Page 45 - spaces4learning, Fall 2024

2) Seek feedback. Involve students in the
design process. Allowing them to contribute
ideas can create a sense of ownership and ensure
the space meets their needs.
3) Prioritize learning. Remember that
your primary goal is to facilitate learning. An
inviting classroom is one where students feel
safe, respected, and engaged.
4) Avoid comparisons. Resist the urge to
compare your classroom to those you see online.
Every classroom and teacher is unique, and what
works for one may not work for another.
5) Bring your space to life with student
work. Allow your bulletin boards to be a story
about students’ hard work and the beauty of the
learning process.
It is worth noting that the decoration arms
race can impact teachers at all stages of their
careers. Here are some strategies to support all
teachers struggling to find balance between de-
sign and decoration.
CHAT GPT
1) Offer flexibility. Recognize that teachers
move classrooms and may not be able to reuse all
their decorations. Encourage a flexible approach
to classroom design that can be easily adapted to new spaces.
2) Validate efforts. When evaluating teachers, focus on their
instructional practices and student outcomes rather than the ap-
pearance of their classrooms. This helps shift the focus back to
what truly matters in education.
4) Promote a healthy culture. Cultivate a school culture
that values well-being and professional growth over competition.
Encourage teachers to support one another and share strategies for
creating effective learning environments that are focused on the
work of students and their learning journeys.
While a visually appealing classroom can enhance the learn-
ing environment, the decoration arms race can wear down teach-
ers and most importantly detract from the primary mission:
educating, connecting, and inspiring students. We need to shift
more classrooms and their design from the beginning of the year
to student-centered design instead of aesthetic perfection. Educa-
tors can foster effective learning environments that promote both
teacher well-being and student success by steering clear of the
decoration pressures of social media, avoiding blame and shame
set by images that glorify perfection, and rejecting the unrealistic
standards around classroom design that don’t follow the research
or impact learning.
We encourage educators to use their time and resources wisely —
invest in your students, your curriculum and your relationships.
If you do feel the inclination to share on social media, share how
your classroom is built, decorated, and designed for efficiency, stu-
dent independence, and flexibility. Encourage other educators to
break the pattern of decoration perfection in pursuit of a class-
room environment that perfectly meets the needs of your students.
Dr. Robert Dillion is an author, speaker, and Chief School De-
signer with International School Designs. Dr. Ellen Moskow-
itz is the Director of Professional Learning at Cappaqua Central
School District in Chappaqua, N.Y.
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