Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Slice of Life: It's Not about the Furniture

It's March 1 and the 9th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge has started.  I find the community of Slicers so important in my writing community. I will be commenting as much as possible and continue Slicing on Tuesday. With my Wednesday Word Work posts, I am focusing on those blogs first; however,  Huge thanks to Two Writing Teachers .


My slice for today is about furniture. Moving furniture in my classroom. Wanting better bigger furniture.  Being envious of colleagues rooms and taking snapshots of "wanna be classrooms."  It's taken me 27 years to learn that furniture is more about me than my students.  I learned that yesterday as my students entered the classroom.  We had a work day the past Friday and after completing my progress reports I started rearranging my room.  Not huge changes, but small changes.  How did I make these changes?  I knew my learners - their strengths and weaknesses.  Like any year, I have a mixed bag of students who need to work alone, work together and work in small groups.  Some like quiet, some like digital (need a plug) some like noise (not my favorite but I support it). 

Here's what I figured out...it's not about the furniture it's about meeting the learners and creating an environment which allows for choices and supports their learning styles.  I didn't spend any money to update anything. I just rearranged and created different spaces.  It was complete joy seeing students using the low beach chairs, the "new"writing table, and laying on the bench discussing their books.  I am extremely slow to learn this lesson. My hope is that anyone reading this post can learn quicker that I did. Feel free to print this as a reminder :)

PS.  I'm embarrassed that I asked Kristin Z. where did you purchase those really neat benches?  Now I know it's not about the benches.  Although she told me years ago at Target :)  Thanks Kristin :)


Notebooks (whole class writing journals taken home the first night)
Life Quote (thanks JoEllen McCarthy for suggesting a dry erase board)
Cushions from the Super Bowl underneath (Thanks Susan)
#glitterboards

6 comments:

  1. I want to see pictures of your whole room! I also love seeing how creative other people get with their learning spaces. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I took some photo today. I will slice again with a photo update. Thanks for commenting and encouraging me to continue reflecting.

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  2. I moved furniture too, and it made mso much better about March!e feel

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    1. It's interesting how moving furniture shifted me Marchie feeling but my students are definitely using the spaces much better.

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  3. Hi Maria, Tara wrote about moving things around at this time of year too. I love that your wrote this: "creating an environment which allows for choices and supports their learning styles". It does take a long time to figure out a space, too. I messed with my room for a long while before it felt right, & had the capability of change, too. Love seeing that picture!

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    1. Linda, you're so supportive I appreciate your comments as well as encouragement. It's been an interesting journey and I will continue to reflect on my learners. More pictures to follow in another slice.

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