I finally got into my class lists. Surprisingly, given that I have the same number of sophomore classes as I did freshmen last year I don't have a lot of the same students. Although I've been nervous all summer about which returns I would have... I've been surprisingly calm about the whole thing now that I know.
I can now see the top of my desk, for the most part, and got most of the classroom decorations up. I still have one last poster, but I really need a ladder for that - plus, I'm think it might be too much. There's an intersting discussion going on Teachers.net regarding the issue of high school classrooms and decorations. Some say "go for it!" and other's say "no." For myself, I would probably shrivel up and die in a classroom with blank walls. I need a certain amount of external stimulation to keep focused. While this is not always true for my students, rest assure that 3 days after school starts, nary a one will remember what, if anything is on the walls. That's not to say that it isn't worthwhile to decorate, I just don't think it's as big of a distraction as many would believe it to be. Second, a decorated room indicates that it's a wanted space. It says, "I cared enough about this class to staple crap to wall. I actually want to be in this room with you." For a lot of students, that's more caring than they get at home. I also believe that choices I've made in what to decorate with says that this class is all about the readin' and writin', so even if they're spacing off, it's subconsciously getting through. It could happen.
I can now see the top of my desk, for the most part, and got most of the classroom decorations up. I still have one last poster, but I really need a ladder for that - plus, I'm think it might be too much. There's an intersting discussion going on Teachers.net regarding the issue of high school classrooms and decorations. Some say "go for it!" and other's say "no." For myself, I would probably shrivel up and die in a classroom with blank walls. I need a certain amount of external stimulation to keep focused. While this is not always true for my students, rest assure that 3 days after school starts, nary a one will remember what, if anything is on the walls. That's not to say that it isn't worthwhile to decorate, I just don't think it's as big of a distraction as many would believe it to be. Second, a decorated room indicates that it's a wanted space. It says, "I cared enough about this class to staple crap to wall. I actually want to be in this room with you." For a lot of students, that's more caring than they get at home. I also believe that choices I've made in what to decorate with says that this class is all about the readin' and writin', so even if they're spacing off, it's subconsciously getting through. It could happen.
Comments
Keep up the good work!
Oh, and if you have time, check out my blog on teaching at http://lostmyfaculties.blogspot.com/