My classroom is pretty basic, but I try to modernize it as much as possible. I have your typical book shelves and cabinets filled with books and materials. I have two whiteboards that span the length of two walls. I have an empty bulletin board because I hate decorating. Instead of desks I have tables set up to foster collaboration. I got rid of my own desk not too long ago, which has prevented me from sitting down throughout the day (I like walking around and interacting with my students), and provides more space for my students. I got rid of my SmartBoard not too long ago because I wasn't utilizing it, but I still have a projector that simply points at one of the whiteboards.
In my classroom, I personally have a MacBook, a Chromebook, and an iPad. I also use my iPhone here and there to check email and twitter throughout the day. My students all have Chromebooks. I have textbooks for every single one of the students, but I don't hand them out since we have an online version. If we are reading a novel, all the students have copies of that. I have an Apple TV which allows me to wirelessly project my MacBook, iPad, or iPhone to the projector. All of these things in my classroom are great, but this post is not all about what I have in my classroom so please continue reading so you don't think I am simply bragging about what I have.
Often times I wish I had more. I wish I had tables painted with WhiteBoard Paint (Still have to work on that, the principal said it would be great). I wish I had better chairs for students to sit in. I wish I had some different books. I wish I didn't have to store all the textbooks that are just gathering dust now. I wish I had Google Glass (basically because I think they would be cool). I think you get the idea, I wish I had a lot of things for my classroom. The bottom line is, I don't have all of these things. This is kind of a blessing in disguise though. I have learned to work with what I have, and I know I am fortunate to actually have quite a bit to work with.
When I started teaching I had all these grand ideas for my classroom. I wanted this and that, but reality struck and I couldn't have all those magnificent things. So I started experimenting. Other teachers would come into my classroom week in and week out surprised that I had changed my classroom again and again. I was never satisfied. I tried setting my desks up in pods, in rows, in a semi circle, back to rows, back to the pods, back to semi circle. I moved my desk to every corner of the room. I have tested and experimented with different forms of technology. I found that I was never fully satisfied and always had this urge to change and was always thinking about ways I could change to make things better. Then I started to realize something.
I needed to really focus on the "things" I had not the "things" I didn't have. See, I could sit and tell you all the wonderful things I could do if I had this and that, but it really doesn't amount to much if I don't ever get those things. I have to focus on what I have and use those resources to the best of my ability. A desk is only a desk, but if I can arrange multiple desks in a way to foster better learning opportunities that desk becomes more than a desk. I hear a lot of teachers talk about furniture in their classes, and how great it would be if they had bean bag chairs and soft seating. Bean bag chairs and soft seating don't create better learners. I think they can, but often times we simply focus on the "things" and fail to focus on how they can transform the learning going on. We need to focus on what we have first and use those to the best of our abilities. We still need to put some effort in to get other resources, but the emphasis needs to switch from "I want this" to "I can use this in this way."
I can complain and whine about all the things I don't have in my classroom, but they won't magically appear due to my frustrations. I need to ask and present it in a way where I am showing the reasoning. I think bean bag chairs could be a valuable addition to my classroom because they are comfortable and when I have students reading I want them to be as comfortable as possible, and when people are comfortable they work a lot better. I know that receiving 15 bean bag chairs, though possible, probably won't happen, so I have to focus on what I have and how I can make the environment the most comfortable for my students. It's not an easy task, but all it takes is a little thinking and creativity. The bottom line is, if you spend too much time focusing on what you don't have in your classroom, you're wasting time improving the classroom you already have.
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