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My adolescent students live very stressful lives, and, for better or for worse, school is usually the biggest source of that stress. Between academics, athletics, interpersonal relationships, and normal growing pains, they often find themselves sinking in the anxiety brought on by high school's slings and arrows. My classroom has long been a warm, comfortable space on campus where students can relax, de-stress, and just focus on "doing history." A young man once referred to it as "like being at grandma's house," and I've been running with that idea ever since. Much of the inspiration for this philosophy comes from Dr. Marcia Tate, an advocate for positive and comfortable learning environments. She has spoken extensively on the power such things as natural lighting, relaxing sounds, and comfortable temperatures have on student confidence, and, in turn, student achievement. Unfortunately, some of Dr. Tate's strategies are hard to test in my 46-year-old windowless classroom. Two incandescent floor lamps will help to balance the harshness of our fluorescent lighting. An oscillating pedestal fan will create a gentle breeze for the stuffy days on which our temperamental air conditioning isn't working. A vinyl record player will help us make use of our library's vintage "relaxing sounds" albums for quiet, independent work days. Lastly, for those students who've learned that they enjoy working while sitting on the floor, a small coffee table and area rug will create comfort and convenience. These items will no doubt aid in my quest to make my classroom as safe and warm as "grandma's house."

About my class

My adolescent students live very stressful lives, and, for better or for worse, school is usually the biggest source of that stress. Between academics, athletics, interpersonal relationships, and normal growing pains, they often find themselves sinking in the anxiety brought on by high school's slings and arrows. My classroom has long been a warm, comfortable space on campus where students can relax, de-stress, and just focus on "doing history." A young man once referred to it as "like being at grandma's house," and I've been running with that idea ever since. Much of the inspiration for this philosophy comes from Dr. Marcia Tate, an advocate for positive and comfortable learning environments. She has spoken extensively on the power such things as natural lighting, relaxing sounds, and comfortable temperatures have on student confidence, and, in turn, student achievement. Unfortunately, some of Dr. Tate's strategies are hard to test in my 46-year-old windowless classroom. Two incandescent floor lamps will help to balance the harshness of our fluorescent lighting. An oscillating pedestal fan will create a gentle breeze for the stuffy days on which our temperamental air conditioning isn't working. A vinyl record player will help us make use of our library's vintage "relaxing sounds" albums for quiet, independent work days. Lastly, for those students who've learned that they enjoy working while sitting on the floor, a small coffee table and area rug will create comfort and convenience. These items will no doubt aid in my quest to make my classroom as safe and warm as "grandma's house."

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About my class

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