All classrooms talk, what does yours say when your students enter?
“To create the happiest, most productive workplace in the world”.
Vice President of People Development at Google
IIt is of growing concern that many of today’s educational systems are eroding the decision making ability of the school and the teacher, as a consequence of the growing impact of league tables, prescribed curriculum, and more and more high stakes tests. As such, the classroom is one of the few domains of education that the teachers can still (to an extent) call their own. Yet how many of us really consider the importance of the physical environment for student learning, especially as this is one of the few remaining areas we can still influence?
Do the walls, windows and ceiling whisper, speak or even scream of learning? Or instead, is your room the perfect backdrop for stimulating a discussion on creative openings for short story writing:
“As a walked into the drab, dreary, dark room, I knew the next hour would feel like a lifetime.”
Yet, when the physical environment is broached by leaders at all levels, whispers can be heard in the corridors of extra work, colleagues speak aloud about the injustice of a comment made by a senior leader about the tidiness of a teacher’s desk, or the Union Rep shouting from the rafters that setting up classroom displays is admin work.
Such comments seem somewhat trivial if I ascribe to the notion that I have a responsibility:
“To create the happiest, most productive learning space for my students”.
I am only interested in creating a culture for learning, and I believe that the appearance of a classroom is an important cog in creating such a culture.
As adults, many of us want to work in an environment that stimulates positivity, not just through the relationships with our colleagues, but in part, due to the physical environment. Surely our students deserve the same? Do not do something because it is not modelled by the administration/leadership team, do not do something because of an US and THEM culture, choose not to do something because it is irrelevant to creating a culture for learning. Your classroom environment matters, it is a BLANK CANVASS. Paint their learning.
Some Ideas
Showcase student work - it matters to them
It looks cool…
Assessment Rubric
QR codes on the wall for padlet, etc
IB learner profile, attributes, attitudes, etc
Student question and answer wall
English Language
Inspirational quotes that will inspire learning
Rewards system visible on the walls as well as on the IT solution
A tidy workspace. Don’t be a hypocrite
If we are to help students establish high expectations in everything they do then we must remember we are one of their most important role models.
Pictures that provoke questions
Book reviews - to promote reading
Displays that represent a theme or era you are teaching
More...
