Brain-Powered Learning Spaces
As you get ready for school this year, think through every inch of your classroom and look for ways to maximize your space for optimal student routines and storage.
Years ago, I bought The Third Teacher, which was written by a team of architects and designers linked to Stanford’s d.school. The photos and actionable tips are an inspiring way to reimagine your classroom space, and it is fantastic to be able to see school spaces all over the world. This book empowers teachers to use design-thinking to create design-centered solutions to challenges in their classrooms.
Additionally, I’ve collected tips from the Brain-Targeted Teaching Model to design a classroom that optimizes learning. I’ve summarized them below.
1. Spice it Up & Keep it Steady: You want to be ready to add surprising new things to keep things exciting, while balancing a steady base of familiar routines (like morning greetings or predictable transitions) to make students feel safe and secure. Your routines should fit seamlessly with your decor.
2. Light It Up: Natural light is like sunshine for the brain! Ditch the dimmers and open those curtains. Bright classrooms help students stay awake, alert, and focused throughout the day. Unless necessary, I like to keep it simple by opening the windows as much as possible rather than using fairy lights and other fancy lighting decor.
3. Shh... Learning in Progress! Sometimes quiet is the secret weapon. Background noise can be distracting, so embrace peaceful moments during focused learning activities. You can always add some calming music for chill-out time or routines.
4. Aromatherapy for A+ Students: Ever heard of "smell-ebration"? Studies show scents can boost brainpower! Add a touch of apple or leaf scents during science, or a hint of peppermint for focus time. Just remember, a little goes a long way, so don’t overdo it.
5. A Feast for the Eyes: First impressions matter, and that goes for your classroom too. Think clean lines, beautiful displays, and purposeful organization. Montessori and Reggio Emilia classrooms got it right – a visually-appealing space sparks creativity and a love for learning.
6. Display the Process: Turn your classroom walls into a process board. Instead of using bulletin boards just for posters, try to display as much student work as possible. I use Making Thinking Visible as a guide for using bulletin boards as a record of our units in progress. Have students write captions or lead gallery walks, explaining their creations and process. This builds accountability, sparks great discussions, and reinforces the idea that your classroom is a community space. Perfection is not the goal.
Here are some photos of my classroom through the years…
I’ve certainly learned a lot over time.
When I started, I struggled with storage and organization. No matter how hard I tried to stay on top of papers and materials, it all seemed to jumble up in bins, on my U-table “desk” and by my teaching chair.
Another thing I struggled with was acquiring things. Parents and other teachers can be so generous, and they gifted me so many useful things. However, I was also gifted a lot of clutter that I struggled to manage later. It was a process to learn what worked best for me and how to say no to the donations that only became a burden.
If I could give my younger teacher-self some advice on designing my classroom space, I would say this:
Less is more. Wall space is at a premium, but it doesn’t all need to be filled. Why make things more complicated for students with attention-deficit?
It’s okay to say no. You will not offend anyone if you say “no, thank you,” to a gifted game, book, or classroom decor item. If you really end up needing something like it, another one will come back around.
It’s okay to change what’s not working. Nothing is set in stone. Tomorrow is another day, so if you need to move things around or implement a change to your routine for the better, do it. It’s better to make a change when you realize it’s not working than to keep going with it because you’re afraid of changing it. That said, give it 2 weeks after making a change to allow time for students to adjust before you know it’s not right.
Work with what you have. I had a fun loft in my kindergarten classroom, but throughout the year, it turned out to be a headache. Kids would throw things off of it (though we managed that over time), and it covered quite a bit of the windows. When the loft got put in, the fluorescent lights near it were taken down for safety… so there wasn’t much light in our whole-class rug area! I have a much longer list of problems I faced with my classroom. However, I learned to work with what I had. When I simplified, things worked better. I had to give it time to figure out what was most important and how to best use the space. Unfortunately there is never a “one-size-fits-all” solution. You just need to be patient.
Make Back-to-School simpler this year with my Back-to-School templates!
Designed for K-3 teachers, but adaptable for all grades, this pack has everything you need to:
Organize your Classroom: Create a vibrant and functional space with a customizable classroom job display.
Welcome Families: Introduce yourself and set expectations with a personalized "Meet the Teacher" letter. This letter also includes sections for upcoming dates, reminders, and supply lists (editable and printable versions available).
Streamline Sub Days: Ensure smooth sailing for substitutes with clear schedules, student information sheets, and adaptable lesson plan templates.
Communicate with Parents: Keep parents informed with a one-page weekly update highlighting learning goals and key moments. Choose editable or printable formats for your convenience.
Celebrate Birthdays: Make student birthdays extra special with a festive ice cream scoop display and personalized name tags.
Bonus! Classroom name tags for your first few days.
