A well designed classroom is critical for the student as well as the teacher. An inefficient classroom can create a negative learning environment for students and leave the teacher with depleted energy. There is a growing amount of evidence demonstrating the connection between classroom organization and academic success. Everything from furniture placement, plants in a classroom, colors, storage and carpeting play a role in creating the optimal learning environment.
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Tips to Clear Clutter & Create Harmony
- Keep an uncluttered classroom. Leave enough space in-between furniture so students can move around easily without a struggle. If students feel cramped it can affect their concentration levels. A good rule of thumb is to leave 21/2 to 3 feet in between students.
- Use storage bins. Keeping all supplies stored in a labeled storage bins will teach students where things belong, you will have a clutter-less classroom and greater piece of mind. Alternate between solid bins and see-through bins so the layout is more visually appealing and is less chaotic on the eye.
- Keep the students facing the instructional area and place the teachers in front with the teacher’s back to the wall.
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The color choice can make a difference in the energy of the classroom and students learning. Even if you are not allowed to paint watch for repeated color themes they can affect mood just as much as paint. Here are some examples of the responses to specific colors. As you design your classroom, please keep these in mind:
Nourishing Colors
Classroom colors that are neutral help to create a sense of calmness and relaxation. They foster calm and quiet and can create a sense of belonging. There is a natural affiliation with nature. The colors included in this category include green, sand, coral, pearl, stone, seaweed, blue and cream.
Healing Colors
Healing colors are refreshing. The color green are soothing and represent growth. These kinds of colors are close to nature and are never cloudy. Green plants are really beneficial for the classroom because they are healing and provide extra oxygen that helps the brain learn. Blue is the water element and can produce serenity. It causes the brain to secrete neurotransmitters that are calming. Blue slows down the heart rate and calms breathing. Dark blue walls are not a great idea because they can be overwhelming.
Red is the fire element and can produce stress and anxiety if overused but in accents can be a great motivator. Red will elevate blood pressure, increase the rate of breathing, the taste buds become more sensitive, appetite increases, and the sense of smell heightens.
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