Classroom Arrangement

By Debbie Cluff
Introduction

The set up of a classroom is very important to how a classroom is being managed. The teacher needs to make sure his/her classroom is arranged for the students to be productive. The teacher also needs to make sure their classroom has a positive environment for the students as they enter the classroom. Another key fact a teacher needs to consider is that their classroom needs to be ready for learning everyday. This is because in order to manage a classroom with proper discipline, a product and active classroom set-up is important. The students need to be placed in an arrangement that will keep them focused on the lesson and not deter them from learning. In this paper, we will discuss and provide ways for a lower elementary classroom to be set up.

Classroom Arrangement

Our map shows the classroom is arranged in centers. The students will sit in groups of six in four different groups. The reasoning behind the groups is that the students will be able to learn how to work with others. The students will also be able to motivate each other to do their work. The desks are arranged in the middle of the classroom so it will allow the teacher to walk around the room freely. Plus the teacher will be able to control the students in a more compact area. The setting of the desk will also help students to stay on task.

Reading Corner

In the corner of the classroom is a “cozy” reading nook which will contain the classroom library. This area will provide a “home” feeling and help the students to feel relax when they are in this area. The reading nook will also be a place for students to go to when they have completed their work and want to read a book in a cozy are. If a child is able to feel at home in the reading nook this can cut down on behavior problems for the teacher. In the reading nook, this area is a quite place. The reading nook is not located in the same area as everything else in the classroom. By having the reading nook in the corner of the classroom, it will help to promote reading in the classroom.

Centers

The listening center and computer station will be placed on the outside of the classroom. The centers will be facing the walls because the students will be rotating to the varies centers within the classroom. Plus, while students are at their centers they will need to be able to concentrate on their work. Also, located on the outside of the classroom are the storage areas for Science, Math, Art and Writing materials. This storage area allows the students to have a centrally located area to receive and place materials for Science, Math, Art and Writing. Plus, this area will help the teacher to keep his/her classroom organized.

The student’s desk will also serve as centers. During center time students will be able to move around the whole room to gain information. At each group their will be a different theme for students to learn about. By having the centers on both the inside and the outside of the classroom will enable the teacher to focus the students’ attention to their center activity instead of just rotating around the room. This will keep the flow of the classroom and will not give the students time to mess around maintaining classroom structure and discipline.

Teacher’s Desk Location

The teacher’s desk is located in the back of the classroom. The reason of this arrangement is that this will help the teacher to promote a student – centered classroom. By having the desk located in the back of the classroom the teacher will have full sight of his/her entire classroom at all times. Plus, the teacher will only use the desk for paper work. The rest of the time the teacher will be in the same area as the students.

Print Rich Environment

Not only is the arrangement of the desk important to the classroom but the motivation the classroom has to offer the students. To have a print-rich-environment, the teacher needs to have posters and signs that help to promote literature in the classroom. By having posters and signs on the classroom walls and bulletin boards will help the students gain a great deal of experiences with the different types of literature. Plus the students can do a read around the room, while sitting in the reading nook. By providing a print-rich environment, the students will be placed in a positive learning atmosphere that promotes learning thus preventing classroom misconduct.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the arrangement of the classroom is a very key part of how well the students will learn and interact with their classmates and their teacher. If a classroom is disorganized and clustered, then it will be kind of hard for a child to work and learn new skills. Plus, the teacher needs to take time to make sure his/her room is set up for learning because no matter how well your lesson plans are completed and ready to be presented. If the students do not feel comfortable in the room then the lesson plan will be presented in a way the teacher wanted it to.

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Homeschool Teacher Qualifications

Beyond the statistics, when someone talks about homeschooling, usually two points come up. The first is whether the parent is qualified to teach their child, and the second and possibly biggest question to homeschoolers everywhere is about socialization.
Qualification is a big concern because opponents of homeschooling believe that parents do not have the ability to teach children like a certified teacher does. I do agree that teachers have accreditation beyond what typical homeschooling parents do, but I also believe that parents have the ability to teach a child any class that they would need, especially in the elementary years.

Children have an ability in homeschool that is not available to them in a traditional classroom. If a student has a question in class, it might not be the appropriate time to ask the question, or the teacher might be too busy to answer; however, in homeschool if a child has a question, time can be taken to answer the question or look up the answer if it is unknown. I do not believe that everyone knows all of the answers, not even teachers; after all they are human as well. Dave Arnold of the National Education Association (NEA) stated, “You would think that they might leave this—the shaping of their children’s minds, careers, and futures—to trained professionals” (Arnold, 2008, p. 1). Why would it make more sense to leave these important factors in a child’s life to a person who the child will only be under for a year, who does not have time to develop the child’s strengths and weaknesses and provide one-on-one time with the child? After all even Albert Einstein homeschooled.

However, parents who aren’t confident about teaching higher level classes now have resources to supplement them such as online or correspondence courses, co-ops, and community college classes (Fagan, 2007, p. 1). With these classes—usually utilized in math or science but available in all subjects—students have the benefit of a teacher knowledgeable in the subject, tutoring and usually access to the teacher for specific help. This closely resembles the online courses being offered at community colleges.

While I do disagree with the statement that parents are not qualified to teach their children, I believe that there should be end of year testing. This requirement is on a state to state guideline, and I believe that it should be made mandatory so that a parent can prove that homeschooling is effective for the child. If public school children are required to take these tests, then so should homeschoolers. Virginia law states that all families must register [with their local school district] on a per yearly basis and submit results of professional standardized testing scores (similar to SOL) although there is an option of “religious exemption” that does not require any end of year testing (Fagan, 2007, p. 3). The study “Strengths of Their Own: Home Schoolers Across America” also found that students ranged in the 86th percentile “regardless of state regulation,” whether a state had no regulations or a large amount of regulations (Klicka, 2006, p. 2). These statistics show that state regulations on testing, on what degree of certification a parent has (which can range from no high school diploma to certified teacher to holder of a non-relational bachelors degree), compulsory attendance laws, etc., all have no significance in regards to scores achieved on tests.

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Building a Nation's Character

Character Development

Self-discipline is essential in any effort to build and shape the character of a person, an organization, and a community of nations. For in relation to a person-character implies (1) a positive quality of a person, so make it interesting and attractive, (2) a person's reputation, and (3) a person who has a personality that is unusual or eccentric. The root of the word "character" can be traced from the Latin word "kharakter", "kharassein", and "kharax", which means "tools for marking", "to Engrave", and "pointed stake". This term is more often used (again) in French "Caractere" in the 14th century and later entered the English language to "character", before finally being Indonesian "character". In Poerwadarminta Dictionary, character is defined as a character; temperament; psychological traits, morals or manners that distinguish one person than another. With the definition above we can say that build character (character building) is the process of carving or sculpting soul in such a way that "shaped" unique, interesting, and different or can be distinguished from others. Like a letter in the alphabet that was never equal to one another, so the people of character can be distinguished from one another (including those that do not / have not been characterized or "characteristic" deplorable). On the formation of this character may be mentioned a big name: Helen Keller (1880-1968). This amazing woman-she became blind and deaf at the age of 19 months, but thanks to the help of his family and the guidance Annie Sullivan (who is also blind, and after a series of operations can finally see a limited basis) and then became the first deaf-blind man who graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College in 1904 - once said, "Character can not be develop in ease and quite. Only through experience of trial and Suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success Achieved. " That sentence probably sums up his life story very inspirational. Through a long struggle and persistence are difficult to beat, he then became one of the great heroes of American history who received numerous awards nationally and internationally for his accomplishments and dedication (see homepage www.hki.org). Helen Keller is a model of the human character (commendable). And his history demonstrates how the process of building a character that requires discipline because it is never easy and immediate or instant. Deep reflection necessary to make a series of moral choice (moral judgments) and followed up with concrete action so that it becomes praxis, reflection, and practice. Needed some time to make those custom (habit) and form the character or nature of a person (Andrias, 2006).

Source :  http://blog.uny.ac.id/iisprasetyo/2010/06/05/peran-homeschooling-dalam-membangun-karakter-bangsa-homeschooling-role-in-nation-character-building/  I have translated into English.

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Homeschooling Means of Non-Formal Learning

Homeschooling is one alternative education (non-formal) is done independently which is generally done in-house learning activities. Homeschooling is often referred to as home school, independent schools, home education or home based learning. these terms in accordance with the meaning of homeschooling is learning at home and assisted independent outsiders as giving directions or other information sources.

at first, teaching and learning activities in the homeschooling done at home. but the subsequent development of teaching and learning activities homeschooling is not only done at home but can also be done in nature or in the office homeschooling provider or a combination of home, work and nature.
parents are generally free to educate their children by the method of homeschooling because homeschooling is something new in the world of education in Indonesia so that they do not want to take the risk. one of the things that makes them hesitant to take the path on the legality of homeschooling homeschooling from the government and they fear their children difficult to continue their education into the formal school a higher level. however, it can be argued, as the government has set / guarantee homeschooling activities in the legislation.

homeschooling program is generally divided into two types:   - Individual home schooling on homeschooling individual, the number of students who learn only one person. so the teaching and learning activities there is only 1 student and 1 teacher (parents, sister, tutor, etc.)
-Homeschooling community the homeschooling community, the number of students who learn more than one person. usually all students who take the homeschooling program merged into one. making teaching and learning more fun.

Homeschooling advantages compared to formal schools: 1. flexible learning schedule students can determine the schedule in accordance with the desire of learning so that students can learn at the time was in the mood to learn and not learn at a less than pleasant mood (bad mood).

2. students can learn with the people he had come to on homeschooling, students can learn with anyone who think students are very pleasant and also in accordance with the character of students. such as parents, older brother, a tutor, a musical, an image, etc.. 3. students can avoid things that are less good at formal schools no little thing is lacking both in formal school brawl, alcohol, drugs, hazing, pornography, sex acts, etc. 4. students can learn additional material that he had come to in addition to learning the common material that is in formal schools, students can also learn other material that students enjoy. such as painting, dancing, singing, musical instruments etc. 5. costs can be adjusted to the ability of parents lately a lot of agencies that provide services provider homeschooling homeschooling better learning services at home, office or nature. each institution offering varying prices. ranging from the cheapest to the most expensive.

in addition to advantages, homeschooling also has weaknesses include: 1. students tend Ansos (anti-social) accordance with the understanding that homeschooling has been discussed above, in general, students are more likely to homeschooling students Ansos (anti-social). this is because the student was very little interaction with others. but this can be overcome by choosing the method of home schooling groups or so-called homeschooling community. 2. parents should take an active role in the homeschooling program fortunately today many agencies that offer services that can ease the burden of homeschooling parents in caring for their children's education. okay, that much of my first explanation. hopefully enlightenment. so the visitors of this blog would choose homeschooling or formal school?? I submit the answer to each one personally. important, the choice to do whatever is best for your child ..

Source :  http://artikeljakarta.blogspot.com/2012/09/sekolah-formal-vs-homeschooling.html  I have translated into English.

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