Bilingual Classroom Organization and Classroom Decor

Are you a new Bilingual Teacher?  Or maybe you are a Veteran Bilingual Teacher, but you don't quite feel like you have an organized classroom.  If you need to get organized, then stick around!  This is for you.Summer is a good time to rest and recharge.  But as teachers we are always keeping in mind the fact that the fall will come soon, and we want to be ready.  But we want to be rested.  And we need to hit the ground running with an well organized room.

Classroom organization is actually simple.  Once you have the right labels and posters, then the sky is the limit.

My story....

For a long time I did not have the organized, well labeled, beautiful room that I wanted.  I struggled when it was clean-up time because not all of the the kids were totally sure, 100% of the time where and how to return the bins of books and manipulatives.  

That was the point where I had enough, and I wanted to re-do my room and make it super kid-friendly so that they would know every single time how to clean up without asking me!

How did I finally get my room organized?

There are larger spaces and smaller spaces that need attention.  First, I organized the larger spaces by language areas:  Spanish and English.  One side of the room was for Spanish, and the other side for English.  I created a space for bilingual as well.

Language Spaces in your Dual Language Classroom

I put up my target language (Spanish) alphabet posters and word wall posters to define the space further on one side of the classroom.  Then I used the editable sheets to create an area for translanguaging and for vocabulary.  I created an English wall as well.

My library was organized by languages as well.  It is easier and much more efficient for kids as they are learning biliteracy to keep the books separate in the library according to language.  

Your Bilingual Spaces

Really the only 'bilingual space' is the one for your classroom manipulatives and center materials.  I have kept mine in the same spot. 

The most efficient way to organize materials is by keeping materials in bins.  Regardless of what kind of bin, with lids or in cubbies, the bins need to belong to the same spot, every, single time.

Solve this problem by placing one visual label of the materials in the cubby or on the counter where you want the bin to live.  Then place a label on each end of the bin so that the label is always showing.  No matter how rushed the kids are, they will by default show the label.  This, in turn, will give your room an immediate look and feel of being super organized.

Content-Area Spaces

In Dual Language content-area is mostly done in the target language.  If you are teaching using thematic units, then simply create a bulletin board that can switch out between science and social studies, and another one for math.  Do this in your target language area.  Use your editable labels to create the headers that you need for those boards.

Smaller details

The smaller things like binder covers, name plates, and miscellaneous, editable labels are details that you can finish up to get that final 'feel' of organization.  This is something that you get to customize!

 Cute and Fun!

I love to have the organized 'feeling' when it's classroom set-up time, and I know you do too!  I have a few different options for Bilingual Classroom Decor in my TpT store.  Click HERE to see them all.

In conclusion

My best advice is to organize your large space by language with your alphabet posters, number posters and Word Wall set-up.  Keep your library separate by languages as well.

Create your bilingual space with a translanguaging board for vocabulary and other details, plus put your classroom materials in that bilingual space.

You can find everything that you need to set up a super efficient and highly organized Dual Language/Bilingual Primary Classroom with these amazing Classroom Organization and Classroom Decor sets!

Enjoy!!

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