The best way to get classroom arrangement ideas is to see  photos of how REAL teachers have set up their rooms.  On this page, you can tour all of my classrooms from 2003-2008, and also view photographs of my colleagues' classrooms and those of website visitors.  You're sure to get some creative ideas for utilizing your space in a new way!

Cornerstone Cross-Reference           Find even MORE information about setting up your classroom in The Cornerstone book!  Book-exclusive content includes:       Ch. 1: Classroom Arrangement   *How to create space for the 8 basic elements of an elementary classroom, no matter how small or oddly-shaped the room   *Photographs of four desk arrangements that really work (and why two others don't)   *Attractive and useful set-ups for bulky and outdated computer stations   *The number one factor you should consider when placing your desk and workspace       Ch. 2: Planning for the First Weeks of School   *Sample lesson plans for teaching procedures during the first week of school   *The 11 things that HAVE to get done before the first day   *What to buy (and what NOT to buy) for your classroom       Ch. 4: Avoiding the Paper Trap   *Detailed instructions for establishing ONE place for EACH type of paper you come across, regardless of the space and containers you have       Ch. 5: Finding and Filing Instructional Resources   *Specific guidelines for managing your lesson materials for each subject area       Ch. 6: Organizing Classroom Materials   *How to make the most of students' school supply lists so you don't have to spend out of pocket   *Why you should think twice before allowing students to share materials or use communal school supplies   *Inexpensive ways to get classroom materials       Ch. 7: Maintaining a Class Library   *How to choose books that kids will want to read (and how to obtain them on the cheap)   *Quick and inexpensive ways to categorize, level, and arrange your books into baskets or bins   *How to spend just ten minutes setting up a self-running book checkout system   *Solutions for the great debate: should you allow students to take books home?   *5 simple lessons that teach your students to care for and maintain your classroom library   *Creative ways to give kids ownership over the class library       Ch. 8: Cleaning, Packing, and Moving   *What to keep, what to toss, and where to put it so you can find it!   *Step-by-step photographs that show how to pack up your old room and unpack your new one   *How to pace yourself so you don't get overwhelmed       Ch. 12: Student Responsibility and Organization   *Strategies for teaching kids how to organize the supplies they keep in their desks   *Showing students how to keep a set number of pencils in their desks and having a consistent procedure for them to be sharpened   *Establishing routines for cleaning up and rewards/ consequences for when students do or don't meet your expectations   *How to give students the responsibility of keeping the class running smoothly through a genuinely useful class job/helper system       Ch. 17: Meeting Individual Needs   *Considering the 6 student positions (needs/motives): identify WHY the child is acting out so you can choose an appropriate response   *5 student responses to correction, and how the teacher should enforce consequences for each response type   *Being consistent while differentiating for students' needs: handling jealously by getting kids to recognize and accept that your job is to be equitable, NOT fair   *The secrets of low-key rule enforcement and the importance of revealing your reasoning   *2 critical strategies for dealing with violent, defiant, and emotionally unstable children   *How to avoid power struggles with a calm, unemotional demeanor and through replacing repeated demands with expectation reminders   *What to do in a stand-off with a defiant child: step by step directives on what to say and do in the most extreme and/or violent encounters   *4 examples of personal improvement (individual behavior modification) plans that work with real kids (read their before and after stories!)       Ch. 18: The Challenges of High-Poverty Schools   *The realities of teaching in low socio-economic areas--everything they didn't teach you in college!   *My own background and experiences living and working in the inner city, and why I have a special heart for the teachers and kids there   *Lessons learned from a teacher who didn't make it: 5 important mindsets that a former co-worker never developed...and was terminated for after only 2 months on the job       Ch. 20: Managing Small Group Instruction   *Organizing your area and materials: photos and tips for setting up your reading group location   *Deciding on the number of groups and materials for each (and what to do with the kids who don't fit in any group)   *Flexible reading groups: how to manage your routines while pulling only the kids who need to work on a particular skill   *How to select your small group components and create a workable rotation schedule even with limited time *Is self-selected reading a waste of time? What the research says, and how you can apply it to self-selected reading procedures in your classroom   *Self-selected reading guidelines: what students should be doing and how to teach them your procedures, how to assess progress through reading conferences, using individual book boxes, keeping meaningful reading logs, and more!       Ch. 21: Rethinking Centers   *How centers can be used throughout the day: morning work, Fun Friday, during instructional time, and more!   *How mixed ability center groups can help kids stay on-task during centers and make the activities more meaningful   *Centerjobs: 5 pages of ideas to help you create specific self-paced center tasks that are quick and easy to create and assess     Ch. 25: Teaching Techniques That Minimize Off-Task Behavior   *How variety and creativity in lesson implementation make the difference: NINE pages of tips to help you keep your kids engaged WITHOUT spending hours designing perfect lessons and activities!