Coming into the new year, teachers and students are all experiencing a new building and environment. With this change, teachers are maneuvering around the school-wide rules regarding decoration in the classroom. Despite the new regulations, teachers find ways to continue to have a welcoming environment for all students. English teacher Kristin Johnson is one of these teachers who are determined to create a comfortable space for her students.
“I think, personally, that if a classroom feels calm then the kids feel more calm too,” Johnson said. “This isn’t really decoration, but I was just talking about how I often teach with my lights off, because I think the natural light is good. I think that that can make people feel more at peace.”
With the feeling of peace that washes over the students who walk in Mrs. Johnson’s room, it becomes apparent that this has become more than just a regular classroom.
“I like the way she decorated her classroom, it just feels like home,” sophomore Maggie McDevitt said. “I like whenever a class is homey and not super white and boring, but decorated instead, so this is one of my favorite classes.”
Coming into the new building, teachers are greatly limited on their customization of their rooms. Things such as paint, usage of thumbtacks on walls and any addition that could damage the walls is banned. But this brick wall doesn’t take Mrs. Johnson down as she has learned how to utilize the space she’s been given.
“So I tried to maximize, first my bulletin boards, and I think in terms of, like, reaching the kids, it’s important to put stuff that might be important to them on the bulletin boards, and then also maybe to do incorporate things that they’ve created too, so that they feel like they have a piece of their room as well,” Johnson said.
Her goal has not been in vain and her efforts have been recognized by her students who are grateful for her ability to provide a pleasant and safe learning environment.
“Other people’s classrooms, they have their main subject, or different sports teams, and that’s all great, but she has it where her students are the main priority, and it’s just the overall class in general,” sophomore Barret Phillips said. “It’s about her students, and not just what she likes”.
