If you’ve heard the term “co-created” and been curious about what it means, let’s dive in! When I began to explore a more student-centered classroom, I knew part of that meant letting my students help me design the space. Specifically, I wanted my students to help create things on our walls like our alphabet line and number line as well as things around our room like supply labels and our daily schedule.
But why?
A co-created classroom is a place that feels welcoming and comfortable for kids. It sends a message that this space was waiting for you to come and is ready to support you. It allows your students, who are different each year, to put their own stamp on the environment. It also provides you with chances to build community, establish expectations, and work on skills with your students.
How do you set up a co-created classroom?
First, you need a purpose. Co-creating a space with your students isn’t just to make your room look different. It’s to make sure your students know that this is their space as much as it is yours. In fact, your classroom isn’t really for you at all! The children in your classroom are the drivers for what should go on the walls, how things are taught, and when content is introduced. So, a co-created classroom becomes a place where children are the focus, and that is made evident by the materials and resources on display.
You’ll need to make a plan for what you want to create, including when and how you’ll do it. With young students, 4 or 5 years old, it requires some planning on your part!
Once you have a plan, work with your students to create the materials you want to display. Remember, this is something created for your students. Its purpose is focused on what they need, so make sure the creation process includes their opinions, ideas, and work!
When do you make these materials?
When students are ready or when they need them! Do not stress about getting an alphabet line, number line, schedule, calendar…all of the things up within the first few weeks of school. Your room can be mostly blank (yes, blank!) when your students arrive. As you set up your expectation and routines, you’ll see when it’s appropriate to talk about things that you will want to make together. Your daily schedule, for example, is a resource that your students will benefit from early in the year. Talk about your day together and the different things you do. Talk about how schedules can keep you on track and let you know what’s coming next. Then, work on your schedule with your students.
Things that are more academic in nature, like the alphabet or number line, can come when your students are learning them. As my students begin using letters to label, we start working on our alphabet line. This can happen as early as September or as late as you choose! Our number line begins to build as we learn numbers in our focus on number sense. In kindergarten, our 0-10 number line would typically be finished in October with our 11-20 portion done as we work through our unit on teen numbers.
What do you co-create with students?
There are a few staples in my co-created classroom. Each year, I create a few of the same things with my students, and then we can add more things as needed. We typically create these materials within the first few months:
Our daily schedule, shapes and colors wall, alphabet, and number line all support routines or learning. These materials are created as students need them and can happen gradually! Some optional materials I’ve created include:
Our calendar serves as a tool for documenting things we learned or fun activities we did each day. Our supply labels help us remember where different things are around our room. These resources are not necessary to create but can be helpful for your students.
If you’re interested in setting up a co-created classroom with your students this year, check out this resource. It includes all 6 resources seen in this post, guides for making them that are simple and easy to follow, and also includes blank templates for you to add other things in your space that your students need!
