This is a picture of my dream classroom. I created it using the website, Classroom Architect. It consists of six kidney tables with four chairs at each. All of the tables are facing the projector/interactive whiteboard with the TV to the left (for video announcements, etc.). I have my desk at the back of the room with a fridge and storage in the back with me. Lastly, the shelving to the left and right sides of the room allow for the students to have extra room to put their items and books, clearing their work space of any unnecessary items.
Environment:
Arrangement and Organization - My dream classroom would be arranged like this because I believe, for a 9th grade math classroom, it was the most appropriate in order for the students to have the greatest learning experience. I think using the kidney tables would be great in a classroom setting like this because it makes group work extremely easy, especially amongst the four students sitting at each table. Two students could either move to the other side of the table or work together in a line how they are set up. In addition to this mini-group work, the set-up of the room allows for easy larger group work, in which the students could push together two of the tables to make one big circular table. I plan on seating the students by level groups as well. Giving the students a pre-test on the future material would be the easiest way for me to determine level groups. This will prevent an uneven workload amongst the groups from happening, such as "the smart one" doing all the work. If everyone at the table is on the same academic level, they can use collegiality to work on the problems successfully. Likewise, the kidney tables make for an easy tutoring position for me, the teacher. Math is not the easiest subject for most students to understand, so planning for a lot of student/teacher interaction is highly necessary. I could sit on the other side of the tables, where the hole is, and easily tutor students who need extra help. I would prefer my desk to be at the back of the room because it makes it easy to scope the room, and if students need one-on-one help, they can just come to the back of the room and not be distracting to the rest of the students. I was sure to leave room to have an aisle dividing between the two sides of the room for easier access to all the students in the classroom in case they need extra help. It would be easier for me to walk around the room to manage behavior and have the students come back to my desk for any additional questions.
Also, with this arrangement of the tables and chairs, I can promote ritual and routine. As stated before, it makes it really easy for the students to work with each other on the math homework, or any group projects they might have. I would have the students work with their tables for a few minutes at the beginning of the class to ask each other questions that they might have had on the previous night's homework before asking me. This will help the students who need help, and will further help the student explaining the math problems with the material.
Shelving on either side of the room will allow extra space for the students to either set their backpacks on, or keep their math books in. If at all possible, I would like to give each student their own math book to keep at home and have a set of math books for them to use in class, so they did not have to bring the math book back and forth to school every day.
The interactive whiteboard will be at the front of the room, to make it easy for all the students to pay attention and see the board. I would also prefer there to be additional whiteboards on either side, so that I could have multiple students go up to the board at once (some at the interactive whiteboard, some at the traditional whiteboard) to work out math problems. A good way to teach students is by promoting kinesthetic learning and having the students do math problems on the board with guided help. Not only would I encourage kinesthetic learning, I would also like to promote visual and auditory learning styles as well. Having a student go up to the board to work out a math problem by doing it and also explaining it verbally and showing it step by step to the class conquers all three of the types of learning.
Most of all, I want my classroom to be a safe, comfortable environment in which any student can feel they are part of a team.
Color - I would really like the walls of my room to be a light blue (like in the picture shown above). Many sources say that lighter, cooler colors are better for a classroom, especially for older students because it is more relaxing. It helps the students concentrate as well. However, I would also like my classroom to be a bubbly, fun environment! Mathematical posters, students' pieces of artwork, etc will be hung up on the walls because I want my classroom to be relaxing and organized while also being interesting and fun. The arrangement of the room and the color of the walls are huge factors in how a student concentrates, however, I believe it is the teachers job (my job) to make sure each and every student feels content and comfortable in my classroom.
Technology/access - I would really like to have a cart full of MacBooks or any other kind of laptop so I can integrate technology into my classroom. I would like to find a really great math program that is 9th grade worthy, fun and helpful the students in practicing their mathematical skills. For example, this website gives examples of games that are age-appropriate to help students practice their exponents and root problems. I also would like for the interactive whiteboard to be accessible to all students so they can learn how to use technologies that they most likely will be seeing in the future. I want my classroom to be the most interactive it can be without being hectic. 
Accommodations for students with exceptionalities - The kidney tables would make it really easy for me to help students who need extra attention and, likewise, the gifted students could very easily work by themselves on extra or advanced assignments. Regarding students with wheelchairs, I believe the set-up of my classroom would make it easy for the student to move around. The aisle in the middle of the room would make my desk easily accessible, and the worries of the student being able to fit into a desk is not applicable because the kidney tables are very spacious and could be adjusted. This grants the student opportunities to become a part of the classroom instead of a more segregated approach to teaching students with exceptionalities.
PLN:
As I continue my college education, there will be plenty of opportunities to grow as a learner and as a professional. I plan on continuing using Twitter to gain more knowledge of the digital world and talk to professionals via Twitter to perhaps get more information and tips on how to run the perfect classroom! Professionalism will come with practice and time. I plan on participating in seminars and conferences to keep connected with my school and colleagues. Also, keeping up with extra studies, preparing presentations and papers will allow for my knowledge to expand, even as a teacher. Continually working with others will always help me grow as an individual, as a teacher, and as a professional. As I continue to grow as a college student currently, my mannerisms and speech will become more professional, and student teaching will also help with that. In this new technological world, it is almost impossible for us to know everything that there is to know, but being able to access knowledge is becoming more and more available. By practicing how to gain that knowledge, it is certain that professionalism will blossom. Personally, I am excited to student teach, and get more experience in the classroom.
Community of Practice:
In my classroom, I want to be sure that I integrate technology to the best of my ability. I really enjoyed the Twitter aspect, so I would like to perhaps have all my students create a professional Twitter account so it would be easier to keep in contact with them if they need help or have questions. As in class, I would have them "follow" professionals from all around the world to help expand their knowledge of the digital world connected with the professional world. Also, I would definitely allow for the parents to e-mail me if they have questions or concerns about their child's grades. As stated above, using the MacBooks or other laptops for online math games will not only increase their knowledge of the material, but will also help to familiarize themselves with different technologies. Group work will be a huge part of my classroom because I believe that being able to work with different people, even you do not get along with them, is an important characteristic to have, especially in the world today.
These websites really helped to expand my knowledge of how I should arrange my room to help benefit the most amount of students.
As the 21st century comes and goes, we must ask ourselves: What is the best way to teach these students so they are best prepared for the world today? Technology has grown an enormous amount, and we must integrate our classrooms with technology. After all, these students are the future generation of the world.
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