Book - Teaching With Intention

I'm continuing to read Debbie Miller's book, "Teaching with Intention." This week is about environment, or the physical space, in our rooms.

 

Its hard not to think the grass is greener. When I student taught, my mentor teacher had three huge built in cabinets, and a long row of bookshelves, also built in. My current school doesn't have that - and I've just got to make it work :) {As a former co-worker liked to say, "It is what it is." Too true.}

Miller gives an idea - "Step outside your classroom door and look back in, as if for the first time. What do you see? Do you want to go back inside?" 

Ack! I say. I can think of pictures I've taken of my kids, and yuck, there in the background is a brown box, or a stack of books, or.... You name it.

But, tomorrow, I plan to take this step. I'm going to go in my room tomorrow morning, put up my coat and bag, and step back out of my room and back in. What catches my eye - in a good way or a bad way? And for me, some photos might help me as I think through this summer how I want my space to be. 

I'm also thinking of really being brave and asking a couple of my sweet students what they think about our room.

This is an awful time for me to be reading about physical space. I have WAY too many things that I just haven't taken the time to put back after I've used them. Or that need to leave my room :) But I've also been able to find a few pockets of time lately to do a little something - for example, my closet - the part that looks straight at me when I open the door. 

Anyway, wondering about you - when you really take time to look and see - what do you see? Do you want to go back in? Do you care to share?? 

Tomorrow's Friday and I'm testing. Hoping to get it all done! Have a good one - Sara