Hey #WeirdEd. First “first day” of school is in the books and I’m looking at “Get to know me” papers while chatting with you folks. My Wednesday routine is back!
Caitlin in OH, very out of practice with Twitter ed chats, the woodchuck shouldn't have to chuck any more wood than necessary because downtime is also important. Full night's sleep and good breakfast, woodchuck, you'll do fine your first woodchucking day #weirded
#WeirdEd Q1 Let's start with the Big Question the blog goes on about-
What's your classroom set-up like? You Big and Purdy? Bare and Simple? Somewhere between? How come?
A1) Normally, I cover the walls with paper. Maybe the classroom calendar. This year I can't go in until the 1st day of school, so empty bare & mess. I'm a little worried. #weirded
A1: I’m in the middle. I want to go full flexible seating, but it’s my first year and I was given desks and I’m not ready to rock the boat. I have asymmetrical pods of varying sizes and a variety of chairs stools, and enough room to move between them for me and kids. #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd Since I...don't have my own classroom yet. I wanna do something in between. Parts of the room will be covered w/some anchor charts, some geeky posters scattered throughout, but not a lot of stuff. I wanna do the whole "We set up our own room throughout the yr" thing.
#WeirdEd A1 When I have a classroom, I usually keep it simple. Leave room for displaying student work. Please a simple title and a list of the standards addressed.
#weirded I like space. Space to move....for kids to move their chairs and desks. Interesting things on the walls....not necessarily academic. Coat racks & plants. Comfortable and stimulating. With the most compelling space being the S desks and dry-erase boards for their work.
A1: I love the rooms that are built up and look great but I’m just as satisfied with my Ts that do what they need as long as they achieve our goal! My office is set up to engage whoever comes in. Pictures, quotes, books, just building those connections! #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A1
But also, since I don't have a lot of stuff bought (partly bc nowhere to store ANYTHING. 5 ppl family living in a tiny townhome and partly bc no money). It manages to accomplish ownership by Ss, and alleviates the financial burden
#WeirdEd Since I...don't have my own classroom yet. I wanna do something in between. Parts of the room will be covered w/some anchor charts, some geeky posters scattered throughout, but not a lot of stuff. I wanna do the whole "We set up our own room throughout the yr" thing.
A1: I have always been a “let’s build this thing together” kind of teacher... I was also an itinerant teacher for years and had no space of my own to set up. Post-it chart paper helps make a temporary home! #WeirdEd
A1: I am probably the only teacher in my building right now who hasn't gone in to start setting up my room. I felt at the end of last year I had a bunch of crap I didn't need, so this year I want to only bring in stuff as I realize it's needed #weirded
#WeirdEd For sure for sure, plus you want to get a feel for your teaching.There's way more important stuff to think about than seating at first. But keep it in your head and slowly build
A1 Hmm. But cluttered is not the same thing as how I would arrange things. When I get around to organizing, I have spots that are actually elegant. Gotta have rocks and shells. #weirded
#weirded We actually have a new building/classrooms this year. It's currently pretty bare bones. I will be soliciting S ideas. I WILL suggest, however, they might like a water heater (tea?) and a snack area. (high school math room)
#weirded A1 I'm in between. I don't do posters. The kids and I create charts throughout the year. I do need some sort of color or theme though for my own sanity. It's my space too. This year my entire theme is going to be based around a life-size cardboard cutout Thor.
#weirded I'm in between. I keep stellar pieces from past years up along the ceiling line but keep the bulletin boards pretty bare & fill them throughout the year w/ student work. I have 3-4 preps every year so my desks are 4-5 seat groups but change sometimes several times a day!
#weirded I am also a no assigned seats person. Always astonished when kids tell me that in other secondary rooms that they are assigned but I do not usually have an issue with names so I try to be open-minded as to colleagues' reasons.
#WeirdEd
A1. I have flexible seating. I have simple things. I keep a US Map and use it daily. I also have THINK wall https://t.co/OjrVv4GYam that I use daily
#WeirdEd A2 Parents? What mythical creatures be they? Aye, I have a handful of sightings mebbe twice per year.
(Any other visit will likely be in an office not a classroom.)
#weirded A2 The I worry about parents seeing is MY desk. (Which I rarely sit at.) Before Meet the Teacher I make sure it's not cluttered w/plans, copies, empty coffee mugs/diet coke cans, snacks, etc... When parents come back later in the year I always forget to check it! 🤣
#WeirdEd A2 Possibly. Teachers do have to connect with Parents. If Ss like the room, or like the concept, then Parents may follow quickly, but other Parents may think differently regardless of Ss.... Though, hopefully not a major factor in P's perception of T....
A2: When I taught in other buildings/had other positions, that was way more important to me. It was important for me to impress parents, or at least not appear like I cared less than other teachers. Now I teach in a computer lab so parents don't often visit. #weirded
#weirded I wonder what parents might think....but I don't make decisions based on that. My classroom is for the Ss and for learning. I trust that parents will see that.
A2 I wish some people would care about that. Many years ago when they tried to first mainstream Kid Q, I brought her in late after an appointment and was entirely overwhelmed. I can only imagine how she felt. #weirded
Key is to choose a plant that works in your room (low or bright light) and follow a watering schedule that the plant prefers (some plants need to completely dry out between watering and can be overwatered). If you let me know about your classroom I can help you pick one! #weirded
That said, I hope it looks presentable to anyone who comes into the classroom for whatever reason.
But we clean up for parent-teacher conferences. Such as they are.
#WeirdEd
A2: I did, only in that I thought about, “Can I justify this choice if I were asked why I made it?” Thought about that in terms of parents, but also students, admin and colleagues. #WeirdEd
And that answer sounds different depending on who you are talking to. It may be the same answer in principal, but different emphasis and language. #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd In the blog (https://t.co/MJ7CUpZIIU) I go through my Ten Step Set Up Process.
I know this might take a bunch of tweets, but who cares. What's your process?
I have a slightly different experience. I've been in my classroom ostensibly getting organized before school starts, but instead spending a lot of time going, "What the heck is this? How long have I had it? What should I do with it now?" 1 example of many: owl pellets. #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd Oh man, gotta love the "I'm Finally Gonna Clean This Cabinet" adventure. Finding stuff left over from the teacher who was in the room in the 1870s.
I have a slightly different experience. I've been in my classroom ostensibly getting organized before school starts, but instead spending a lot of time going, "What the heck is this? How long have I had it? What should I do with it now?" 1 example of many: owl pellets. #WeirdEd
#ClearTheAir
Bridgette,. 4-7th EBD
Trying to figure out how to add science, social studies, math, @cnn10 and group therapy to my schedule . Just got it today....
A3. This year? Step one, go back to my old school and painstakingly separate my materials from my former co-teacher. Consume much coffee and chocolate. Cry. #WeirdEd
A3 this year was a more simplified version, we move to New building at semester, but still wanted the room to be right for the first semester so (1/??) ... #WeirdEd
Seriously! The owl pellets were particularly funny. I didn't know what they were & the inventory list in the bag said "wooden dissecting probes" and "plastic forceps." & then there were these odd little balls of something in alum foil. Say what?! #WeirdEd
#weirded Set up process: ask Qs 1) What will Ss see when walk in? 2) When they sit down? 3) What is between them & boards? (Get my desk out of the way!) 4) What human comforts can fit? 5) Any cool things to hang on the wall? 6) Where do the speakers go?
A3 I just thought of how to set tables in a functional way for the way I teach, cleared walls (except for my comics I'll use as topic hooks) and moved on (2/??) ... #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A3 Step 1. Stare at the room and breathe, think "Finally, something that is MINE." Yeah, a bit possessive, but I don't have much that's "mine."
Step 2. Move stuff around, try to keep pathways clear.
3. Find possible logical pathways to supplies/board/mydesk
4. Adjust
Next step: after my stuff is delivered to the new room, put up bulletin boards, alphabet, etc. Make sure my computer works. Try to find a place for my stuff to go after it’s been haphazardly packed and unpacked. Consume more chocolate. Cry some more. #weirded
A3) I have to obsessively wipe down every surface. Dust the room and wash the windows. Then I sit and get a feel for the room & reflect what worked last year & what didn't with set up. #weirded
A3: Throw it against the wall and see what sticks for me. I had @MsAprilKenyon and @yenneam come in and rearrange at different points. Kept a little of what they each did. My room went through about five significant permutations over the summer before I liked it #WeirdEd
A3) I have to obsessively wipe down every surface. Dust the room and wash the windows. Then I sit and get a feel for the room & reflect what worked last year & what didn't with set up. #weirded
Then arrange furniture, take stock, and email around to see if anyone has extras of the stuff I gave away in February that i didn’t need because coteacher had the same thing and we didn’t want duplicates and also didn’t know it was a temp arrangement #weirded
#weirded A3 I pay a lot of attention to movement space for me & students. I have tried to bring in some seating options this year from personal stash like air lift chairs & a rug to try. But normally I spend time on can they move freely/have enough personal space when seated.
A3: So far my system has generally been, "Try out idea I think is good, come to hate it in one to three days, rearrange everything, repeat." Sometimes it's nice to have limits like desktop cords that force me to be okay with SOMETHING #weirded
#WeirdEd A3 I also like to have an open space somewhere in the room. My Drama Club had these circle times where we really bonded, I like to have that spot where we can do that together, whether Restorative Justice or community building.
#WeirdEd I have never had so few students as to really have space for "carpet time". I know I can push desks around and stuff, but I don't have a dedicated Carpet Time Carpet.
#WeirdEd Q2 Only around the time of open house, but I teach ninth graders and I seldom see parents in my classroom, although I invite them all the time.
#weirded A3 First off, I refuse to go into my room if the AC isn't on. Then I dust. Though they paint and wax the floors over the summer they never dust. Then I set up my computer and desk. Once that is set up, I sit in my rolly chair and stare at the room for a while.
Yeah, you've had like, 30+ students from the time I've known you. Yikes. #WeirdEd
Some of the new Flexible seats I've seen in a certain district also tend to clutter up space, they're pretty wide.
Yes. She was keeping it there until she could see this man at the Field Museum. I insisted she make an appointment ASAP. She landed with us because she was a friend of one of my husband's sisters.Thankfully we also got her out of the house without too much of a hassle. #weirded
A1: i have some purdy things in both classrooms, and things that are really strongly screaming about my interests. Dinosaurs, dragons, Star Wars art, kid’s projects... BUT. I also have a great deal of bare wall space and shelves. I wanna build the space with my artists #weirded
#WeirdEd Side note. I've been in a classroom pretty much almost every day this year, my summer care job takes place within the district so I'm in a school right now.... So... I might actually want some time away from a classroom.... XD
Also my introduction oops. Breanne Kanak. K12 art beast from northern Wisconsin. And I don’t know about wood, but I have seen some woodchucks severely mess up gardens. Aka why I have a rodent killing canine . #weirded
#WeirdEd Q4 Have you ever thought about not setting up ANYTHING until the kids get there? Go full on with the This Is Our Room thing? Like, stacked desks, the whole nine?
#cvtechtalk#weirded I've had great success disarming Ss who might be confrontational elsewhere by not giving them anything to confront. Empower them, give them the marker...and let them go where they want. The give feedback and let peers give feedback. Usually resolves it.
I'm not a new teacher but have several in my Dept this yr, I made sure to give them posters that related to their content before they arrived to help them out (I've collected a bunch over the years) #WeirdEd
A4. No, but i think that is more because of my population. I have lots of toys and need clearly defined spaces that are appropriate to play with them. Otherwise... #weirded
#WeirdEd A4 I'm far too eager to leave a mark wherever I go, so no, I'd like to put some stuff up, also just to work out some anxiety too. Like a show of "Hey, I can do teaching! I have desks!"
#WeirdEd A4 This would be awesome. I think I’d have some artist friends on standby & take a poll to find out the things the kids like then have artists make inspirational posters from that!
I will also have a classroom fish this year in my high school room. And I am crossing my fingers that Cézanne can come back. Animals are a big part of my love in life. Oh and I have a pug mill for clay (which is totally an alien object) and LOUD. SPEAKERS.
#weirded I have thought about this. But I'm afraid they will resort to prior conditioning + experience and put themselves in isolated rows. I'm the professional. I know what kind of learning environment I want to foster.
That said, a few weeks in I will ALWAYS listen to ideas.
#WeirdEd Q4 Have you ever thought about not setting up ANYTHING until the kids get there? Go full on with the This Is Our Room thing? Like, stacked desks, the whole nine?
I was lucky and had a lot of connections to donate books and furniture stuff. I also lucked out to be at a school with a pretty generous PTA. But look for retireing and recently retired teachers. #WeirdEd...oh! And thrift stores!
#WeirdEd I know people will pay good money to see The Batman go away, at least. LOLOL. Nah.
But again, as a new T w/not a lotta money. I think working with Ss to build up the room over the year will work. Hopefully.
I'dliketogethirednowplease. I wanna test this.
#weirded A4 No, because anxiety...so a very selfish reason. I find that kids want to leave a mark on my room but tend to do so in their own way once we establish towards end of the year--pictures of us at prom, painting wall/ceiling tile, college card (index card w name & logo).
#weirded I have a whole thing of posters and some teachery books from a retiring teacher. The posters are old...I mean “retro” which could be really cool!
#WeirdEd Q4 Have you ever thought about not setting up ANYTHING until the kids get there? Go full on with the This Is Our Room thing? Like, stacked desks, the whole nine?
A4: I think that'll be a struggle in a computer lab, just because one class comes in, works, then leaves - and another class comes in, works, and leaves, and so on. So it would be hard to create space kids shape for themselves without interefering with other classes #weirded 1/
#weirded A4 I'd love to see the look on my admin's face when they came to check my room before Meet the Teacher if I tried that.
But I also just don't think I could. I like organization a little too much and I'm FAR too wary of what those 4th graders would do. 🤣
A2: I am a People pleaser, mostly, so I want parents to feel at ease or see some semblance of order. Even though behind the scenes they will never know the spastic behavior that occurs between classes, transitions, clean up. If I know a parent is coming I tidy up. #weirded
A4 cont'd: But that doesn't mean I won't try. Last year we had desktops but this year we can move more classes to using their class Chromebook sets in the lab. Can experiment with more flexible seating and grouping. We shall see how this goes. 2/end #weirded
#WeirdEd This made me laugh SO hard right now....
I try to mix it up. LOL. I actually thought I'd pass up on that 'cause I'm devoting everything to staying awake right now, but it just happened.
A2: the exception to the Cinderella work ethic is when we are working on something totally kickass that cannot be moved and must be showcased. I keep student work handy so I can be like “LOOK. Evidence!” #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd
Q5 In the blog I argue that classrooms have an Energy, and that you can put energy into it. Anyone riding this train with me? Can your walls talk and influence your room and year?
#WeirdEd That could be really cool then to have students select their favorite student created poster and have it blown up/laminated and be “gifted” as a legacy to the next year’s opening day!
A5 Classrooms definitely have an energy. A unique personality all their own. Back when I was a TA, I had a student ask if he could sit in on another section I taught because he was leaving early. The night and day difference really blew his mind. #weirded
A5. I definitely think this is true. Colors palettes, scheme vs no scheme, choices in what goes on the walls/surfaces, all contribute to the mood and character of the classroom. #weirded
#WeirdEd FoShow! The Lovely Missus has a “zen” energy this year (zenergy?) because she knows she has a class of hyperactive kids who struggle to focus. Using the room to create a culture of calm will only facilitate self-calming as the year goes along.
A5 The classroom he was part of was a really lively bunch. The class he sat in on that one time was very quiet. It was clear that he would not have tolerated being there more than that one time. #weirded
#WeirdEd Uh yeaahhh A5. Talkin' to a Star Wars fan here. Just walking in the classroom of the T I've volunteered for 4 yrs (even when last 2 wasn't much) this summer, I can feel a familiarity. Walking onto my StuTeach classrooms for visits, I can feel it.
#weirded I do think rooms have energy. Ss know by sight and sound if this room was designed for them or if it was designed for a T-centered experience. Even if it's subconscious. When places or people give off a vibe....that's no accident.
I also think the mood we are in when we set up contributes to this classroom “aura.” Note to self: get into a better headspace about this move... #weirded
A5: I’ll ride this train. I think there is an energy, but I think the kids can shift it dramatically. My room didnt feel this afternoon like it did yesterday, and really, nothing major changed. #WeirdEd
#weirded A5 Yes! Though I think a lot of it also has to do with the kids. Last year was ROUGH, so I purged EVERYTHING and started with a clean slate. When I went to my room this morning (when the AC was on). it felt new, exciting, and almost electric!
Not what you’re asking but I have a día de los muertos statue on top of the highest bookshelf. Almost every day I come in and it’s facing the wall. I grab a chair and turn it around. Sometimes halfway through the day it’s back facing the wrong way. #weirded
