Your Questions, Answered

In this segment, we share real questions asked by readers and Project Success program participants. This month, we address a reader’s question about preparing for next school year.

If you have a question for the team, please reach out to us at project_success@pcgus.com.  Your question may even be featured in an upcoming issue of the PS Did You Know newsletter! 

Question:

I'm a second-year teacher and thinking about how to prepare my classroom for the upcoming school year. I didn't change much from the way the previous teacher had things set up, but it feels like there's probably a better way to arrange things for me and my students. What should I focus on when setting up my classroom in order to have the biggest impact on students? 

Answer:

Great question! There are two main priorities when thinking about classroom set-up: 1) Is my classroom as physically accessible as possible for each and every student? And 2) Is my classroom set up to make academics as accessible as possible for each and every student?

Regarding physical accessibility, you'll want to make sure the furniture in the room meets your students' mobility needs (e.g., tables that accommodate wheelchairs, spacing out desks to ensure wheelchairs can navigate safely, etc.) as well as individual student learning needs (e.g., flexible seating options such as wobble stools, floor cushions, standing desks, etc.).

Regarding academic accessibility, consider whether you have (or need) areas dedicated to a specific purpose - for example, a calming corner, independent workstations, small group centers, etc. You can use the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) - Engagement, Representation, and Action & Expression - as a guide. Also be intentional about creating routine, consistency, and stability whenever possible. Visual supports are a wonderful way to enhance predictability within a classroom.

For teachers enrolled in our Playbook for Special Education Teachers, Project Success hosts weekly office hours where we answer questions and work with teachers to solve challenges they are facing in their classrooms.

Email Ashley aquick@pcgus.com to learn more about enrolling in Playbook!