I’ve spent a lot of time this year thinking about the perfect classroom. My perfect classroom.
Though I haven’t quite nailed all the details, it’s coming together:

• Natural lighting with lamps in various parts of the room
• Tall ceilings, large windows (but the ability to shut out light when projecting)
• Laptops: This essential component gives me the ability to transform my classroom into a learning hub of sorts. My vision has me rarely in front of the room but more often huddled with small groups of students. While I am discussing a book or a piece of writing with one group, others in the classroom are reading, or writing, or blogging. Some might be working on a class presentation or figuring out how to use a new piece of equipment.
• A dedicated internet connection, of course, for streaming video and audio
• Narrative assessments to accompany a student’s portfolio (no sorting or ranking in my class)
• A coffee machine, snacks, a water cooler, and a small refrigerator
• Classes of 12-14 students, best for meeting the needs of individuals while allowing for small group work
• $$ to rent transportation to take field trips at will

Konrad Glogowski, who completed his doctoral research on middle school adolescent literacy (and blogging communities), wrote this:

“We have the responsibility to open up our walls and show our students that we want their passions and interests to grow beyond our physical classrooms, our class blogs, our textbooks, and our lesson plans. We also need to show them how to do it safely. It’s time to reach beyond what we traditionally mean when we use the word “school.”

Obviously, I can’t complete the list on my own this year. But I am going to take a hard look at ways I can make small changes. It will be a start.

Photo credit: jdurham from morguefile.com