Oh my goodness, got my dates got confused and thought PBL was this week! Was so concerned that @christiepday hadnāt been all over twitter promoting it this week! Whoops!! #NoVAedchat
Marissa, HS Social Studies! Y'all, I just sifted through like 4 chats because I forgot what day it was and I couldn't remember which chat to join! #endofthequarter#novaedchat
A1: as a student my fav classroom was roomy, lacked clutter, flexible places to work. As a teacher... same as above... plus flexible seating and good lighting (more natural light) #NoVAedChat
What I loved about my childhood classrooms was how learning-friendly they were! Usually desks were in small groups and allowed for easy collaboration with my classmates #NoVAedchat
A1.1 dating myself here but I never really had Classrooms as a S that were really very personalized. Desks like soldiers all in a row with the occasional curriculum posters #NoVAedchat
A1.2 i think it all came down to the people in the classroom... the teachers who created a welcoming environment just out of their attitude and their actions #NoVAedchat
My favorite classroom as a kid was my 8th grade English class. It was COMFY. I remember sitting on a bean bag chair, writing poetry and just feelinā all my angsty middle school vibes. My teacher was PHENOMENAL. #NoVAedChat
A1: I felt valued. I felt like when I walked in the room I mattered, and I also felt like my teacher knew what they were doing and confidently imparted learning. Still talk to that teacher today! #novaedchat
A1.3 I LOVE my Classroom now. Itās a work in progress (always) but Iāve got culture and memories all over the walls and itās just a cozy spot! #NoVAedchat
A1 my absolute fave class was last year as a teacher bc I was 1:1! š» I wouldnāt be able to T again w/out the devices. It opened up endless possibilities for S voice, choice, & empowerment! IT WAS AMAZING. #novaedchat
A1: as a student my fav classroom was roomy, lacked clutter, flexible places to work. As a teacher... same as above... plus flexible seating and good lighting (more natural light) #NoVAedChat
Most of mine too, Sarah. But here and there I had a few who believed in cooperative learning. In 5th & 6th we had table teams with names and poster flags! #NOVAedchat
I love this! Why do we keep so much unnecessary clutter?? Organized and clutterless spaces are so much easier to keep clean too! Kids know where everything should be put away! #novaedchat
A1: I loved that it welcomed students, was organized, had options for different workspaces and resources for me to use. I also liked being able to have a choice in my learning! As a T, I try to do the same for Ss #novaedchat
I think organization is key to the āappearanceā of No clutter. I donāt want a room spotless... just organized and attractive and appealing to the kids. #novaedchat
@scigates and I talked about this last year - examining how much of the space belongs to students and how much to teacher. Really eye opening assessment of space #NOVAedchat
A1 as a teacher, I loved my trailer. It was simple and organized. Kids were in table groups but could easily work on the carpet. Teaching in a trailer helped me get rid of things I did not need. #NoVAedchat
If it was transformative for my own teaching and made me LOVE school that much more, I can only imagine how it was for the point of view of the students! #novaedchat
I had a convo about this week with a T that insists she needs TWO teacher desks... I donāt get it but some need to stake that flag and hold it firm #NoVAedchat
In reply to
@TechyMargaret, @AbbeyFMiller, @abctec, @scigates
A2: Learning spaces are very important from the first time students step in the room. What does the layout say? The decorations? What learning fits best?
#novaedchat
A1 I liked the years that students had access to the materials they needed. I didn't need to keep it all locked up/put away. They could get what they needed when they needed it #NoVAedchat#community
A2 Setup indicates expectations and goals. If we have tables in my room, then the expectation and the goal is that we engage with each other and collaborate to achieve! 1/2 #novaedchat
A2: Since I've started using fewer desks and more different types of furniture (stools, couch, etc) I've found that there is more room to move around in the classroom #NoVAedchat
That was the best choice I made - it was such a new/novel idea back then colleagues thought I was nuts! I had to convince admin to take that big desk away! #NoVAedchat
In reply to
@MsMucciolo, @abctec, @ProfeTravis, @AbbeyFMiller, @scigates
A2 students should have a clear path to everything they might want or need. I definitely learned to respect aisle space. Hey @abctec you helped me with classroom setup SO MUCH! #novaedchat
A2: I teach reading so set up and lighting are very important. I have multiple groups within one class and spaces for direct instruction and independent work. #novaedchat
A2: Groups = collaboration! Space = movement and flexibility! am I the only one who works best with a (mostly) controlled bit of chaos happening in the room? #NoVAedchat
A2 classroom design impacts what type of learning and collaboration can take place, especially when thereās choice!! Campfires, caves, and watering holes! #novaedchat
Oh wow! Our trailers were barely big enough to fit 31 kids, a teacher's desk, and a projector. We couldn't walk around and group work was impossible! #novaedchat
And that room is so small... but u have it set up so it looks bigger and you have a nice large space for class meetings :) irony... when i first started teaching NO ONE in my first school had a carpet space for kiddos or for morning meetings... (in 1993) but i did...#novaedchat
This fascinates me. A lot of Ts feel the need to have a āPinterestā classroom. Often decorations are overstimulating for the Ss and donāt leave enough room for S work! #novaedchat
In reply to
@coreythornblad, @TechyMargaret, @abctec
A2 Having some of your personality/personal items around the room says you trust students to know you. And in turn, that you want to know them #NOVAedchat
A2 I have white board tables. We comfigure them in different ways depending on the task. Engagement is high when students are able to stand and write on the tables. Dry erase markers are not permanent so students seem to take more risks and dive into tasks #novaedchat
I loved getting rid of my T desk last year, although now that I have an office w/out Ss i would love to have a standing or treadmill desk! Love the #ditchthedesk trend!! #novaedchat
In reply to
@MsPettyTweets, @TechyMargaret, @MsMucciolo, @abctec, @ProfeTravis, @scigates
A3: Definitely a math area. Manipulatives are crucial to math today and having an area for students to spread their materials would be great! #Novaedchat
A3: Areas needed in schools include charging stations, common/lounge type areas, more comfortable lunch areas, more comfortable/collaboration friendly classroom furniture, and more.
Schools should feel more like home.
#novaedchat
I could get down with a standing desk! I was on a cart for a year, so I think I'm still relishing the fact that I have not had to move around for the last two years. #novaedchat
In reply to
@AbbeyFMiller, @TechyMargaret, @MsMucciolo, @abctec, @ProfeTravis, @scigates
A3 Iām amazed at the writing centers that some teachers in my school have. Choice of writing tools, paper, and computers/tablets. This is so empowering! āļøšš #NoVAedchat
A3: Spaces that flex. I rearrange my room based on what I need in a given day. We need to be able to make rooms fit instruction, not the other way around. #novaedchat
Iāve never seen the standing laptop desk like that! I was envisioning the tall desks with bed risers like some classes have. Thanks for sharing!#novaedchat
In reply to
@abctec, @MsPettyTweets, @TechyMargaret, @MsMucciolo, @ProfeTravis, @scigates
One school I work with has some amazing flex spaces in between classrooms. There are always kids collaborating but them. Itās great to see, @TechNerdLB#NoVAedchat
A3: I also think kids need ownership over space. We have a class bulletin board filled with pictures of their friends, families, hobbies. It's 100 percent them. #NoVAedchat
A3 More flexible spaces that serve different kinds of students. Collaborative spaces, individual spaces, comforting spaces so students can gravitate toward whichever one suits them at the moment #novaedchat
A3 Space for quite independent work, tables for group work, cozy/comfy space, options for students to choose from, SOFT seating/furniture to absorb noise, a soft rug because cold tile is no good! #novaedchat
A3: 3 years of polling kids about how they use the space. I think it comes down to flexibility. Can you have a b c zones for one lesson and x y z zones for another? Needs change from class to class #NoVAedchat
The mounted projectors are AMAZING!!! I was losing my mind before we had them every ten mins when someone would trip over the cords or bump in to the cart!! #novaedchat
It is a must. Especially in elementary school. Sacrifice way too much space for movement and additional options when you have to account for the cart. #novaedchat
A3 another fav in my room are the video game rockers. Teachers, students, and custodians have come to my room to rock. Sts with emotional regulation know my room is a safe place to calm down. They work well with clipboards and laptops too. #novaedchat
Our library just got some and I LOVE bringing my kids to that space. Wish I had the kinds of desks that kids could write all over -- would be so good for so many of them to feel like it's less permanent #novaedchat
In reply to
@techinteaching, @Dr_Counts, @TechyMargaret, @KatherineHover
A3 We need spaces for Ss to collaborate w each other (watering holes), explore learning on their own (caves), & learn from Ts or other experts (campfires). We need to be intentional about our set up! #novaedchat
A4: The biggest mistake I've made in designing learning spaces is following what I always saw in schools. Desks in rows, teacher in front, etc.
#novaedchat
A2: For me personally, I think classroom design sets the tone for the learning environment, student centered and meeting the needs of 21st century learners #novaedchat
A4: no walking paths or flow. Ts set up and then donāt realize that when Ss are sitting in chairs, you canāt get to anything i the room without making other kiddos move chairs #NoVAedChat
A3 We need spaces for Ss to collaborate w each other (watering holes), explore learning on their own (caves), & learn from Ts or other experts (campfires). We need to be intentional about our set up! #novaedchat
A4 a mistake Iāve seen is giving students too much choice, without structure or expectations. Just bc youāre giving Ss choice doesnāt mean itās a free for all! #novaedchat
A4: I think like no two students are alike; No two classes are alike. What works for one, may not work for all. So your flexible seating has to well, be flexible. #NoVAedchat
The ikea POANG chairs are good for movement too! And you can usually find them super cheap on CL #NoVAedchat I grabbed one that my neighbor had left at the curb! š¤£
A4 another mistake I was guilty of was feeling the need for everything to be perfectly clean and organized!! The best learning is messy and loud! #novaedchat
Right! Or not going through the rules or guidelines for each space in the room... introducing each section and modeling the expected behavior #novaedchat
A4: putting all my computers in one place for 25 Ss & 1:1. Should have had three charging stations around the room. (Charging stations on desk was best, but electrician was big on all the extension chords everywhere). #novaedchat
Some Ss prefer to work and thrive in ācampfires!ā Others need ācavesā to concentrate and focus. We shouldnāt ALWAYS force Ss to work independently or in a group if itās not best for them! #NoVAedchat
A4: hurrying into it and making decisions without paying attention to details. Also making sure that your planning with the students in mind... not just slapping new tables in because itās different. #NoVAedchat
One pair of our Ts recently ordered counter height tables. When they came in they were bigger in the space than expected and stumped the Ts. They asked kids to help arrange and it was perfect! #NoVaedchat
A4 Rows. I hate rows with a passion. I can't stand all of those kids facing in the same direction, never having a comfortable way to flexibly work. #novaedchat
So I have a lot of thoughts about flexible seating.. :) here's a BubbleUp Classroom blog post from when I started my journey with a pic of my classroom if anyone is interested. #novaedchathttps://t.co/PpK0zvYUj2
Yes!! They actually helped pick the genre titles and organized the books in our library. They regularly clean it out and ask for new titles. Also, they recently asked for āreading buddiesā so we got some stuffed animals to hang out with while reading. #noVAedchat
Too true! But what about the rooms that are so small that it's hard to flexibly arrange seats? I tried flexible seating last year and it was a nightmare because we couldn't move around the room! #novaedchat
And then there's the teacher who puts tape on the floor so students can put all the desks back exactly where they belong at the end of each class. Sigh... #sisyphus#NoVAedchat
Q5: We hear lots of reasons why we canāt change - cheating, no money, testing needs, small spaces, so many students. How can we help our colleagues overcome those reasons? #NoVAedChat
Q5: We hear lots of reasons why we canāt change - cheating, no money, testing needs, small spaces, so many students. How can we help our colleagues overcome those reasons? #NoVAedChat
Hahaha I was so guilty of this my first couple of years!!! I even zip tied desks together so they would be in the right place! š¤¦š¼āāļø look how much I have grown! š #novaedchat
A5: I jumped in full force with flexible seating, but a lot of Ts in my building have started small -- which is a great solution. One standing desk, one area of bean bag chairs. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. #novaedchat
A5: Support, collaboration, and examples. Show colleagues they are never alone, give them resources and templates, and be able to show them that it has worked.
#novaedchat
A5: Iāve learned so much from visiting other rooms in my building. Others are making changes with similar circumstances, no reason to stay stuck! Talk to the people who know what resources are available and how to best take advantage! #NoVAedchat
A5 Hard to figure out a solution if you're avoiding all potential problems. Jump in, figure out what works, fix things when issues arise, and share your lessons learned. #NoVAedchat
A5: We did spend a small amount of money on my classroom but a lot of it is donations from friends, neighbors and family. People will donate stuff if they know you are looking for it. #novaedchat
I have been doing a lot of reading lately about how depressing it is that many schools ultimately teach & preach compliance rather than empowerment. We need quiet time during the day, but not all day! #novaedchat
Took a tour of @ThoreauMS last week with some fellow SBTSs. Very impressed with their (post-renovation) selection of flexible seating and charging stations #NoVAedchat
I've seen it too -- very nice! But for schools that don't have the money to spend -- there are ways to get there without spending a fortune. #NoVAedchat
I had a teacher who did this. EVERY day before class started she walked the rows to ensure we didn't move them when we sat. She nudged us back into rows... #NoVAedchat
A5 Reminding them that we're doing this for the kid. It doesn't make life easier for me, but it makes learning better for them. You can make almost anything work, even if it isn't perfect. #novaedchat
A5 Set up spaces for independent and collaborative work. I move my collaborative tables around ALL the time depending on tasks. Walk around the room and monitor while testing! Youād do the same with desks and rows. #novaedchat
Very true! We've made the same "economical" efforts @IrvingMiddle and were fortunate to earn a flexible seating grant last year to get the ball rolling #NoVAedchat
In reply to
@coreythornblad, @ThoreauMS, @IrvingMiddle
A6: I would like to organize the room better but since we'll be moving to a new building later in the year there's not much use in doing that. But it's something to do for next year :). #NoVAedchat
Yup! #novaedchat and i get kiddos during tech lab time and they are afraid to move from their seats... if they want something or need i encourage them to get up and get it. Get up and help each other if i am with another student. #ourSPACE
In reply to
@ProfeTravis, @TechyMargaret, @BrianHerb17
A6: One small change for my learning space would be student aid in design and decoration. I'd like them to have a personal touch to the room.
#novaedchat
A6: made some big changes this week! Settling in and living with it for a bit before next moves! If itās not done thoughtfully, itās not gonna work in the long term! #NoVAedchat
I created an Amazon wishlist w/seating options for parents & shared it with them during the holidays. They helped me buy so many things!! Often parents want to help buy things for the classroom but donāt know what! This worked really well! #novaedchat
