Back to School: Setting Up A
Functional Classroom

THE PROBLEM

New and early-career teachers often struggle to set up classrooms that support learning from day one. Without clear guidance, it can be overwhelming to figure out how to organize the physical space, establish routines, and align design choices with instructional goals. Poor classroom setup can lead to increased distractions, inefficient transitions, and difficulty maintaining student engagement. Teachers need practical strategies to create functional, purposeful classroom environments that support focused learning.

THE SOLUTION

This self-paced Rise 360 course helps teachers create functional, organized classrooms through practical strategies, real classroom examples, and guided reflection. The course is structured around three modules that scaffold learning from awareness to application: understanding how layout impacts learning, organizing spaces by function, and establishing consistent routines.

Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to scaffold learning and an action map in Miro to keep goals focused, the course guided teachers from awareness to application in a practical, engaging way. Learners interact with flip-card activities, view real classroom photos, and complete reflection prompts that help them connect strategies to their own teaching contexts.

THE PROCESS

I used a structured design process that combined classroom expertise with instructional design principles to ensure the course was clear and directly applicable. During the analysis phase, I identified that new teachers understood the importance of classroom setup but lacked concrete strategies for making intentional design decisions. Using action mapping in Miro, I focused on what teachers needed to do (organize zones, establish routines, and align layout with instructional goals) rather than just what they needed to know.

Action Map (Miro)

I identified the key teacher behaviors needed for a functional classroom: zoning spaces by purpose, establishing routines, and setting clear expectations. Using action mapping, I emphasized what learners needed to do rather than just what they needed to know, ensuring the course remained focused on practical application.

Course Development (Articulate Rise + Canva)

I built modules with consistent visual language, branded graphics, interactive activities, and real classroom examples to keep learning engaging and relevant.