reynolds, despite the fact that you teach high school and i teach elementary, whether about set-up, instruction, connection, teacherly mojo or all manner of other topics you're unafraid to broach, your videos are far and away my favorites and the ones i find most helpful. what's more, your physical classroom's been my greatest source of inspiration for improving mine, and i've recently rather boldly wielded a paintbrush... sometime soon, am going to take & email you photos of my classroom with its upper perimeter trim, closet door, and old funky green cupboard & chalkboards freshly painted with (three(!) coats of) black chalkboard paint. -bonnie [unabashed spoiler: it looks FREAKING FANTASTIC.]
Thank you for such kind words! This is the best, I love that you have take control of making your classroom yours and can’t wait to see the pictures!! Hope year is off to a fantastic start! ✌🏽
Do you ever get negative comments from coworkers? I put a ton of effort into making my classroom awesome. Sometimes I get comments like “oh I spend more time on curriculum” or “This is too much”. It’s frustrating that we can’t just lift each other up and cheer each other on while we make our rooms (and curriculum) awesome! On the plus side I’ve helped some coworkers make their classrooms much more fun.
MyCardboardMoon I HATE comments like that. This year, I decided to go as all out as I can on my room this year and I was worried people would have negative things to say like that. So far When I just talk about how much time I spent on it, I hear more negative things. Once they see it, they love it. My room has become like a hub for the kiddos during their off periods and for other teachers during planning so regardless of what people say, I think that’s a win 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
I agree that hearing negative comments about your room from colleagues is frustrating. This is my second year of teaching and it feels condescending when veteran teachers of 10+ years make comments on how I need to just focus on my lessons. I just have to remember who this room is for-- me and my students. I have designed my room to feel like home (more specifically like my rooms in high school and college because that is where I spent most of my time learning and studying). I add stringed lights, a sitting area, and loads of artwork from local AND student artists. It is awesome that you have taken so much time for your classes' space. I am sure it is a place that they feel comfortable and ready to learn in. :)
I did a video on this a while ago called, Toxic Teachers. I focus a ton of time on my lessons, I just choose to put time into my room when others are kicking it at the bar or spending hours on Netflix. Keep doing you! thanks for putting in the hours to make a great space for you and the kids.
Looking great! Your classroom is always so cool! I'm still setting mine up even though we've started school already hahha. I'm always the last one to leave campus because I'm still working on setting the room up!
I appreciate seeing other teachers' spaces. Seeing their creativity and drive makes me want to get back into mine to tweak and add new things. I was fortunate enough to be able to go in throughout the summer to work on my room and take my time getting ready. Love the space and love what you do!
I find classroom decorating a major source of stress. However, before I had to change rooms out to a portable, my room was the envy of the high school because of my student math art (mandalas, tessellations, etc.) like wallpaper on all four walls.
Your room looks great! For curtains, you could try flat twin sheets. At the top where it has the bigger seam, if you just cut off a small slit on each side, you can put a curtain rod through it, and the slit is not really noticeable. All of the seams are already sewn for you. :)
5:18 HAHAHAHAHA! My son graduated from the high school I'm admin at in 2015. I'm sure he got pulled around a lot more than he wanted! I'm a strong advocate for owning your space. I see lots of plain, boring rooms and I can't imagine spending 20 years there. Some do! Well done, CJ! Kids love it, I'm sure!
In my experience, when you make a epic room they won’t move you. My classroom has become a place where the school has events in brings people in. At this point my classroom has become a part of the school culture.
So glad I found your channel! I'm a future teacher, in school now for my credential. You remind me so much of my awesome sophomore year English teacher in high school! Your room looks so cool!!
Hi Corinne! Thanks for the great compliment. ☺️ What was it about your teacher that was so great? Best of luck to you! Please email me if i can ever help with anything! 👍🏽
I just remember he made that class so engaging! English was not always my favorite subject but he made it fun. Your Lord of the Flies art is what jogged my memory (its awesome btw)...he had a conch shell that he blew SO LOUD in class while we were on that unit, it was hilarious. And thank you! I'm getting my elementary school credential but you make being a high school teacher look so fun!
Have you looked in to shower curtains that you can hang with clip rings? Not too expensive and they are light (easy to hang), and they'd cut the glare. Or thrift shops--it's amazing what you can find in those places! If you find a great deal you could pay a tailor to hem the fabric and add grommets (or if the fabric is light use the ring clips for shower curtains). I LOVE your black walls and plan to add something along the same lines to my room. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Room looking great! Was really happy when you mentioned Casey Neistat's cord management, because I always saw you as the teacher-version of him. Even before you made the connection I noticed that your editing and music styles matched up quite well.
It would really suck if you do all that work and then next year they move you to another classroom. Your classroom more then likely would of been my happy place if I was in your school.
I don’t think they would ever move me at this point. My room has become a feature classroom. The school uses my room for meetings, a space to show fundraisers, and host events in.
@@CJReynolds i thiught so. I'm asking because I teach project runway and we put on a fashion show at the end of the year. This year the theme is the rain forest. The kids and I need to build trees.
It really depends on where you teach in the US. I just really enjoy making things and trying to make something from nothing. It's a good lesson for my students.
