Hindsight is 20/20. After we have experienced a year in the
classroom we often tend to reflect over our lessons and interactions and
determine what worked, what didn't and what we will use again next year. Most
teachers, as the school year is in full swing, are focused on the here and now,
the current unit. We don't have enough time to see the bridges and arcs, we
rarely see how everything clicks together, into the giant mosaic, that is our
curriculum. We see the edges but viewing the fully, complete, masterpiece does
not happen until the end of the year. Once the final bell has rung and we are
filing away our knowledge for the summer break is when the vibrancy and
shininess of the tiles, take shape. This is when the glassy, reflective surface
of our school year starts to sparkle and glisten. This illuminates our memories
and helps us see the full story- the narrative of being an educator.
This is a time
of packing up cupboards, putting in final grades and removing things from our
classroom walls. But, as we bundle and bale our former year into the crevices
of seclusion, it is important we take the time to jot down a few notes- not
plan excessively, but maybe put some sticky notes on our lesson plans, and classroom design, creating ways to
remember what to tweak and alter before we present the lesson the following
year. Summer is a time for rejuvenation but once we step foot back into teacher
mode, some earlier than others, we need a road map- warning signs and danger
zones we are directed away from so that our new route will be as bumpy free as
possible.
Don’t
Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
There are a few big reconstruction projects I have in the works,
it has been a week since my school year completed and with a new principal and
new team for next year, it is important that I grout certain activities into
the mosaic and move some pieces around before they become a semi-permanent
feature. I will be the lead teacher, on my team next year, and it is important
for so many reasons that I align my team and have some well-used, successful
strategies in place. A few are new teachers to our curriculum, and they will need a
baseline. This foundation for the first time in many years, will fall on me to
smooth and even the cement, removing any bubbles. To make sure that we each
have plenty of room for our hand-prints, that out signatures have plenty of
space to fit, but also that the concrete is consistent and stable- scaffolding
and all.
1-Community
Board/Calling Cards
I will be keeping these in
place, but the community board needs to be designed and updated by students, not
me. Let them put articles and projects they are proud of up on the wall. Make
sure they feel comfortable using their calling cards to meet partners and
create lab teams. Also have their calling cards in the fishbowl (have them make
two) and I can use them to create random teams for projects and activities. This wall was bare at the beginning of the year but changed and grew throughout the year, but mainly by me- it needs to be more student-driven next year.
2. Graffiti
Wall/Collaborative Assessments-
The board I use for
various assessments, but I like to leave it blank for them to science doodle,
as well. Next year to make it more steam-lined and fluid I plan on writing
different words and sentence stems to spark their creative juices. That way the
board is a daily interactive tool.
3. Classroom
Podcasting-
I use podcasting in many ways in my classroom:
-students podcast lab results and reflections
-students create 1-2-minute expert podcasts about their favorite
relevant topics and beyond
-I podcast test/quiz reviews
-I podcast what’s cool in science topics
What I am doing for next year is create a class podcast on Sound Cloud
where students can have easier access to all the podcasts in one place. We
share on our on-line district platform Canvas, but this will make it more like
a channel rather than a drop box.
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Lastly, flexible seating, just for good measure, has always been apart
of my design. Freedom and options. I have round tables, long slate science
tables, standing desks and a few assorted cushions and rugs. But I think the
layout was off this year. My revamp will make it feel more coffee house, a corner
with cushions, long tables (like dining tables) on the edges and standing desks
pushed together like coffee house tables. I am also going to buy more cushions
so I can ramp up the floor options. If I create more of a group feel, like a
community center, I think more students will sit in the cushion areas and at the
standing desks because it will feel special.
These are just four of many small and big overhauls I am
planning for next year. My walls got a little cluttered this year. If I really
want a coffee house vibe, I need to go more minimal and sparser. Have the
clutter in one area only- the makerspace, right down the middle of the room,
where it can be the focal point of inspiration, creativity, tinkering and
community.
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