ERM journal question 6

6. Describe the physical arrangement of the room and explain how it is or is not conducive to the reading or language arts program. Describe and respond to the “literate richness” of the classroom environment.

            Here is a quick over view of what the room looks like. I wish I would have taken a picture, but since I didn’t I will try and use my words to describe it. When you walk in the door there is a small hallway/closet area for their bags and coats etc. As you continue in there is a place for homework and folders. There are four tables set up with six children at each table. In the left corner there is a reading area with bean bags and pillows and is enclosed on three sides by bookshelves. It is well lit and comfortable.  Right beside this is a semi-circle table that is used during reading workshop with a special reading teacher. At the front of the room there is a smartboard, with a platform in front of it so all the students can easily reach it. In front of the smartboard there is a carpet area that the children gather on and have read alouds, interactive writings, and great conversation. Beside this area there is a chair for the teacher and an easel to write on or hang chart paper.

            The way the room is arranged is great for the reading and language arts program. The room is filled with books. They have individual book bags and journals that they use to read during independent reading and write in during morning work or independent writing. From their seats, children can easily read the smartboard for directions or any information the teacher may post. At the children’s tables they have pencils, markers, erasers, crayons, scissors and journals. This availability of materials makes it easy to engage in creative writing in their journals. There are reading materials all over this classroom, their work is displayed on the walls, and the focus of this classroom is reading and writing.

            The classroom could be more “literate rich”. They do have class rules that they have created by doing an interactive writing. In one corner of the room there are two charts talking about why they like second grade that were written by the children. And they have their three main rules of being respectful, responsible and safe which are hung on the wall and the children also wrote it. So I do feel that they have helped in creating this room but I would have liked to see more of their work and writings displayed.

            I love how the room is sectioned off into different areas. The rug area provides a comfortable safe place where they can read and write together and also share and have great conversation. Their desks are supplied with many writing tools making it a great area for writing, and when it is independent reading time they simply turn their chairs back to back and have a place to read without becoming easily distracted. The reading area with comfortable beanbags and pillows is a nice place to get alone and read. And the semi-circle table is great for reading groups with the specialized reading teacher. All around this classroom is set up in a way that is conducive to the reading/language arts program.