What would my ideal classroom look like, sound like, feel like? I was led to ask myself this question when I read Angela’s blog on Debbie Miller’s new book.
In chapter 1 of Debbie Miller’s book Teaching with Intention: Defining Beliefs, Aligning Practice, Taking Action, she describes a third grade classroom that got me all jittery. It conjured up those butterflies in my stomach that always appear when I think about starting a new school year and how I can make my classroom the best place for my students to excel.
So, to answer my own question, my ideal classroom would look a lot like the third grade classroom Miller described, but there would be high schoolers in there instead of third graders. Most of the other things would be the same – the learners would be gathered in partners, small groups or working independently. They would be choosing their own books to read and having crucial conversations with their peers and me. They would be coming to their own understanding of the books and the author’s purpose using tools I taught them but they employ on their own. The walls of this classroom would be covered with students’ questions, artwork, responses to literature, and my own comprehension anchor posters to keep the learners aware of the tools they have available for their own thinking, conversation and learning.
Now I have to ask myself – can I make this happen? I have high hopes for myself in my second year at Clinton High School. With a better understanding of the school, students, curriculum and courses, my goal is to incorporate my best ideas for leading learners to their own tools for understanding and to create a classroom environment in which my students strive to succeed and collaborate easily & effectively with each other.
