Thursday, February 19, 2009
Light to Walk Towards...
After some very interesting reading from Sarah Susanka's notes about home architecture being designed to fit the individual, I noted the theory she uses when talking about a "light to walk towards". Certainly in a classroom setting, these details about home architecture can be applied to the individual teacher. However, unlike the success that large clear windows and doors have in a a house to welcome natural light, I have found that such structures can be distracting at times for my students inside the classroom simply by exterior elements such as other children walking past looking in. I do welcome these clear windows and doors, but make sure that curtains or posters are placed inside so the distractions are kept to a minimum, without compromising the wonderful positive stimulant that natural light can provide in students' feelings and attitudes towards engagement and learning.
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Caroline,
ReplyDeleteYou make an interesting point about how Susanka's descriptions translate into a classroom setting. Where windows are located in a classroom are key: they can either invite students to greater focus, or they can be huge distractions. When my daughter first started daycare, I remember asking the head teacher if they wanted parents to help with decorating the walls. The walls were pretty bare, but not in a sterile way. Painted a warm beige, I think. Anyway, I still remember her answer: She said that she wanted the children to be stimulated by the activities they were engaging in, instead of being stimulated by the walls. It's interesting to think about that, as you point out.