What to Look for in a Classroom by Alfie Kohn

 Finally, a topic I can understand in full and can relate to very personally!

    I have been in many classrooms and class spaces in the past and I can't wait to have a classroom of my own one day where I am able to decorate it with the students' works!

    After looking over the checklist from Kohn, I noticed that everything was very obvious, which I think is because I am in the art education program! As I realize that some schools are not as fortunate to have beautifully flawless classrooms, or even classrooms at all for art or other specialists, it is important to make whatever you have the best it can be.  Above is an example I pulled of an "art classroom."  I noticed a lot of rooms have stools with no backs, which might not seem like a problem but chairs with a good back is very important for any classroom.  If I were to critique this "perfect" classroom I would have to mention that the artwork hanging is probably mainly made by the teacher, going off of looks.  Of course there will be expectations/rules and other safety posters hung to remind students, but the majority of works should be made by them.   Examples such as the color wheel and techniques as a baseline are always great to have for any level class like the posters seen below.  Not to say they can't be adapted with student examples next to each poster....that could be a fun exercise!

    As an introductory lesson of my own,  I plan to have my classes create a mural like poster/banner (if the wall space is large enough) and I even made a small scale version for my art education class over the snow storm with the help of family and friends!  Kindergarten and 1st grade will experiment with textures to create whatever background colors we need, 2nd and 3rd will draw or color in items, people, etc. that will be included in the scene, and 4th/5th will add the final touches and help put the whole piece together!

    Students LOVE when their art is hanging up, no matter if it is "good" or 'bad," they feel the reward and accomplishment.  As a long term substitute, I would secretly hang up the art after they were completed without telling them or given them the idea that they would be hung to keep their minds at ease and have their artwork be created with no pressure behind it.  Their faces always light up when they see their work where the whole school can see it.  

    As for classroom layout, for me, it would be ideal to have individual desks where I am able to move them into a variety of formations or groups.  I found that when I was teaching my music classes, the rows helped while we were learning the foundations so everyone could view the board and be focused on the front of the room.  As time went on and we used the board less, they were in groups.  I like to keep the kids on their toes so every class they had a new seat.  Whether it be with a name tag, their recorder with their name on it, or handing back work from the previous class to let them know where their seat was is how I started each class for the day!

    I found this fun article that relates to the lesson we had this week about classroom management in my art education class.  I am familiar with just about all of these, but incase any art lovers want to check it out here it is!

I was also intrigued by a quote from Geneva Gay "instead of insisting that the students adapt to the culture of the school , the school needs to adapt to the students and modify some of its sending messages"  from the "Introduction to Culturally relevant Pedagogy" video.  I have found in my little time teaching a variety of grades that adaptability is SO important.  You might walk in with an exact schedule for the day and your class(es) might be totally crazy that day and nothing works! The students you have shape how your instruction is taught or sometimes what is taught.

Has this ever happened to you? How did you adapt? Did you never teach that lesson again after that or did you improve it and try again?

For everyone else not in art education, what would your ideal classrooms look like?