If you find yourself staring blankly off into space because you can’t even imagine where to begin with setting up your classroom, it is ok, you are not alone. From what the experts (other teachers who have already set up their rooms) have taught us, it is clear that it is a matter of math. Count out how many kids you will be expecting and set up their desks so they are at least six feet apart from all other desks in any direction. For some classrooms this can get real tricky real fast.
You may have to start to rule out your nonessential furniture. You will have to ask yourself about the importance of each bookshelf, table, and computer station. If it is not a requirement in order for your classroom to function this year, it may need to go. Remember, you won’t want many or any places that multiple students will access. Your small group table where kids go to and from all day, you will have to do without. The break space that any student can access at any time will need to be rethought. The student desk next to your desk that any student can use when they need extra help will need to be removed.
It’s not that you won’t allow students to take breaks or that you won’t be able to give individualized help, you will just need to plan differently with how those things will provided in your given space. Also consider using the extra space you have created between students as a space for storage. Check out this classroom setup from Victoria Diamond in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Everything still has its space, even though now it is in a different place.
Notice that every student has their own stock of supplies placed right next to them. There can no longer be anything that is shared. No more shared pencils, no more shared fidgets, and no more shared manipulatives. For the upcoming school year, every student will need their own version of everything. Emily Crowther from Virginia shared these photos of what each of her students are getting at their desk to start the year.
There are so many things to think about when creating the socially distanced self-contained classroom. My advice to you is to not overthink it in the beginning. Start with where the desks will go and how your students will access their individual supplies. From there your room will begin to take shape and you will then be able to imagine how to incorporate the finer details.
Keep the pictures coming in, it is great to see what different people are doing. Stay tuned for more!
Patrick Mulick
patrickmulick@gmail.com