Last week I wrote about how we make it the most wonderful time of the year all school year long. I started off with one of my passions, the classroom library. This week I want to talk about another part of the classroom. Actually I want to talk about the whole classroom environment, the physical space. I love the image posted above...what exactly is your classroom saying? Just like we should create classroom libraries that get kids excited about school, we should think about our classroom environment; is it a space that makes kids want to be there? Think about when you have set up a room in your house, and you have seating that you love and lighting and decorations. Do you love being in that space?
Our kids are in their classrooms for a long chunk of time. We tend to forget about what the space looks like and often times we set it up with convenience in mind. We don't exactly have tons of room and then we have to create an area remembering that it will be filled with 20 or so bodies on a regular basis. What works for us when we set up the space at the beginning of the year might not be what works best for our students. And by the way, there is no manual for how to design a classroom. There are so many options for creative classroom spaces, options that certainly weren't available when we were in school. I remember every room looking exactly the same. Thank goodness it doesn't have to be that way now.
Maybe you have already added some different areas to your room or maybe you have experimented with flexible seating. Maybe you are not ready, but you need some inspiration. Take a look at these resources for ideas...
If you simply Google search flexible seating, the blog posts, articles, images, stories are endless. Be careful, you could get drawn in for a very long time searching through...trust me, it may or may not have happened for me on more than one occasion! The important thing is you should not be trying to recreate something you see. You should simply start by looking around your classroom and asking yourself...what is my classroom saying? How is the physical space of my classroom helping with my students' learning process?
If your classroom walls could talk, what would they be saying?
Currently reading:
I was very excited to read a new book with Emerson Saturday night. She has a special book tree in her room and each night she gets to unwrap one book and read it for bedtime. Since it was December 1st, the small book on top was the 'star.' Do you remember the Little Miss books? Well, the one we read on Saturday night was Little Miss Sparkle. Lots of fun, and we are looking forward to reading new books during this month's bedtime!
Events this week:
Tuesday - Child Study Team meeting @ 8:30
Wednesday - Wellness Wednesday! Staff Meeting @ 8:00
Thursday - Start of 'The 12 Days Before Winter Break!', Liz at MSAA Board Meeting
Great things I noticed last week:
- I caught a 4th grader working on his drawing skills during snack.
- I had a productive planning meeting with a 4th grade group who is putting together interactive magazines to go into the library starting this week.
- I stopped by a table in the purple pod and found some 5th graders excited to talk and write about the book The Truth as Told By Mason Buttle.
- I watched as 4th graders discussed and practiced decomposing in math class.
- Conversations with kindergartners are great...especially at lunch time!
- BINGO Night a huge success! Lots of fun, lots of pizza, lots of people, lots of number and letter calling, and then a kindergartener and a 5th grader won principal for the day! Way to go Robert and Jenna!
Here is the Ted Talk by Jarrett Krosoczka called "How a Boy Became an Artist."
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