We all love to see those Pinterest classrooms where everything is bright neon colors, the walls are decorated with cute décor, and there is organization galore! I mean, who would not want to walk into a beautiful classroom like that? Going into my first year of teaching, I bought superhero décor. I didn’t cover my whole room from head to toe, but I did integrate some flexible seating such as yoga balls and crate seats. I arranged my desks in pods and had groups such as Team Batman and Team Green Lantern to give table points. Things changed, and I moved my seating arrangement around quite often. I had a student with an emotional disorder and unfortunately, he destroyed my room any time he could, including knocking over desks. Also, I didn’t know how effective seating arrangements could be for student engagement and learning. I also didn’t know the benefits or strategies for creating a positive environment for students.
I now have more expertise on creating a design in the classroom that can be conducive for learning and engagement for my students. I love when students are grouped together and I despise desks. This past school year, I used many desks but requested some tables so that I could get those groups. I could create groups with desks, but it is just not the same. I have overtime, gained more flexible seating: more stools, lap desks, crate seats, wobble stools, and scoop rockers. I wondered, as I embarked on this project this week if I could make my room more effective for student engagement and successful learning? Could change create a better environment? I researched design in the classroom and then re-designed my current layout.
"Classroom Design" by Stephanie Check, created with Floorplanner
Barrett et al. (2013) mention six elements when considering design: color, choice, connection, complexity, flexibility, and light. For this re-design, I made some choices that would hopefully support not only myself, but my students. I wanted to keep a calm color scheme. Last year, I kept my bright primary colors since they fit with my colored stools. I did not want to change my theme from the previous year as a Kindergarten teacher. When creating this new design, I considered my new theme, modern tropical. The colors are pale pink and green. A 2013 study discovered certain factors, including cool and warm colors could affect student performance (Barrett et al., 2013). The bright primary colors may be too intense for my students, so alternating to calmer colors may create a more relaxing sense. Although Floorplanner was new technology to me, it was hard to find furniture applicable for my classroom or even the color theme I was trying to mimic, but I did my best. I wanted to make sure the furniture used would not have students overwhelmed.
From the first design and the re-design, I eliminated my teacher desk so I would be up and about and engaging with my students. This gives me more flexibility in where I am set up. We tend to see teachers up in the front of the classroom, however, I want to make sure I am involved in the learning and student conversations. The teacher desk limits me and I did not want that. I continued to keep groups in my re-design and eliminated the individual student desks. This also supports flexibility so that students can gather in groups and if need be, the tables can be moved to either create bigger groups or lessen crowding. It not only supports flexibility, but also connection. Connecting with the students along with myself creates more of a sense of community and a positive classroom environment.
"Classroom Re-Design" by Stephanie Check, created with Floorplanner
Designing can be hard to tackle and it can even be more difficult to re-design! Especially if you seem to think nothing can be changed. With Week 1 of remote learning complete, I consider how this re-design could fit to social distancing parameters when we return in-person. This set up does not follow those guidelines so I am preparing myself to re-re-design! Stay tuned!
References
Barrett, P., Zhang, Y., Moffat, J., & Kobbacy, K. (2013). A holistic, multi-level analysis identifying the impact of classroom design on on pupils' learning. Building and Environment, 59, 678-689.
Check, S. (2020). Classroom design. [Image of my classroom design].
Check, S. (2020). Classroom re-design. [Image of my classroom re-design].
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