Literacy Coaches Can Determine Effective Classroom Environments

The next area to discuss is classroom environment.   An effective classroom environment is not just cute or pretty.  Everything in the classroom must contribute to student learning.  A literacy coach should be able to walk into a room and determine if it is an effective classroom environment.  The easiest way is to start with a checklist to train your eye to look at what is most important.  My resource, Starting Point, does just that.  It will help you develop your clinical eye.

A Print-rich environment that supports reading should include:

–Anchor charts (strategy cards, standard explanations, rotation charts, graphic organizers...):  Be sure the anchor charts are created by the teacher and with the students.  If there are too many pre-made or bought anchor charts they are meaningless to the students and only provide attractive decorations.
–Word Walls:  Word walls in K-2 should be alphabetized and in 3-5 they should be thematic or by units.  Word walls should also be added to as the words are learned and not made ahead of time.
–Trackers: Trackers should actively track each program in place in the classroom.  If a program is not monitored, how will the teacher know her next steps?  How will students know if what they are doing is working? 
–Evident grade level planning:  It is only fair that each student receive the same high quality education in each room of your school.  When you walk from room to room, can you tell that teachers are planning for and grading the same type of work?  
–Quality Student Work Posted (current)
–Focus Calendar/Common Board Configuration:  It doesn't matter how you do it in your school.  What matters is that students know what they will be learning and how they will know that they learned it by the end of each day.  
–Leveled Classroom Libraries:  Students should be able to find books at any level and interest in the classroom library.  Again, the system doesn't matter.  What matters is that there is a system in place.
–Dictionaries (regular and ELL)
–Learning Environment is engaging and neat:  Notice if the environment is engaging for this particular grade level.  Are all of the charts made with this age-group in mind?  Is the seating high enough so that students can write comfortably?  Can every student access each center?  Students should contribute to the neatness of the room.  Which means that students must understand where everything goes.  Labels are an important factor for organization.  

An effective literacy coach is reflective and observant.  Take a look at these and then determine other factors that are specific for your particular school.

This blog post is just one in a series of posts for coaches.  You can purchase a full presentation to help you build your clinical eye in my TPT store, here: Building the Clinical Eye