Creating a Visually Enriched Classroom: Practical Tips and Tools

It is the start of a new academic year, and although I am technically still on my vacation, I am thinking of all the resources I want to make or either buy to decorate my classroom. Trust me I have loads to do outside of work, but the vocation tends to get a deep rooted hold on you when you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of your charges. Having taught in Trinidad and Tobago (TnT) for over two decades, I have grown accustomed to some habits that have became commonplace; some that have given me an advantage in my new setting, and some that require a bit of sharpening. For instance, As a mathematic teacher in TnT, you taught every branch of mathematics to your respective level, whereas in the USA, you specialize in either Algebra, Geometry, Stats and Calculus. Another difference is that teachers were the ones who moved from class to class whereas in my present situation the children do the moving throughout. That simple difference allows for better planning of time and space which leads me to my discussion on creating a visually enriched classroom.

IN MY PRESENT ENVIRONMENT, it is mandatory that your classroom is outfitted with the different units scheduled for the school year, so students and other stakeholders can track the progress. The flow of the lesson must also be visible so that all are aware of the expectations for the period. There should be other materials posted to assist students along their learning journey which I will elaborate on. I need to stress that not all schools in the USA, in every state would hav the same requirements of their teachers, but this blog reflects my experience which I am willing to share. The thing about experiences is that they are often subjective and hinged upon several factors which the reader may be unaware of. In addition to what I have already shared, I am expected to produce lesson plans weekly in advance for every class. I used to laugh at that thought years ago, and ask myself, ‘who has the time to do all of that and teach?’ Well…

Let’s delve into some of the other materials. These consist of but are not limited to a word wall, content charts, top achievers, and of course motivational words. Space is always an issue, so sometimes you just have to get creative. Oh! I almost forgot the bulletin board, that is actually my favorite part (I get to be super creative).

It is my hope that by sharing this blog, other educators and even parents may find something that they can use in their own classrooms or with their children at home. We all learn from each other, regardless of where we are. I have come to realize that all people generally exhibit very similar traits, students included.

The Word Wall: There have been several studies advocating for an emphasis on language in mathematics as well as other disciplines. If students are able to express their understanding, then half the battle has already been won. A student who is able to verbalize what they know or plan to do, can then lead to more critical thinking skills, such as analysis, application and synthesis of content. One way to assist students in clearly verbalizing is by ensuring terms are clearly defined. Nothing strange there. Definitions are basic building blocks for knowledge that allow students to scaffold new or more complex concepts. We give students definitions all the time in the monumental amount of notes given as well as they can be found in bold print in the required text books. What more than that could a student want?

The word wall is used in this context as it focuses students on the specific jargon needed for the lesson/unit. In mathematics for example, the words can be accompanied with synonyms, images and diagrams that show multiple representations and hone students in. I found this was a useful tool in building confidence and competence. For instance, the root of a quadratic function is also the zeros (where x = 0), the solution, and or the x-intercept. Then having a diagram alongside that showing the location of the roots for a parabola will prove quite helpful. Several times students encounter a different synonym and get confused. If they know the resource is visible within the classroom they can quickly glance and regain their confidence. Some may not know where to look in the text (even though they were just there), some schools do not have internet access, and then the teacher remains the loan source of information. Try it, you may like it!

I think that it is imperative to show children the utility of the resources that I place in the classroom. Once prepared before hand, I use it as a teaching tool, then refer the students to it while we are doing questions together, thereby mirroring the behavior that I want them to copy. I had the pleasure of seeing students get up from their seats and walk over to a chart to review its contents to assist them in a classroom assignment. So do not think that it will not work. It does at all ages. Take the small wins as they come.

Well, that is all for now, I am going to create some resources now, charts, activity sheets and create resources for visually enriched classrooms. I hope that you enjoyed reading and might be willing to share your experience on any related matter. Have you used a word wall before in your classroom? What has been your experience with this teaching tool? I would love to hear from you. Until the next time, Be Edified!