How does your physical space influence your mood and the mood of others?
W2-Q3: How does your physical space influence your mood and the mood of others?
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I tend to have a blue space. Noticeably blue which makes it pretty mellow.
If it’s cluttered- I get very anxious.
My space (high school) is very desky so I had a whole bunch of co created posters that we made together from all my classes around the room. Students said they liked how bright, pretty, and colorful I made it with my chalkboard markers and posters. They also loved how it represented them and their learning. They felt it was welcoming and fun. I was really sad taking it all down today. Now after reading the chapter… I have so much more I want to do!! I’m hoping I get that chance in my new student success position next year (I wont have a classroom to myself anymore)
This past year I dumped the desks and replaced them with tables which made for better small group conversations. Looking at this year and 30+ kids at 5th grade, I’m going back to double desks to fit everyone. The number of kids doesn’t scare me but having enough space for them makes me worry about providing a great learning experience. So I’m going to have to remember that each day is a new start and hopefully keep my mood upbeat—it’s all within my control!
I have my walls painted with colors that are relaxing. The goal is to have the library be inviting and friendly. I have displays out, but I think kids enjoy that things are organized so that they can find what they need!
Are you related to the Vinz’s of South Dakota?
@Lisa Yes. Mark Vinz is a family member. He has written some poetry books from what I’m told.
My desks are in small groups with additional couch and comfy chairs with carpet, but I am moving classrooms next year, which will be a new space for me.
My space needs to be organized, clean and clutter free for our class to thrive, be independent and learn. We have flexible seating which gives our classroom a more relaxed comfortable feel for students.
The room might be my proudest accomplishment. All flexible seating gives students options, ownership of their own learning style, and generally makes a more relaxed atmosphere for learning. They’ve told me they can put off the day’s stress when they come in!
Do you have a picture? I received a grant for flexible seating
This is an older picture-I’ve since replaced a couple things and added a kitchen table set last year with a larger class. I Eli also since taken the doors off those upper cabinets on the right and use them as bookshelves!
Invited to move there by our principal in the middle of the 2017-2018 school year the room has evolved slowly after a very “rushed” start! It has given me a warm, comfortable feeling because I have the space to make it inviting to my customers and share tons of books in the space. Added plus- it is right next to the library and a huge bulletin board where I post student book recommendations, book covers, and of course- pics of my customers. 😉
Greatly! Piles and clutter can make me feel anxious whereas kids’ projects and readers make me feel energized and purposeful!
My classroom is my favorite space! Very clean and uncluttered. A whole wall of books, comfortable seating, motivational quotes on walls. I overheard two of my 7th grade girls talking about how the loved the style of my room and how it made them feel.❤❤❤❤
Books are the most prominent thing in my classroom. Black and white borders/ decor are used to ‘coordinate’ with the sea foam green tiles that cover part of my room. Desks are arranged in tables for cooperative learning. I don’t have a traditional teacher desk, but a small standing desk. I use a diffuser with essential oils daily and my students LOVE that.
The kids set up our space the way they want. They love dimming the lights and having soft music. That was this past school year. Who knows for next year!
I’ve had rooms with windows and rooms without, and I ALWAYS like work better the years I have windows. Kids seem to be happier when we can turn of the buzzing fluorescents too.
This is one of my conundrums at the moment. I’m moving my classroom and setting up a brand new space. I feel like the world is my oyster and that is exciting and overwhelming at the same time. I have a huge classroom library and am doubling its size by inheriting the precious teacher’s middle school library. Again a very wonderful problem to have, but also overwhelming. I have a beautiful space and a lot of resources. I want to do it right, but am overwhelmed. I’m thinking about reaching out to a few students to come and help me. Since I am moving from 5th grade to 7th & 8th, I know and have a good relationship with most of my incoming students. I was thinking about reaching out to a few of the students that I don’t know so well in order to build a bond before the school year starts. Maybe I can post pics and get some advice from the group too.
We are always changing and that keeps us all happy and on our toes!
Does anyone have a picture of their room with a teacher table?? I have so many things shoved in my drawers I can’t even envision not having a desk!! ??
The flexible seating makes it appear far less crowded than a similar room with 32 desks. It feels spacious and comfortable. We get a lot of natural light and have plants and our fish October to add to the atmosphere. The shelves are filled with books for students to read. The color scheme of blue and green is calming and clean.
My classroom was new to me mid year last year and hard to adjust to. I’ve always had huge rooms with lots of space and the Lord has decided I need to learn how to work on smaller spaces. I know the room needs to focus on the students, but I also feel I need to feel connected to it also. My mood is affected by closed dark spaces. I enjoy sunlight and room to walk around. I struggle deeply in a room of 30 desks all in rows or circles. If I could have a stand up desk for myself and a few for the students, then shorter ones, and few regular ones, then floor tables……. imagine the possibilities. I really do want kids to walk in and take a deep breath and relax, feel safe, confident, and ready to take challenges!!!!!!
It puts students in charge of their own learning.
I think of my room as my happy place. I dumped traditional desks about 5 years ago, and now I have stand-up desks(no stools), tables, low tables for floor seating and a large carpet area. The one thing that would make it so much better would be windows, but I have adjusted to the lack of windows, as I love the principal of my school and the staff. I would also like to have more space, but getting rid of traditional desks really opened up the space we have.
I’m always in a good mood when I’m in my classroom. That’s because it’s where I want to be. I guess all the things that kids are working on like posters, giant stickies, stuff like that, make me feel good. The room seems to make the kids happy too. I have students who walk in so stressed out (by other teachers, by family, by “friends,” by life), and I love watching them quickly shake all that off. I think it’s probably less the physical space and more the emotional space (safe place) that the physical space represents.
Many of my students tell me they like coming to my class because of diffusing essential oils, playing music for concentration, and for the routine I provide. There’s not a lot of downtime for them to get antsy.
I think physical space sets and expresses the mood of a classroom, home, etc. I think it can convey the personality. When a space feels cluttered, so do I.