Creating a Complete Classroom Transformation – Stress-Free

A classroom transformation isn’t a new idea for early education platforms. Teachers like to transform their learning environments to keep things fresh and exciting. However, in today’s climate, classroom transformations are a real necessity to keep our students healthy.

In the last few weeks, my program has gone from a completely virtual plan to literally being cleared for in-person learning overnight. It has been a whirlwind of a week transforming my classroom for in-person learning with all of the new requirements.

But to say I’m excited to have my students in front of me is an understatement. In our district, the families have a choice of in-person or to continue virtually. As a result, I am creating a hybrid program where some of my students will attend in person, and others will log into live lessons each day. While this has not been a seamless transition or taken lightly, I am confident in the plan I am presenting.

Classroom Transformation Ideas:

Let’s start with the schedule. Each day the students will have an opportunity to log in live. I will stream a live video during morning meetings, as well as snack time, so we can chat. Snack is a perfect time to develop our vocabulary and conversational skills. I will also live stream a learning opportunity alternating the Math and ELA lessons each day. After the live videos, the in-person students will have an opportunity to participate in additional hands-on activities.

The at-home students will have independent work packets that cover many of our hands-on activities as well. The difference is the families will be working with the student to complete these activities.  

7 Classroom Transformations

1. Individual Book Bins -every child has 4-5 books for the week, and I will rotate on Friday afternoons after sanitizing and sitting.
2. Individual manipulative containers– changed weekly as well. Labeled and cleaned using the laundry bag method described below.
3. Labeled clipboards– gives students a place to work. Allows for learning while outside and distanced.
4. Distanced sit-spots– I removed our large rug, just so I could get more space between children and have a meeting area. I used velcro sit spots as a way to designate each area.
5. Mask breaks and outdoor reading times– This speaks for itself, but it is such an important part of our day, and getting outside in nature is a win-win situation. We use mask lanyards during our breaks. More on that below.
6. 2-3 students per center– In normal times I do not limit the number of children in a center, but this year things are different. Rather than closing centers altogether, I restructured the room. Added designated workspaces, and removed many of the items so two children could work comfortably, yet distanced. I am also able to clean in between students because I have created additional materials buckets with the extra supplies.
7. Morning meeting rolling cart– This gives me a way to get outside on nice days without having to work too hard to find things and putting a plan together each morning. The cart is always available even when I’m working inside, but gives me flexibility at the same time. This classroom transformation happens as often as needed.

A few additional things to think about when Transforming the Classroom:

• Mask lanyards for young students: This way the children are not setting their masks down while they eat, sharing them, or forgetting them somewhere.
• 4-5 books per child: this allows the children to feel like they have access, but also gives me time to sanitize between rotations.
• Laundry bags for delicates: I use these as a way to wash manipulatives each afternoon. When finished students return items to laundry bags for cleaning. I then dunk, swish, and clean the items in a large bucket of bleach water at the end of the day. And hang to dry before the next morning.
• Plastic shower curtains to cover electronics and anchor charts. The environmental cleaner is sprayed around the room in order to cover all surfaces. However, this can ruin the anchor charts rather quickly. It also isn’t good for electronics, like laptops, document cameras, CD players, etc. A simple plastic covering helps keep them free of heavy mist and sitting water droplets but also allows for the cleaning agent to get into the nooks and crannies.
• Voice Amplifier/Headset/Wireless ear Buds: This helps my at home students hear me over the mask and children in the room. And keeps me from straining and exhausting myself by 10 am each morning.
• Clear Mask: This helps my students see how I am forming words and letter sounds. I have many ELL students, so it is imperative they see how to form words and sounds. The clear mask does muffle some sounds, and that is where the voice amplifier comes in to help!

Admin Ideas:

• Breaks for staff: Our regulations say no in-and-out privileges. That means if a teacher is with one group of students they cannot mix into another group during the day. This can become a challenge for teachers without assistants, or staff and faculties without enough manpower to cover breaks and be designated to a specific group. Just being mindful of how to tackle the situation before you have on-campus students will help.
• Child approved cleaning agents: This allows students to help with the cleaning. What I mean by that is giving students a way to clean their own lunch/snack spot and their individual workspace gives them some ownership of our classroom environment. Environmental cleaners are used to stay compliant with regulations. Janitorial staff administers cleaners.

While much of this is still not ideal in an early learning space, where we would normally cherish sharing, encourage teamwork and communication, and celebrate victories of autonomy. I also know that in person, even with the regulations, is better than virtually for many of our young students.

Have you created a classroom transformation?

Let me know in the comments if you have gone back in person or if you are still completely virtual. And until next time, Happy Learning, Ms. Tina