My Schoolroom Setup

Theses are some of the items I have had in schoolrooms I have been in.  You don’t have to have all of these, it depends on location and situation but some of these might be appropriate for your schoolroom area. 

Timer.. great for timing running, times tables and all sorts of things.  Once you have one you use it heaps.  More exact than the clock.

 Paper shredder.. Great for cutting up paper for paper mache.  Also good for making paper for mulch bins.  The paper can also be used for packing up tapes, cd, etc top send back.

 Guillotine..  Great for getting straight edges on all sorts of paper and cardboard.  Also means you get square edges and is a whole lot quicker than cutting.  You will use this both in and out of the schoolroom.

 Whiteboard..  My preference is a white board over a chalkboard as it is easier to use and neater.  You can also use a window as the whiteboard if you have some markers.

 Spelling Dictionary..  Spelling dictionary are great for students whom aren’t keen on using a dictionary or aren’t good spellers. It just has the words no meanings.  A lot smaller than normal dictionaries.

 Small Fridge.. It doesn’t have to be in the classroom but might be close by.  In summer you can keep cold water, cups and ice blocks in it.  You can also use it for experiments.  I use to turn the one I had off in the winter, but I still stored the drinking water and cups in it for use.  Especially hand of the schoolroom is away from the house or a cottage.

 Old Kitchen sink.. Sit it on a frame outside the classroom and near a tap.  It makes an ideal place to clean up the paint equipment and let it dry.  You can also have the water run into a garden bed so that you make the most of it.  Good place for experiments too.

Filling Cabinet or Folder.. Keep a small filing folder on your desk in the schoolroom.  In it, include all SOTA information e.g. contact numbers, class lists etc, computer info, e.g..  Centra booklets, ICT stuff, and activities for the kids if they finish early. 

Making table covers.. Use old tablecloths or material, to cover tables/desks in the schoolroom and then cover with clear plastic. 

Display backdrop.. Stitch together scraps of fabric to create colourful covering to liven up the room.  Hang a piece of fabric from the wall as an interesting backdrop when displaying kids' work. 

Setup Tips

Give them a special work area, which is uniquely theirs. 

Move the schoolroom furniture around occasionally, as the saying goes, a change is as good as a holiday. 

Have a calendar or term planner with every event on it, both school, family and social occasions. 

Keep everything in its place and label them so the kids know where everything goes and how to spell it.  This helps schoolroom to stay tidy and less work for you at the end of the day. 

Have a certificate and photo board so your child can see what he has done and it also encourages him to see what he can do.