take away something new and also add to the discussion with best practices you have found in setting up your room.

White Board Set Up

Different schools have different expectations for what your whiteboard should look like. Some schools might not even give you any expectations!

An effective whiteboard layout usually has:
-Date
-Objective
-Agenda
-Homework

Other things I've had school require on boards include materials, literacy skills or a behavior tracker.

Before setting up your board, take time to visualize what you want that space to look like. This will be the center of your classroom and what your students see daily. Take pride in making it look neat so that students will follow your lead.

One of my biggest pet peeve is tape that isn't laid down straight. Below is my board my first year. You can see that the tape curves a bit instead of falling straight down.

Over the years I've honed my board taping technique and my process goes as follows:

1. Section Off Board

Start by sectioning off your board with whiteboard markers. You should be drawing those lines in roughly. They do not need to be straight but should give you an idea of how things will fit.

2. Make Markings

Once you know the rough outlines of your board, use your measuring tape and start on the bottom of the board. Measure your board from the end of the board to where you want your first marking to be. Put a small dash on your whiteboard to where that is and remember the length. Do the same to the top side of your board and leave a mark to that measurement. Make sure the length from the edge of the board to the notch is the same on both the top and the bottom. This will ensure that when you lay down the tape it is perfectly straight. Continue the same procedure to all the other sections of your board.

3. Lay Down Tape

I always start my tape at the top of my board. Align the end of the tape to the notch, pull the tape roll down and line it up to the notch at the bottom of the board. Don't touch the tape and allow it to fall organically onto the board before pressing it down. This helps the tape look natural and not forced. It also makes the lines perfectly straight. Continue this for all lines on your board.

What tape should I use?

Electric tape will be your best friend in classroom set up. It looks clean and leaves minimal residue when removed. It is also relatively cheap-I purchase mine at Home Depot. Note that electric tape is a little stretchy and can change shape if you pull too hard. When working with it allow the tape to flow naturally from the roll and don't apply too much pressure. When the shape changes it sticks to the board curvy and can look tacky. I use electric tape for my classroom calendar to keep a clean look.

Decorative washi tape also works well. It holds its form unlike electric tape and is super easy to work with. Depending on the type of tape you get, it may leave a residue when you remove it. I use washi tape for my daily work board as well as my word wall board.

Ready to Get Started?

Here are the board labels I used this year in my classroom. I made mine on my Cricut but designed digital versions of the labels so that they can easily be printed, laminated and assembled in your classroom.

For more white board inspiration check out my Instagram highlights to see my white board in action!

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Kela (unapologeticallykela from i'm good)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Set Up Your Whiteboard - Math With Ms. Yi whiteboard

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As summer winds down, many of us are starting to plan for back to school and dreaming up what we want our classrooms to look like. (No? Just me? Okay.) In the next few blog posts, I will walk you through parts of my room.