A Tale of Two Rooms...

After visiting two retail locations, both selling shoes, I began to look at how two classrooms can be the same but also very different.

The classrooms at my school are all the same. We all have the same basic items in it--a sink, windows, tv, teacher desk, student tables, furniture, etc. But even with the same basic things, the way those things are arranged make the rooms feel different.

Teacher personalities are reflected in the room arrangement but also the purpose of the teacher's teaching. I teach in a multiage classroom of 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students. My room looks quite different than the room of a teacher teaching a straight grade level. I need to have my tables arranged to host small groups of students who are focused on learning together in a cooperative manner rather than individual spaces for students to work independently. I also need to have spaces set up for children to work at when I'm meeting with small groups. These spaces need to provide a place for kids to work on their own...such as a writing station or reading corner. They are like little departments within my "store." I need to make them attractive to the patrons...so they will use them...and I can "sell" them on my ideas for learning.

It was interesting to note the way the store interacts with the customer...whether I needed their help or if I could service myself. The shoe store chain was more focused on self service where the independent store was more focused on customer service and personal attention. This again made me think about classrooms and how they are set up to more customer service oriented but also have self service aspects as well...like independent work centers, personal cubbies to manage their own supplies, mailboxes and lockers to store their stuff. Classrooms need to have both of these styles in order to meet the needs of all students.

Variety is the key in a classroom but basic routine is priceless.