There's a reason why libraries in universities have quiet reading nooks tucked here and there with warm, ambient lighting and a variety of places for students to spread out with their books and laptops. It's because students work better when they can get comfortable and exercise autonomy over their learning environment. Unfortunately, most school classrooms are cold, sterile, rigid, and industrial. Cramming teenagers into rows of small desks with hard seats for eight hours a day and expecting them to pay attention, be creative, and do their best work is counterproductive and ineffective.
The classroom should be a warm, welcoming environment that engenders creativity and critical thinking. Over the last few years, I have been building spaces in my classroom where students can stretch out and be comfortable while reading, writing, or discussing work with their peers. I have a reading nook with couches, a rug, and bookshelves containing nearly 1500 of my own books from which my students can choose. My students are proud of their classroom and bring their friends to come and see it. They often talk about how the atmosphere is "chill with a good vibe", and it encourages them to feel safe and to be themselves.
I have recently moved to a new, larger space and want to take my classroom to the next level. I have many students with ADHD and other anxiety disorders who will benefit from even more flexible seating options and sensory devices to help them focus. The items I've selected for this project will provide even more choice, comfort, and sensory input for my students, thereby increasing their capacity for creativity, communication, and collaboration. Generous gifts from friends and strangers will enable me to continue making my English classroom the place where my students want to be their best selves!
About my class
There's a reason why libraries in universities have quiet reading nooks tucked here and there with warm, ambient lighting and a variety of places for students to spread out with their books and laptops. It's because students work better when they can get comfortable and exercise autonomy over their learning environment. Unfortunately, most school classrooms are cold, sterile, rigid, and industrial. Cramming teenagers into rows of small desks with hard seats for eight hours a day and expecting them to pay attention, be creative, and do their best work is counterproductive and ineffective.
The classroom should be a warm, welcoming environment that engenders creativity and critical thinking. Over the last few years, I have been building spaces in my classroom where students can stretch out and be comfortable while reading, writing, or discussing work with their peers. I have a reading nook with couches, a rug, and bookshelves containing nearly 1500 of my own books from which my students can choose. My students are proud of their classroom and bring their friends to come and see it. They often talk about how the atmosphere is "chill with a good vibe", and it encourages them to feel safe and to be themselves.
I have recently moved to a new, larger space and want to take my classroom to the next level. I have many students with ADHD and other anxiety disorders who will benefit from even more flexible seating options and sensory devices to help them focus. The items I've selected for this project will provide even more choice, comfort, and sensory input for my students, thereby increasing their capacity for creativity, communication, and collaboration. Generous gifts from friends and strangers will enable me to continue making my English classroom the place where my students want to be their best selves!
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