MANAGING THE PRIMARY

ESL CLASSROOM [ TSL 3093 ]

PISMP TESL (SK) JAN 2013

Discuss how effective physical classroom environment and social cultural environment would contribute to

effective lessons.

PHYSICAL CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT

Physical Classroom

Environment

Physical Space

Instructional Resources

Organising Physical Space

Warm, well-run classrooms begin with the room's physical layout — the arrangement of desks and working space, the attractiveness and appeal of bulletin boards, the storage of materials and supplies.

Arranging the physical environment of the classroom is one way to improve the learning environment and to prevent problem behaviours before they occur.

Organising Physical Space

Classroom resources should be managed effectively to accommodate and conduct a variety of educational activities.

Resource and facilities management is crucial in creating a conducive physical environment to enable effective teaching and learning

A safe, clean, comfortable and attractive classroom can stimulate learning and help build an efficient classroom community

“As a teacher, you have a responsibility for creating a space that reflects the learning goals of the work space, the personality, interests, and age of the students who learn there, and to create a space that is a comfortable and

productive learning environment for all.”

(Why Didn’t I Learn This in College?, by Paula Rutherford)

Organising Physical Space

A well-structured classroom tends to improve student academic and behavioural outcomes (MacAulay, 1990; Walker, Colvin, & Ramsey, 1995; Walker & Walker, 1991)

If a classroom is not properly organized to support the type of schedule and activities a teacher has planned, it can impede the functioning of the day as well as limit what and how students learn.

However, a well-arranged classroom environment is one way to more effectively manage instruction because it triggers fewer behaviour problems and establishes a climate conducive to learning

Physical Space – Seating Arrangement

Seating arrangement normally depends on how you conduct your lessons. When pupils are taught as a group they should be seated as near to you as

possible, facing a chalkboard or whiteboard. For ease of movement aisles and gaps in seating should be maintained, but

the distance between you and the farthest pupil should be minimized as possible.

Ideally, the floor arrangement will keep you in fairly close proximity to pupils working at their desks. You must be able to oversee everyone in the class and the pupils are aware of that too.

Physical Space – Work & Activity Areas

A classroom sometimes is too congested with pupils’ desks and chairs and this will affect the work and activity areas in the classroom.

If there is extra space, you may want to use it to set up for a quiet reading corner. Your table is also one important area in the classroom. It must represent your authority

and position so whenever a pupil is called to come and see you there, they feel honoured and proud.

First of all, the table must be clean so it can be a good example for pupils.

Physical Space – Wall Space

Classroom walls offer excellent instructional possibilities. Chalkboards or whiteboards are normally placed to face the pupils. They are routinely used to post daily information, assignments and also for

explanations and demonstrations. Bulletin boards tend to be used mostly for decorations and rarely for instruction. It also can be used to display pupils’ work. It provides recognition of pupils’

achievements which builds their self-esteem and is highly motivating.

Locating Instructional Space – Shelf Space

Textbooks, reference books and other special materials can be stored or displayed on shelves.

Special materials to motivate and extend pupils’ experiences can also be kept on shelves in most classrooms.

These include video and audio CDs and tapes, games, puzzles, puppets, toys and other materials.

Reading corner.

Locating Instructional Space - Cupboard

This is the best place for you to keep pupil supplies, worksheet, audio-visual equipments, ESL specific equipment 

Personal set of cleaning materials is can also be kept in the classroom closet and these includes brooms, dust cloths, cleanser, paper towels and rags.

In short, a cupboard is a place where you can store any teaching and learning materials or anything that is related to the classroom materials or pupils’ worksheets or supplies.

Supplies must be properly arranged and easily accessible.

Keys to Good Room Arrangement

Use a room arrangement consistent with

your instructional goals and activities.

o If your main activities center around a main instructional area students need to be seated so they can easily see the main instructional area with supplies nearby.

Be certain students can easily see instructional presentations and displays.

Be sure students are easily seen by the

teacher.o The ability to monitor students in a major

classroom management task. Keep clear lines of sight among different work areas in the room.

Keep frequently used teaching materials

and student supplies readily accessible.

o By minimizing time getting ready and cleaning up, you can begin and end activities promptly.(According to Edmund T. Emmer, Carolyn M. Evertson, and Murray E. Worsham)

Resources

Classroom Environment: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/734 Creating and Effective Physical Classroom Environment: 

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/classroom-management/decorative-arts/6506.html

Classroom Organization: http://www.mea-mft.org/assist/classroom_org.html Setting up Your Classroom: http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/res/classroom.html

Thank You