Believe it or not, I held a parent meeting where placement in a certain teacher’s class was protested due to its less-than welcoming walls. Basically, it was drab, therefore, move my kid out! This was a brand new teacher. Been there! The overwhelming feeling of creating a classroom environment that is colorful and cheerful, rich in print, comfortable, welcoming, and pleasing to the eye is no easy feat. And if you aren’t a visual person, then it is crazy challenging! On the other end of the spectrum, if you’ve taught for a few decades, you may not have evolved your classroom to reflect the needs of a 21st century learner.
A blank slate classroom is overwhelming. There are so many things to take into account.
- Color
- Design
- Comfort
- Functionality
- Movement
There's also a lot of resources out there to explore:
- Pinterest
- Instagram
- Bloggers
- Colleagues
- Target Teachers
It's important to ask yourself questions to prepare for the classroom:
- Am I using research-based strategies?
- Do I want a word wall?
- Am I a sage on the stage or guide on the side?
- How can I get more bang for my buck?
- How do I promote literacy?
- How do I promote math?
- How can I show my creativity and spark creativity in my students?
- How do I build a 21st century learner?
Other things to keep in mind are:
- Brain research: you'd be amazed at how the developing mind interacts with the physical environment!
- Be open to feedback! Don't be offended if your supervisor wants something to change in your room.
- No one likes a boring room. Evolving the space throughout the year to meet the needs of students is important!
- Interactive walls that serves a real purpose are better Pinterest cute!
Finally, create a space that you want to spend most of your day in. Use the Hygge method. Bring in some comfort items. If you like coffee, bring in a small Keurig. Post pictures. Ask students what they'd like to see in the room. This gives buy-in!
I love this classroom set up. I have found that some teachers make their classrooms quite impersonal as they reach the older grades and I think that there are ways to make classrooms appealing for all ages by bringing in some personal touches.
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