You may want to view my original thoughts and plan on my blog here before you proceed to read this update on how I've created the physical environment.
Also keep in mind the following:
Reflecting on the changes I have made for this year:
My physical environment has been less messy and disorganized. There has been a lot more space for student movement and feels less crowded. Former students, and my 7th and 8th grade homeroom students, have also noticed the change from moving my desk to the back of the room.
The whiteboard door has been hard to utilize for goals, I have felt the crunch of fitting in all the standards. I have felt as if there was not enough time for goal setting. It has be used for my homeroom students to have a spot for their brainstorms, homeroom fundraising goals, and creativity space.
The Brag Board has been more of an artisitic space for students to pose drawing etc. They have not been usig to to brag of their achievements. There is especially one class that has taken a liking to the board and fills it constantly with new doodles and drawings. I think its leading to more creativity and ownership of this space. My hope was to see community bonds formed. This is true with my homeroom class since we've been able to use the whiteboard door extensively. Another hope was to see bonds made between two or more classes, but that has not surfaced.
The whiteboard door has been hard to utilize for goals, I have felt the crunch of fitting in all the standards. I have felt as if there was not enough time for goal setting. It has be used for my homeroom students to have a spot for their brainstorms, homeroom fundraising goals, and creativity space.
The Brag Board has been more of an artisitic space for students to pose drawing etc. They have not been usig to to brag of their achievements. There is especially one class that has taken a liking to the board and fills it constantly with new doodles and drawings. I think its leading to more creativity and ownership of this space. My hope was to see community bonds formed. This is true with my homeroom class since we've been able to use the whiteboard door extensively. Another hope was to see bonds made between two or more classes, but that has not surfaced.
So what's the new plan?
McKibben says that decluttering your room makes the classroom more accessible to students and more student centered (2016). I will be keeping my desk at the back of the room and will be continuing to stay organized with my papers by using a filing system. Chan and Whitson state that "students feel more comfortable when they have sufficient space to move around" (2002).
McKibben also states that creating an untraditional space in the room gives students a place to gravitate to (2016). "Poor aesthetics diminish enthusiasm and encourage negative perceptions by students about their work environment" (Chan & Whitson, 2002). My actions are to continue using the brag board as a community art space. By using creativity in the classroom, we can foster new ideas, give students tough problems to solve, learn new and interesting things, and the students will associate themselves with interesting and diverse things and people (Henderson, 2008). The brag board and whiteboard door will continue to be areas that can help foster the creative habit of capturing. Students can keep their ideas on these boards as a place to remember and think back to.
I have also learned that the acoustic conditions of my classroom can hinder learning. Johnson has noted that noise interferes with a student's ability to understand what they are learning (as cited by Chan & Whitson, 2002). I have a speaker for use in my room to help project my voice to my students. I know this helps students with ADHD and other students with issues with focusing in class. My action step is to get my speaker set up and in a functional, high area so that students can hear what I'm saying. I will also make it a habit to wear my microphone daily.
McKibben also states that creating an untraditional space in the room gives students a place to gravitate to (2016). "Poor aesthetics diminish enthusiasm and encourage negative perceptions by students about their work environment" (Chan & Whitson, 2002). My actions are to continue using the brag board as a community art space. By using creativity in the classroom, we can foster new ideas, give students tough problems to solve, learn new and interesting things, and the students will associate themselves with interesting and diverse things and people (Henderson, 2008). The brag board and whiteboard door will continue to be areas that can help foster the creative habit of capturing. Students can keep their ideas on these boards as a place to remember and think back to.
I have also learned that the acoustic conditions of my classroom can hinder learning. Johnson has noted that noise interferes with a student's ability to understand what they are learning (as cited by Chan & Whitson, 2002). I have a speaker for use in my room to help project my voice to my students. I know this helps students with ADHD and other students with issues with focusing in class. My action step is to get my speaker set up and in a functional, high area so that students can hear what I'm saying. I will also make it a habit to wear my microphone daily.