January is coming soon! Plan on doing a few things to spruce up your student's learning environment.
This post was originally written for and posted on The Dock for Learning.
Spruce Up Your Room: Create an Improved Learning Environment
by Deana Swanson
While every classroom should be a reflection of the personality of the teacher who teaches
in it, there are a few additions that will add some creativity and interest to any classroom.
These will give your students something different to observe and will help to create a more
enticing learning environment. Here are five of my favorites.
Something on the ceiling This can be a kite, a Chinese lantern, fabric, or painted ceiling tiles. Students will spend
about 1,000 hours in your classroom. Give them something thought-provoking and
interesting to view above their heads. If it is nearer to the front of the room, more students
will be able to see it.
Good books While most of us have a bookshelf (or two or three) in our classrooms, many of those
books often never leave the shelf. Each week, pull a few good storybooks and a few books
on whatever topics you are studying in science or history off the shelf. (Right now we are
studying mammals and early American history, so I’ve got several books on mammals and
indigenous peoples inside my reading teepee.)
About once a week (I usually do this on Monday), take a minute or two in the morning
to give a brief
description of each book you’ve selected as you hold them up one by one, and then
set them where all the students can see them at the front of your classroom, even if they
are leaning against the wall on the floor. Spread them out so they can all see the titles.
You’ll be surprised how many of those books will get read at various times throughout
the day.
Brain games Learning should be creative and interesting at times. While some students will be happy
with just reading, most are more hands-on learners. Find some puzzles, educational games,
art supplies, and anything else you can find that is edifying and will cause your students to
think, using their hands and brains in other ways. Have a special place in your room where
these can be accessed by students. These should only be available to them when all their
work is finished. I’ve even required students to have good grades before they could leave
their desks and do something like this if I felt that they were rushing through their work to
get to do another learning activity. (i.e. All work must be completed with a grade of 93 or
higher before students can leave their seats to get a learning activity. Then I’d write the
names of the students who did meet the requirement on the board.)
An alternative place to sit As teachers, we get to walk around our rooms wherever and whenever we want while we
teach. Do you remember what it was like to be a student and to go from class to class and
just sit? I really enjoyed school, and I love to learn, but I remember just sitting and sitting
and sitting at the same desk and it did get old. Besides moving students' seats around fairly
often (which does help), it is nice to have another place in your classroom for students to
move to and to enjoy a different place and view of the classroom (when all their work is
done and their grades are good, of course.) This can be as simple as two folding chairs in
a corner, but it will make a difference. Crates, stools, or benches can also be used. I know
of two teachers who had clawfoot bathtubs with pillows inside them in their classrooms.
It is also helpful to go through the class alphabetically and let one student a day sit in the
“special seat.” The students can keep track of whose turn it is so that you don’t have to.
They will all look forward to their day, and it will create not only a more attractive, but
also a more upbeat atmosphere in your room that you and your students will enjoy.
Something on the walls besides posters Thrift stores abound with inexpensive framed art. Hang your students' artwork, tapestries,
or anything on the wall, but have something there besides a poster or two so that your
students will have something interesting to view and to spark their interests.
A few simple additions like these can transform the atmosphere in your classroom for the
better. Instead of blank white walls and ceilings, your students can enjoy interesting
things to view and experience, and new places in which to do these. I have found that
rather than detract from learning in my classroom, these additions actually enhanced it.
And they and you will probably greatly enjoy the change of pace.
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