Classroom Ideas for Sixth Grade
Depending on the school district, students may attend the sixth grade at the end of elementary school or the beginning of middle school. Either way, teachers can customize their classrooms in ways that ensure an optimal educational experience for their students, who are entering adolescence as opposed to being "little kids."
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Classroom Layout
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The way a teacher arranges the classroom is an important basis for effectively engaging and educating students. For some, a standard arrangement of separate rows facing the front of the classroom may suffice. However, there are other options. Arranging the desks in a large U-shape or other surrounding shape can foster classroom discussion and allow the teacher to make eye-contact with every student while giving them all the same front-row vantage point that the standard row-based layout does not. Additionally, the teacher can arrange the desk in groups of four or six to allow for group-based activities. Classroom layout should correspond to the educator's own teaching style.
Decorations
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Decorating the classroom can help personalize the environment and create a more welcoming atmosphere to students. For example, plant life may result in a more pleasant, homey classroom. Teachers can buy their own posters, artwork and other decorations, but they can also use student-generated decorations to give each of them input into how the classroom looks. Artwork can reflect the holidays or change in seasons, but for sixth graders, it may be helpful to create decorations based on current lessons to further cement the ideas being taught and allow for constant engagement.
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Rules
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Classroom rules are necessary for maintaining order among the students, and they often list "essentials" like no hitting, no talking out of turn and no running. These rules should be tailored to the classroom situation and the teacher's own preferences, but that's not to say students can't have a part in making the rules, too. In the sixth grade, students are old enough to contribute their own ideas, so a teacher may see it fit to ask the class for input on what rules should be included. This democratic process can keep the students engaged and active in maintaining classroom order, and can be augmented by having students write down a copy of the rules for themselves and possibly quizzing them once or twice.
Technology
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Technology is a vital part of everyday life, and can be a great educational tool if integrated in the classroom. Students in sixth grade may be taking computer classes or may already be computer-literate, but a teacher can implement computers in ways that advance their classroom education, such as teaching valuable research skills that will benefit other classes and their future education. Additionally, a teacher can also assign computer-specific activities that relate to the regular lesson plan to make computer time even more relevant. It's also possible that some students may know more about computers than the teacher, so in this case those knowledgeable students can become invaluable to classroom computing and help out less-experienced students.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Geography Class image by redrex from Fotolia.com
