Decrease Classroom Clutter to Increase Creativity
If your classroom looks like a storage facility, it鈥檚 time for a change.
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As educators, we鈥檝e spent years attending classes, participating in workshops, going to conferences, and continuing our education. The more we learn, the more we create and collect. Because of the time and effort that we鈥檝e spent developing these rich resources, it can be challenging to let some of them go. I鈥檝e struggled with this for years. Entering my classroom one day, it struck me. The space looked more like a teacher storage facility than an inspiring place for students to work together and learn. I knew this needed to change.
Who Is the Space Designed For?
I decided to apply the same principle at school that I always have at home. If we haven鈥檛 used something within the past six months to a year, chances are we won鈥檛 end up using it. When objects take up valuable space yet aren鈥檛 used often or in meaningful ways, they become clutter. While the concept seems simple, I knew the task would be a big undertaking鈥攂ut an important one. The more I thought about the impact of decluttering my classroom, the more I was reminded of my work in interior design prior to teaching.
Over the past decade, as I鈥檝e continued researching, taking courses, and completing certifications, my findings about brain-friendly learning have reinforced those parallels with my design background. For example, research indicates that light, space, and room layout have a critical impact on physical and physiological well-being. Studies from the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture indicate that each feature of the architectural environment , such as those involved in stress, emotion, and memory. It鈥檚 our job as designers of our learning spaces to be familiar with some of these key elements where we can make a positive difference for student learning.
Tips for Getting Started
As a current classroom teacher, I appreciate the power of research and new ideas to transform teaching and learning in a positive way. However, what I look for most is not the 鈥渨hy鈥� but the 鈥渉ow to.鈥� The following are a few tips that you can use in your district offices, classroom learning spaces, special classrooms, and open learning areas to make a positive impact on education. I strive to share ideas that are research-based, brain-friendly, affordable, practical, and impactful.
1. Declutter your space. If an item doesn鈥檛 directly impact student learning, store it where student learning doesn鈥檛 transpire on a daily basis. Learning spaces should, quite simply, reflect a space to learn. If students are the primary users of the space, the majority of materials should be for students. Classroom spaces are not teacher storage facilities.
2. Utilize natural light and make nature visible. Research shows the beneficial effects of nature on health and mood. The results of one interesting medical study suggest that patients who had access to a scenic view of nature were hospitalized for less time and received less pain medication than patients whose windows overlooked the neighboring brick building.
3. Allow students to have ownership of the space. The has noted the importance of people having spaces that they can call their own. Feelings of comfort and welcome in a shared space are vital to the feeling that we鈥檙e all invited to actively take part. Are materials neatly organized, hidden out of sight yet accessible, and available for students to obtain independently? Are their original pieces of art tastefully displayed, to enhance feelings of trust and student self-worth? Are photos framed and creatively displayed to encourage a sense of community?
4. Ditch the desks. Flexible seating choices allow for movement, collaboration, and creativity. Furniture doesn鈥檛 have to be uniform within a classroom. Students have a preference for comfort. If we expect them to do meaningful work for extended periods of time, we should provide them with the space and seating to do just that. I invite you to in second grade and read more about its .
I鈥檓 humbled by the numerous educators around the world who share their redesign process with me, whether in person at conferences or via social media. I would love to hear from you regarding where you are in your process. Please check out that I鈥檝e written, contributed to, or been featured in. Even if you鈥檝e completed your classroom redesign project, please share in the community and let your work inspire other educators. My closing advice is to ask your students what they鈥檇 like in their space. After all, our students are the reasons why we鈥檙e designing classroom spaces. They have incredible voices waiting to be heard.