Setting Up Your Classroom

Getting your room set up for READ 180 is an important factor in the success of your implementation. The setup of your classroom will be the students’ “first impression” of what you will be offering them. There is only one chance to create the first impression of the READ 180 classroom. Let your classroom décor invite the student to learn. The READ 180 Classroom Upon entering the room, the students’ initial reaction should be that this is a place of learning. The room should have positive messages about reading and the learning process posted on the walls. The students should see print everywhere. When the student peeks in the door, he or she should see books that will target a young adult’s interest. The READ 180 classroom is a place where students want to be. We strongly suggest that your READ 180 classroom look and feel like a special place for reading, learning, and sharing ideas. Teachers can: Display books in an inviting way. Provide a comfortable reading area for Independent and Modeled Reading. Display posters, quotations, and artwork that reflect the interests of the teacher and the students. Positive reinforcement posters offer encouragement to your READ 180 students. Provide a room of good size that offers movement and allows the students to engage more fully in the READ 180 components. Provide at least two bulletin boards: one for seasonal messages and one to display students’ successes and publishing. Laminate your READ 180 classroom posters. Place a bulletin board outside of the READ 180 classroom door so that students can share their published work with others in the school.

Noelle’s Tips Visualize setting up your classroom with a clear line for movement from one station to the next. Make sure students will be able to follow a circle. Next, set up your computer center, as much of this process is dependent upon the location of plugs, drops, etc. Once the computer center is established, if possible, place the reading center in the opposite corner across the room because the computers will have some instructional noise and may disturb the students’ independent reading. Finally, now that you have two of the points established, look at placing your small group at the top of the triangle and make sure your position is where you will be able to observe both the computer and reading centers from small-group. See More Tips From Noelle