Space For Learning

The Importance of Space

 

Hello everyone,

 

I hope you are enjoying these last few weeks of summer before we get started again.  As you can imagine, there has been a lot of activity at school.  When you come back in a few weeks, you’ll notice some changes. 

 

We have new carpets, new paint, and new wallpapers in many of the classrooms.  This has provided a bright, fresh look that will benefit students and teachers alike.  As you can imagine, color in our everyday lives can have a big effect on our emotions and thus our actions.  Combining soothing colors on the walls with brightly colored accents provides an optimal environment for retention of information and encourages participation. 

 

Similarly, some of our classrooms are home to new, flexible furniture – shaped desks that allow for students to spread out and that can be moved into a variety of configurations to encourage collaboration.

 

Several teachers have also begun experimenting with flexible seating.  You may see a student using an exercise ball, a stand-up desk, or a comfy chair.  We know that by allowing students to find the body position that works best for them we support their learning more effectively.  Therefore, many teachers are eschewing the more formal setups of classrooms of the past in favor of different set ups that provide opportunities for choice on where to sit (or stand!).  Additionally, most teachers have gotten rid of the mammoth teacher desk that takes up valuable classroom real estate and instead may have a small section set aside for their materials and use similar seating to students.  This way, they act more as a facilitator of deep learning rather than a font of information.

 

In an effort to meet the goal of our Strategic Plan to develop “student explorers who experience deep and practical learning,” we think deliberately about our use of space and how that affects our students’ experiences each day.  It’s an exciting place to be!

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon.

 

Take care,

Heather