Is there anything more inviting than a cozy, pleasing to the eye, warm lit classroom? Recently, I’ve been seeing some pretty irresistible rooms that make me ready to learn. Let’s take a look at the best classrooms at Berkley High!
Our vice principal, Mrs. Julius, has a smaller space to work with. In her work space, she implements organization and a minimalistic approach. Since it was her first year in her office she had a lot of work to do. First thing she fixed was the holes in the wall and the color. What better way to revamp a room than some light blue wallpaper to brighten up her space! Mrs. Julius put up her own wall paper which took loads of effort and was very time consuming.
Social worker Mrs. Pollak has a big room with lots of space to work with. She says, “I was so excited and grateful to have a larger space than I have had in previous jobs. Having a larger office has allowed me to create an inviting space to help students individually or in groups. I have multiple seating options, and I have also been able to kind of “section off” parts of my room as well. I have a coloring wall, a calming corner, a table and chairs where students can work, and tons of wall space for decor! The size of my office allows it to be a space for whatever students need it to be for them: safe, relaxing, fun, and inviting!”
If you ever wonder how long it takes teachers to decorate their classroom before the year starts, you will not believe that Ms. Sims spent 20-30 hours decorating her classroom! She doesn’t do this every year, but will add things here and there throughout the year. She only redecorates when she feels the classroom is in need of a spruce up. She loves to hang inspirational messages and paintings to let her students know that they are welcome in her classroom! Sophomore Emmy Warner states, “Whenever I’m in Ms. Sims room, it almost instantly makes me peaceful, it’s calming and mellow. I’m a lot more focused in her room, the bright lights of other classrooms make me distracted, and the warm lighting in her room really helps set an encouraging tone to the learning. Ms. Sims also has fidgets in her room that help those who tend to be antsy, stay focused. I think the fact that you can relax in her space is so important. Ms. Sims as a person also makes you feel safe no matter what, she expresses herself throughout the room, and it makes for a really nice space to be in. My favorite part of her room is probably her furniture, it’s all stuff she brought in and the tables make for inclusivity, it all makes for a very homey vibe!”
All staff try to keep one thing in mind when decorating their room: the functionality for students and making sure they feel their best in the classroom. Keeping the students in mind, teachers use inspirational quotes and personal photos. Big thanks to the staff who make their rooms comfortable and inviting for students!
