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We do not mail physical products.
All our products are digital downloads!
Setting up your classroom can be very daunting, but it is one of the most critical steps in preparing for a successful year! Here are my five main special education classroom setup tips to help you create a functional and structured classroom! Please remember every classroom is different, and this is just what works for me when setting up my autism classroom.
When you first walk into my classroom, I have a colour-coded system for my students to drop off their communication folders. This allows for independence and responsibility for my students. Some students required a little extra support, but near the end of the year, most of them could complete this task independently! Huge win!
Next, I have a blue horseshoe table. This area is where we do all our group activities, including eating snacks and lunch! Students know that if I put group work on the schedule, they are meant to come to this table. Some students use visual schedules, and a picture of the table would be on there.
The next area is their work desks. I am fortunate that each of my students has a desk, but in the past, we have had to share, so instead of labelling them as a students desk, I gave each desk a colour, and students would follow their schedule to a particular desk based on the colour it was given.
As you can see in the picture, each student has a desk with their own set of visuals. All my students are working at different levels and therefore require different visual support. Please do not just place visuals on their desks for the sake of it. Visuals should be functional and individualized!
Check out my blog post on desk/classroom visuals here.
Beside each desk is a bookshelf. This is multipurpose – it allows for a division between students to help reduce distractions, and it is a great storage space for extra materials, bins and their work binders.
Every classroom should have a break space. This is a place for kids to self-regulate with a quiet activity. I will be honest, we did not use this space very much this year, but it has been a staple in the past! The students know they can go here for a break if needed. Your students must always return to the activity they left once they are done in the calming corner. You don’t want this to become an escape from work. All my visual supports come from my classroom management kits.
The last area in my classroom is a meeting space. We call it the meeting mat in my room, but essentially it is an area where we can complete our morning meetings, read books and sing songs together. They also start their day here for “floor play.” I will share a rundown of our daily schedule in a future post!
I hope these five classroom setup tips help create a functional space for yourself and your students! Check out my Special Education Classroom Setup, Decor and Classroom Management Kit for everything you need to create a functional space for your students.
Our goal is to create engaging learning materials and educational resources that will help you save time.
