Back to school can be scary, especially for students starting the three-year hormone hell we call middle school. This Oregon classroom is so fun that nerves (not to mention boredom) seem impossible.
There's no shortage of brights and patterns (she's clearly not afraid of mixing them), but what struck me most about this classroom was the obvious care Miss Hug took with her students' enjoyment of their environment and learning. Just imagine how detailed and entertaining her lessons plans will be!
(Images: Ashland Schools)
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Looks great! Would love to see more classrooms here!
I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. My daughter started school last year, as a kindergartener, and she had such a horrendous teacher. The woman made no effort, was completely non-nurturing, and in addition to all her other horrible attributes, she did absolutely nothing to her classroom. It was very dirty (literally...a mom came in and volunteered to wash the windows 3/4 of the way through the year because they had clearly not been cleaned in years.) There were a few very old, unattractive educational posters on the wall, the cubbies still had the names of prior kids on the labels. It was depressing. I probably cried as much as my daughter last year, who was miserable.
Thankfully, this year she has a much better teacher who has some nice features in her room and who has, most importantly, made some effort. It makes me so happy to see classrooms like this. It's a shame that there really are some terrible teachers/learning spaces out there. (And, incidentally, this was at one of the highest-rated public school in my city. You can find bad teachers/bad spaces in just about any school, I think.)
In any case, after that ramble--I love this space! It looks great! The egg carton idea is awesome.
@Puella - that is simply terrible!! A child should love their classroom and feel like it is a home away from home, and the teacher should make an effort to create that environment. Perhaps the teacher had too many kids, or didn't have an assistant to put together things, but that doesn't excuse not creating an inviting space for the littlest students.
My 5yo son started kindergarten a few weeks ago in a K-2 classroom. He came in the first day to his name on his cubby, his coat hook and his work folders, a big lovely space with a library section, a soft rug, couch and benches for lounging, a science area, a math/manipulatives area with lessons disguised as games, the classroom aquarium with 2 turtles and little fish, and a side yard for classroom gardening (separate from the big play yard for all of the kids). Every day the kids get writing lessons with a writing teacher, and have access to a studio with an art teacher.
Best of all was the AMAZING K-2 teacher who hugs him every day, tells me how much she adores him, and lets him sit next to her during circle (he is the littlest guy). He loves school! He is learning how to write cursive, learning how to read, doing gangbusters in his math "games", learning how to play chess, building and creating in the art studio (mostly pirate maps) and having recess 4 times a day to get out his wiggles. EVERY kid should have this kind of experience during their first year of school (and all the years thereafter).
@puella - Oh, I just realized that I have visited your blog and LOVE your pictures!! Especially the one with the snails (big snail and baby snails). :)
after a very sad meeting with my son's terribly UNinspired pre-k teacher, this post makes me smile!
what a fabulous, inspiring, creative classroom!!
wseattlemom--Thank you! You made my day :).