With the school year around the corner, teachers everywhere are scurrying around their classrooms to prepare for their school year and students. A lot of work goes into making my classroom look inviting. I want my students to feel like my classroom is a home away from home because they spend half of their time there. I have tried to consider a lot of different factors when designing my room. I changed my desks to tables to create a collaborative environment, I have a cozy nook for reading, and even went as far as getting rid of my teacher desk to make more space for my students. But is that enough? Below I designed my classroom using a tool called Roomstyler. I was able to add paint color, carpet, furniture, and tools. Unfortunately, classrooms and schools do not have unlimited budgets or choices when it comes to designing classrooms. A lot of teachers spend their own money to ensure their classroom is as great as they are able to make it. There are a lot of factors when considering room design. For example, I have learned much about the importance of student talk and collaboration. One of the biggest reasons I got rid of my individual desks was due to this. I also believe that students can benefit from having a personal learning network just like teachers. My current classroom space has areas in which students can learn and work together. This enables powerful experiences. The image below represents the current space in my classroom. I believe the back right reading area invites students to create a love for reading. Also, my tables are set up so students share supplies. I teach students on the first day of school that we share our classroom tools, we must take care of the things we use and share, and we must respect each other and our learning space. This gives my students the full understanding that we are working together in the space we have. Image created by author. After creating my actual learning space. I wanted to design my "dream space". The image below is what I would like my classroom to look like if I had unlimited options and money. In this space, I wanted to ensure that it is flexible and creative. After looking through the book The Third Teacher, I have thought much about the importance of giving students an environment that allows choice and is comfortable. Unfortunately, the amount of schools in the United States alone that lack the basic necessities that schools need for students to be successful is surprising and does effect how classrooms are set up. It was still a fun process to imagine having an endless amount of choices. The design that I created below ensures that students have multiple areas within my classroom to explore, create, and make. The centerfold of my classroom revolves around technology. I wanted a table that reminded me of something you would see in a big CEO office. I want students to feel like their work time is important and become collaborative. Also, the computers are readily available and 8 students can collaborate in this space at a time. I also wanted to ensure my design had flexible seating. Allowing students to move around and choose where they want to work allows them to feel in control of their own learning. There are also two areas that students share for reading and working that include comfy pillows and chairs. Comfort is key! After reading The Maker Movement in Education, I wanted to include a "maker- space" in my classroom design. School-based maker-spaces can include the newest technological toys, but the focus of a maker-space is not necessarily on the tools that students can use but the process and the product (Winter 2014). The maker space is the area at the bottom of my design. I have included two large cabinets that would be filled with maker materials. Also, there is a cart that students can explore filled with creations that students can "tinker" with. At the top right of my design I have included a large "L" shaped table. This will be used for students to create, design, and build on. Ideally, I would love to have the opportunity to create and work in classroom much like the one below. Designing this has made me consider the best practices and environments for my students to work and thrive in. Image created by author. References:
Zhang. “A Holistic, Multi-Level Analysis Identifying the Impact of Classroom Design on Pupils' Learning.” Building and Environment, Pergamon, 3 Oct. 2012, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360132312002582?via%3Dihub. The third teacher. (2010). New York: Abrams. WeAreTeachers Staff on November 5, 2. .. (2017, July 11). The Ultimate Guide to Using the Maker Movement in Education. Retrieved from https://www.weareteachers.com/making-matters-how-the-maker-movement-is-transforming-education/
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