Metaphors

How’s that engaging classroom coming along? Time constraints holding it up? If so, find time. Creating and maintaining an engaging learning environment is the best thing you can do as a teacher.

Bring teaching to life through stories. Your metaphors are powerful, but the real power lies in the student's work, as it reflects your input. Their creations should adorn the walls, covering every space with unique perspectives and efforts. This adds colour to the classroom and instils pride and appreciation for their work.

A roll of heavy-duty book-covering plastic in a library storeroom transformed a corner of my classroom. After clearing it with the librarian (she didn’t want it), I unrolled and hung it over wires the janitor had strung across the room.

The result was a double-sided plastic curtain. I sewed the sides together using a large sewing needle and thick thread. Students slid their work into the spaces. I had the janitor add extra wires running lengthwise down the room to cordon off a corner.

The corner became a crawl space when I cut an entry tunnel into the plastic. Bean bags and bookshelves filled with commercial and student writing finished the space.

With some creativity, the corner became, as needed, a dungeon, an attic, a spaceship, and a castle throne room. This adaptability of the space allowed us to cater to different learning needs and keep the classroom environment engaging and dynamic.

We created spaces for polished pieces and in-production pieces that needed teacher assistance. This inclusivity and support for all stages of student work fostered a sense of community and collaboration in the classroom.