Do you have a favorite store or restaurant that you absolutely LOVE to shop in or go to for a family dinner? A favorite place you love to vacation? If you do, it’s likely because of the atmosphere that has been set for you to enjoy. Think about your favorite place to be.
What is it about that place that draws you in.....that makes you want to get comfy and stay a while?
The atmosphere in our classroom is set in such a way each morning that it helps us to walk in, calm down and move forward with tasks to begin the day. Each morning, I walk through the same routine. The majority of the overhead lights are left off. Two lamps are turned on and quiet, instrumental music is set on the iPod to repeat. Morning work is projected onto the whiteboard and the morning message is written.
With all of the awesome sauce that we splash over the walls of elementary classrooms, sometimes we have to take a step back and realize it can be a bit much! Beginning the day this way serves as a calming start………
…….and we keep it this way throughout the entire morning while working through our Daily 5 routine.
The difference when the lights come back up……..BIG, lol! Sooooooo, they don’t stay on for long. After working through our math block with all lights on, we end the day again with dimmed lights to concentrate during writer’s workshop. A simple idea….but one that has a great effect on our daily routine!
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I absolutely love this idea Tanya! ;) I am goign to try it out next week! :) I think that it will be a great time to get my schedule down now with this bunch...and then start it from day one with next year's class! :) Thanks for this! ;)
ReplyDeleteXOXO,
Tamara
Tamara Russell
Mrs.Russell's Room
First Grade
I love this idea! I am going to keep my eye out this summer for lamps to add to our atmosphere! Thanks for sharing. I am so glad I found your blog. I don't know how I missed it until today!!
ReplyDeleteTammy from The Resourceful Apple
I close to never have the lights on in our classroom. We have tons of natural light from outside. When we do have the lights on its only 1/2 of them. I even have it in my sub notes that its a GREAT idea to have the lights on 1/2 way OR off. I play the instrumental music too! Brings me back to a quiet calm place!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing how powerful it is for your students too!
Sarah
Kinder Teacher