Extreme Makeover - School Edition

Ever notice how some teachers just seem to have a knack for decorating? You walk into their rooms and it’s so cheerful and welcoming. The kids just look so comfortable. One of the things I always love about Debbie Miller’s books is the color pages that show pictures of her classroom and pictures of other classrooms that she visits. In her latest book, Teaching With Intention, she even talks about room arrangement. She walked into a room as a consultant with a specific agenda but looked around and realized the clutter and disorganization didn’t make the work space conducive to learning so, before she began teaching, she and the teacher cleaned up and cleared out, thinking through the placement of each piece of furniture to make room for the whole group, small group and individual spaces needed. Sometimes cleaning up the clutter also helps unclutter the mind! How cool would that be – to have Debbie Miller come into your classroom and help you design it for maximum learning?

Maria Mallon has always had one of those classrooms at our school. As you walk into her room it has always been such a cheerful place. This year as she was joined by equally talented Cheryl Dillard and they became the Mall-ards that same comfortable, homey atmosphere surrounds the children. Below are some pictures from the Mall-ard’s first grade classroom this year. One of my favorite things is a green tree that is outside the classroom, full of holes to be used filled with suckers at the Fall Carnival. Because it’s too big to store, each year it is reinvented into the outside landscape. This year it is a tree holding an Australian koala and a beautiful picture of Sydney! Creativity abounds!

Debbie Cothern and Michelle Ellis have the largest classroom in our building so when you walk into their room it always seems so clean and free of clutter. As you walk around you realize that they have thought through every single space and each piece of furniture has a purpose. Karen Meissner is another kindergarten teacher whose room is always decorated for the season and is so welcoming. It smells good too!

Stenhouse Publishers must also realize that a teacher’s environment can make a big difference in learning because they have opened their new blog with a beautiful picture of Debbie Diller’s classroom and a space for teachers to upload pictures of their classrooms to share – Classroom Beautiful! Prizes are being given to the first 10 teachers who take up the offer and there is even an offer that Debbie Diller herself will provide some suggestions for makeovers. How cool is that?!!