A classroom is the base of a teacher. The first sight of a teacher’s room can deeply affect a student’s view of how they might approach their new school year. In the midst of teacher’s classrooms being displaced for new flooring, we’ll be looking at three different teachers, all unique in the subjects they teach, and how they approached their classrooms in terms of decoration.
First off, we have Ms. Youngblood in room 218 who teaches 8th grade honors English, 11 grade Theory Of Knowledge, and is in charge of our yearbook! I was very much drawn to her how homey her space felt the few times I’ve walked in. After sitting down with her in her lemongrass and mint scented room, I was mesmerized about what she had to say about it.
She revealed that because she spends so much time in her classroom, she wanted it to feel like a second home. “I think of language arts as an art and sometimes you’re working in that creative space, so between classes students use the couches or the bean bags.” Her space is littered with many places of comfort, including couches, comfy chairs and bean bags to promote a safe space students can escape to and work in. As for favorite decorations, she admires the plants she works hard to maintain and the photos she has scattered across her room. “..Definitely the photos and memories where students ask me about different photos. I get to tell stories about students and their experience.”
Continuing on around her room, something students may notice are her whiteboard markers being lined up in order across the board. This pays homage to one of her best friends who has OCD.
Describing and titling her room as “The Yearbook Room”, Ms. Youngblood’s room shines with this title, with the Totem Yearbook staff on display. Her room provides great comfort and warm vibes due to her decorations.
Next, we move across the hall to Ms. Maddox’s room in room 215. Ms Maddox teaches painting 1 and 2 for high school students and is in charge of the club “Threads”. I’ve seen her standing outside the hall, waving to students while her door is wide open for a glimpse of her room. Stepping inside, she revealed how her room got to this point.
“I read this book called Hidden Potential, and the author Adam Grant said that kids who are in a peaceful, organized room, they succeed and thrive in it. …When I read that part, it made me think. I would want my students to thrive, [and] have a peaceful experience.”
Maddox’s room is covered head to toe with student’s work from the projects she assigns. Some of these include painting shapes with shadows, or self portraits. All of these projects displayed have their own uniqueness, and you can see student’s personalities through them, even if you don’t know what the artist looks like.
As she’s decorated her classroom throughout her time here at ERHS, she’s learned how in the beginning, she was very hesitant being at a new school, but she’s embraced taking risks. “I feel stronger, I feel more comfortable, I take more risks… And as for art students, that’s very important for them to take risks, and find their voice.” Ms. Maddox displays her meaning behind being an art teacher with how she ends with a message for all of her students: “That even though they might not see, there’s a lot of planning that goes behind to provide them with a peaceful, safe environment.”
Last, down by the bungalows, we have Ms. Lee in B5. Teaching 7th grade World History, AP Human Geography and 12th grade GOV. I can still remember her curated room back in 7th grade, decorated to show her passion for history but also the quirky individual she is.
When visiting her room, she was in the process of putting up Halloween decor. She explained how her decoration process was a gradual one, starting slowly from when she collected student work. Most of her decorations come from student projects, but you can also view the amazing posters or dolls she collects that are littered around her desk area. “For the most part, I build on top of my collection.” she points out.
As for a favorite decoration, she touched upon the Marvel posters lined above her whiteboard. Not only do they show inspiring superheroes, but also inspiring themes. What she loves most about the classroom she’s in would be all the storage space she has, as she has more area space to display the student projects she collects. She has many on display, sitting high above for students to look up and admire. “That’s what it comes down to, because you want to showcase the work done by your students, and also it's the way to show pride in their work.”
As for decorations that her students may not get the reference to, would be her love of 90s sitcoms, especially “Friends”. She has decorated one of her storage closet’s doors as the main door from the show, and has hung a painting displayed in the show’s apartment.
Although describing her room as “random” or “messy”, she “hopes it doesn’t distract
anyone from learning. It’s supposed to make people feel comfortable.” Through her colorful cluttered decorations, Ms. Lee inspires her students to feel extra excited to learn in her class.
Every teacher has their own approach to representing their teaching style and promoting a certain environment for students with decorations. Ms Youngblood, Ms Maddox, and Ms Lee were very lovely examples, all unique and creative in their own way to show how many teachers provide a “safe” and “comfortable” abode for their students to learn and grow in.
Ms. Maddox's room looks pretty cool.