While thinking about how I would create this post without my own classroom... yet, I considered a couple different possibilities. I could wander around the school that I am currently substitute teaching in and collect things that I use or mean something to me OR I could collect things that are meaningful to me because of the teaching experiences I have had and what I am preparing for my own classroom in the fall. After considering those options, I chose to do the latter. The reason I made this choice was because I thought it would be more meaningful if it was actually my own personal items rather than just things that I have interacted with occasionally. These items include a 2026-2027 planner, a bag that says "teach them, love them, watch them grow", pens, a notebook, a "Pippin" magnet, apple watch, a Teacher cup, a sign that says "You Make This Classroom Brighter", a pottery wheel, and lots and lots of books.
My favorite item in this collection is the Pippin magnet. This magnet was made for me by one of my students during my residency. I was teaching the unit and created a lot of good relationships with many students. This particular student would come say hi to me in the mornings and come find me on their lunch to say hi again. They created this on paper and cut it out and gave it to me. He also made one for my residency teacher. They were so cool that we decided to laminate them and add magnets to the back. He was so excited when we showed him what we did. I decided to keep it and I will hang it in my classroom.
The cup, notebook, pens, and bag were given to me by the teacher that I did my residency with. I was surprised by the gifts and have kept them safe so that I can also take them into my classroom when the fall arrives. Having somewhere to take notes in meeting and jot down important information is more vital than I realized before starting my residency and being in a real classroom. Being able to have a variety of colors of pens isn't the most important part of teaching but having recently helped out in an elementary classroom, I have noticed that it helps my own emotions to be able to choose a bright color that I would like to use for the day. Sometimes, it really is the little things!
I have bought the planner so that I can not only stay organized with my Masters courses but so that I can stay organized in my teaching as well. Being able to see the things I need to do and stay on top of everything is a huge priority for me. Students thrive off structure and organization and as such, I have to do my best to also stay organized.
The banner is the first item I have bought for my walls for my classroom. It is important to me as an educator to make sure that my students know that each and every one of them belong and are important. I also think that it is important to have those visual reminders for our students in the classroom. Not only do we treat our students equitably and kindly, but that we have lots of different reminders and ways of telling them just that.
I have been collecting books for my classroom. I have been trying to collect books that are between a 4th grade and an 8th grade level so that there will be something to read for everyone no matter their current level of reading. I have also been collecting mythology books as the elective I will be teaching next year will be World Mythology and I get to create the curriculum. I decided to begin buying books for it early so that I can go through the information and decide what I would like to include in the curriculum itself.
The pottery wheel is my artistic nod for my masters. I have been working on my own artistic skills so that I can better share those with my students even if I am not teaching any art classes right now. I believe that it is important to not only teach the curriculum for our classes but to share our passions and hobbies with our students. Being able to share my love of art, even outside of an art class is one of my goals.
The last item in my collection is my apple watch. Teachers need to be able to get messages from school chats, emergencies happen, and communication as a teacher is important. Being able to facilitate that communication without having to pull our phones out all of the time or being tied to our desks and computers is really the best. Also, students love to know what time it is. I get it, so do I. I don't mind sharing that information, within reason. We all want to know how much time we have left in our work days!
While collecting all of these items, I realized that organization, creativity, and inclusion are very important things to me as a teacher. I want to be a good example to my students and that means that I have to step up and be organized, I have to be creative, I have to include everyone and make sure my students all feel what that bag states; loved with a growth mindset, and that they feel included and welcome so that they are ready to learn.
#Environment
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