Are you a new teacher this year and organizing your first classroom? Or maybe you changed rooms recently? Or perhaps you are just ready for a classroom overhaul? There is so much to consider when making your space inviting, conducive to learning and organized enough to make things easier for you. Here are 7 must haves in your special education classroom.
Teacher Area
The first of the 7 must haves in your special education classroom is your area. That’s right, the teacher area. I start with this one because I think it is often the most overlooked. You need a space that is comfortable for you and that allows you to get the work finished. You want plenty of desktop space, the technology that you need, a comfortable chair and a few personal items. This is also where I keep my small refrigerator and coffee maker. Obviously this is a student free zone, make the space yours.
Student Learning Areas
There are several different student learning areas that you want to have in your classroom. The first is space for whole group instruction. I like to use tables because the desk often feels too restrictive to my students, especially those with the wiggles. From their tables, the students need to be able to see the board area or presentation area and have plenty of space to spread out their materials. Next you will want a space for small group instruction. I like to have a table that is set up for my small groups. Either myself or one of my paraprofessionals will have a teacher chair and then several student chairs available. I also have several independent learning tables in my classroom. These tables are filled with independent learning activities where my students can grab and get started on their own. The last student learning area that I have in my classroom is an isolation table. Some days I have a student who simply needs to work alone but be constantly in my line of sight. This small table is near my desk so that I can keep an eye on things from the entire room. The student will face away from the rest of the group so that they have limited distractions. This is not a punishment table, but rather a learning place that meets the needs of my students on that day.
Sensory/Calming Area
The next of the 7 must haves in your special education classroom is a sensory/calming space. I have beanbags and a bucket of sensory items ready anytime my students need them. I also have an exercise ball and wiggle items to help them get out some necessary energy.
This area is one of the most used in my classroom so I make sure that it is full of things my students benefit from. Anytime someone is over stimulated they can spend time here. Want to know more about setting up a calming space? Check out this blog.
Morning Meeting Area
Everyday in my classroom starts with our morning meeting. During this time we review the calendar, our daily schedule, etc.
Having a space for that makes things so much easier for me. I center it around my digital board so that I can already have our schedule up and ready for my students. This is where I use my daily agenda slides.
Game and Activity Area
I love playing games with my students or having them play with each other in the classroom. There are so many skills that come out of game and activity time. However, organizing all of the boxes, etc. can get a little overwhelming. I have found that the easiest way is to use a bookshelf. I try to keep similar items together and usually take a few minutes at least once a week to put things back where they belong. This keeps our game and activity time happy next week. This is absolutely one of the 7 must haves in your special education classroom.
Schedules and Focus
Posting your daily schedule and lesson focus is actually a requirement at my school. So having a set place in my room is a must have. As already mentioned I do a digital daily schedule and post it on our digital board. But then I also have a place to write out the focus of our lessons. Sometimes this changes each day, but more often it changes as we move to another unit.
Decorating Your Room
The last must have for your special education classroom is not a specific area, but rather how you decorate the room. Some of this will have to do with your personality, your personal style. This is a great thing because it adds another layer of the students knowing you. You will want to make sure the room stays inviting and comfortable. You need space to move around and plenty of organization. I like to add rugs around the room and make sure that there are some areas with bright colors.
Setting up your classroom can feel a little overwhelming when first starting out. Don’t worry so much about it, focus on making it a place where your students can learn and you can feel like yourself, the rest will take care of itself. These 7 must haves in your special education classroom are a great place to get started!
Check out the podcast for more special education teacher tips.
One Comment
Thank you for the excellent advice. I have many of the items that you describe, but the isolation table was an especially useful tip. I have thought of that as a “punishment table,” and been resistant to utilizing one. You showed me a new perspective.
I wonder, though, if you could touch on how to include these items in a classroom with limited space without creating clutter? I have a pretty small area and the amount of space you describe would overwhelm it. Thanks!
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