Classroom Spaces

     I believe that the classroom environment is an ever-changing location that needs to be welcoming, comfortable, safe, friendly, and accepting. Miller supports this claim that the classroom will grow with the students and that depending on the students, the classroom environment one year may be dramatically different than the previous year. I think that at the beginning of the year the walls of the classroom should be ready to display student work, but also have decorations right off the bat. With 4 blank white walls the students will have no excitement or desire to be in that room.
     The role of the teacher in this ideal type of classroom environment is to be a facilitator and guide. A passage in Miller describes how when a stranger walks in the room it is hard for them to pick out the teacher because they blend in so well exemplifies inquiry learning at work. Obviously for some instances formal instruction is necessary, but blending in with the students will enhance that feeling of an environment free from intimidation in which the students can express their ideas without fear of being embarrassed.
     The Waldorf approach really compliments my belief of the what the ideal classroom environment should be. With the first stage of his learning pedagogy mainly focused on learning through play, hands on activities, practicality, and tapping into the creative side of the students' mind I think this type of learning should definitely be embraced in elementary classrooms. Going back to one of my teaching beliefs, children learn by doing, with this type of curriculum students will grow and learn much more than the students who are subject to lecture formatted classrooms day in and day out.
     Another point that adds to my idea of the perfect classroom environment is the routines and rapport teachers must build with students. Supported in Miller's work and other educational literature, routines establish a much needed structure within the classrooms that students so desperately need. And having good rapport with your students will only further strengthen their feelings of comfortability in the classroom making them more open to your teaching.
     Combining all of these points together evenly and effectively will create the classroom environment that will promote life long learning for all the students. I believe that this cannot be achieved with a quick fix, to facilitate this kind of environment the teacher needs to balance all of these aspects while still ensuring that curriculum is being taught. With enough experience and knowledge about how students learn under my belt I hope to achieve this classroom environment with my own students one day.