Chart it up!

Look around your room.  Does the "wallpaper" reflect what's important in your instruction?  Does it
engage students in routines for success?  Do you hold students accountable for using the resources you provide?

The design of your classroom shouldn't be left to chance.  Consider these things as look at your own classroom:

1. Charts should be relevant to current learning.  If they are something coming later in the year or something that has been taught and won't be reviewed daily, take it down.  Only have up those things that are current to your learning targets at the time.  Otherwise, students don't see it.
2. Posters should be student-centered.  The more students see themselves reflected around the classroom, the more connected they are to the content and skills of the class.  Student-designed charts work best.

Students use this chart to help them connect to their reading.  The symbols force them to identify their thinking without taking a lot of time away from the enjoyment of reading.

Group norms in an acrostic help students remember classroom expectations.  This is great for a regular component of the classroom design

Students entering and exiting this class are reminded of the routines of the classroom.  With minor reinforcement at the beginning of the year, students can use these visual reminders independently.

Another chart demonstrating the timeliness of a concept.  

An established routine of student responsibility, building classroom ownership and leadership.

Another reminder about the end of day routines so that students can word independently.

Essential Questions should change based on the topic of study.  Using these a teachable questions enhances the learning of the class.

Students know where to look for their learning objectives.  However, they change based on the current learning.

Another example of classroom routines that are reinforced for consistency and independence.

A student-designed chart...literally!