Just found out today that I'm moving directly across the hall from my current room in order to help mentor a new teacher. I really don't mind and consider it a compliment. What I DON'T like is that I'm moving into a room that is HALF the size of my current one (which used to be an ESE room) and has NO windows (where my current room has 4)! I have comfy, foldable chairs that I use in my library but, I don't even know if they'll fit in there! How do you cozy up a room that has no windows? It seems so drab in there right now. I was thinking of getting a lot of lamps and placing them around. Would that help? Any other suggestions?
Oh wow, I sympathize with the lack of windows. That really changes the atmosphere. I suggest lots of bright decorations and the lamps are a good idea (if they fit and aren't a fire hazard). If the chairs are foldable, could you store them and bring them out only when needed?
Oh my goodness! I would be a little bummed, but that is definitely a compliment to you that they want you to mentor a new teacher. Other than lamps, I don't know what else you can do. To maximize space, I would put the kids in groups. I had a teeny, tiny classroom the past 3 years (so happy that this next year my room is about 3 times as large), and I was really crammed for space. If permitted, you can put some shelves up on the walls to store your things. I would check out "Clutter free classroom" for ideas (look at the labels and find "organization" or something that fits what you are trying to do)http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.mx/ My url comes up with MX because I am in Mexico, so you might have to try it without the MX. I don't know if it's supposed to be .com. Good luck in the new classroom!
I didn't consider the fire hazard. I just email my AP to ask him before I got out and purchase any. I have a large classroom library with 2 full size bookshelves and 3 half bookshelves. That's going to take up an entire wall of my room. I've visited "the clutter free classroom" before but I do need to do it again for my move. Thanks!
She's always updating the blog, so you might find something new on there. I just did. Good luck in any case!
Speaking of fire hazard, you might want to speak to someone about the hazard of only having one exit in the classroom. That is definitely a hazard some places and isn't allowed.
As someone who has moved 3 times in the last 5 years, I can sympathize with you. and good luck with packing and moving.
What grade do you teach? I taught a PK class years ago in a windowless room. I used the foam type project board and made a window. Put an outdoor scene (seasonal or whatever) as background, add thin strips of construction paper to make window panes, then I attached a small cafe curtain. Change the background scene as often as you like.
I was forced to downsize once, so I fully sympathize. This year, they replaced the floor in my classroom, so I had to pack it all up anyway
I'm 3rd grade. I've thought about drawing/painting a window, but that would DRASTICALLY reduce my wall space for hanging. There's not much wall space. :unsure:
That's a bummer. I just finished my first year where I shared a closet of a room (it was originally intended as a utility room) with no windows. I have no idea how we squeezed 16 high schoolers in there. There was no room for a library space at all. I had all the books on a bookshelf by the door, and the kids had to sit at their desks for independent reading. The room also had no windows, which drove my kids absolutely crazy. One kids kept threatened to knock a hole in the wall to make one! :lol: I did try hanging bright scenery pictures to create the illusion of windows, but it didn't really work and actually crowded the tiny walls and made it more claustrophobic. A lot of the time we kept one set of lights off, and we had the door open frequently to limit how trapped they felt. One thing that I really saw in that space was that certain kids were very antsy, so try to give them reasons to get up and move occasionally to counter that. In my smallest, lowest level class I had to resort to letting one student (the same who wanted to create his own window) sit in a rolly chair. It got him out of the confines of the desk and allowed him some movement while he worked, which seemed to help. On the days when he couldn't sit in the chair I could see his leg bouncing and he was more irritable than usual
Wow, good luck next year! You know, you'll probably start off by hating the no windows thing, but by the spring, you'll be loving it. I had this one year and when all the students were on spring fever, mine totally forgot about the nice weather (no windows to look out).
I have a small room with no windows as well. I am starting to wish I had more space, but I normally don't mind being windowless. My students leave every 43 minutes so it doesn't bother them. When it snows, they forget about it while they are with me. When the sun shines, they forget about it for a while.
My principal told me I was moving the last day of school - to a room 1/2 the size of my current one. I teach small groups so I'm hoping it's not going to be too much of a problem but I can't imagine teaching a whole class with 1/2 the space you're used to. A lot of teachers have lamps in my school and they really do make the room have a cozy feel so if you're able, definitely do that. Once you get all of your stuff in there, it won't seem so drab. I would get some bright rugs too. Good luck!
Thanks everyone! My AP responded to my email and said we are allowed to have lamps. Very pleased about that! Thankfully, the decor in my class room is made up of very vibrant colors so I think that's really going to help. I went in today to move my desks into groups and it was hard. I'm anticipating between 18 and 20 students and I could only visually picture 3 groups going because I don't know where the 4th would go! So I made 3 groups of 6 rather than 4 groups of 3. UGH! Bigger group than I'd want but I like to comfortably walk around the room as I'm teaching.
Yeah, I had to do small groups too. It was ridiculous because the kids doing independent work were two feet away from us There was no room for a small group station so the kids would just shove their desks together as best they could.
MissApple, my teacher small group is going to be very close to my independent workers. Oh well! I purchased 2 lamps yesterday. One floor lamp and one desk lamp. I think that will help to make it more warm in the room. I still don't have a place to put my 2 large comfy chairs. I may have to post pics and ask for your help!
