Ideal Classroom

My ideal classroom is in a suburb elementary school. Much like the one that I attended as a child in Orem, Utah. I am working full time as a kindergarten teacher. I teach both a morning and afternoon class with a short break during the school's lunch time. Each class has 15 students in it. The student's are most form the local neighborhood much like the ones here in Orem, Utah. Because of the location most of the kids are Caucasian, but there are four children in each of my classes from a Latino background, one of the students has parents who are Tongan, and two of the children are African American.

When I first walk into the classroom there are cubbies on the left hand wall, 15 in all, one for each child in the class. The cubbies have the names of the students on them along with a picture of each student so they know which one belongs to them. There is a hook in each so they can hang their backpacks up, along with a colorful tub where they can put any other items that they bring. My desk/ office is situated in the corner of the room directly opposite the door. On the far right end of the room there are various toys, and a corner with a mini couch and a couple mini chairs. Next to the furniture there is a bookshelf filled with books on the topic we are discussing for the week. In the opposite corner from the books is a small bathroom, and small kitchen area where I can prepare the food the students bring to share.

In between my desk and the play area are 3 long tables filled with chairs for the students. Each table seats 5 students, and these tables are where the students will sit to complete art projects, and assignments that require a table. On the wall by the table are cabinets filled with art supplies and other items that I frequently use during my lessons. On the floor opposite the tables is a huge carpet covered in colorful shapes. At the front of the carpet is a chair and another bookshelf with the items I use during the beginning of class. Behind the chair on the wall is a huge bulletin board decorated to match the them that is filled with the student's artwork. This carpet is where the kids will sit when I read stories, teach songs, and where class will begin and end each day.

There is also a door near my desk that leads outside to the playground area that we use for outside activities and recess. Outside there is a shed filled with toys for the kids to use like balls, little trucks and other toys. There is a small sandbox for the students to play in as well as a play structure with a slide and stairs and another structure shaped to look like a little train.

The walls of the classroom are covered in colorful pictures and artwork, and there is also an alphabet and rubber wall where there are numbers and letters with pictures that go along with them. There are also shelves strategically placed throughout the classroom, each of these is filled with labeled colorful tubs with items relating to science, math, animals and other subjects that we discuss throughout the year. This classroom is my ideal kindergarten classroom.