The Ideal Classroom-Reflection 1-Teaching with Intention Debbie Miller

Debbie Miller begins her book Teaching with Intention with a challenge. She challenges the reader to envision the ideal classroom, to think big and consider the look,the feel,the smells, and the people of this ideal classroom. What are the students and teachers of this ideal classroom doing? Debbie Miller then asks the reader to look into their own classroom. Does the classroom reflect your beliefs?

I decided to take a minute and jot down what I envision in my perfect classroom~

My ideal classroom is visually colorful, full of great books and the learning we do is everywhere! When others walk into our room they know what we are learning because they see it hanging on the walls, in our book baskets, and on the web! 

The tools are accessible and organized by the students for their use.

The room feels warm and inviting, as all the people in this class are respectful of each other, the tools, and the learning itself.

The classroom has a comfortable buzz. (The buzz of engaged students talking about their work). The students are engaged and working all around the room creating, thinking and learning. The kids are applying the learning from mini lessons in new and creative ways.

Students are flexible with their media and take the learning beyond our classroom.

The teacher? She is somewhere in the mix of the kids. She is jotting notes about what the kids are doing and making instructional decisions.The teacher is asking questions that drive and extend the thinking of the students.


Some elements of the classroom are within the teachers control as they design the environment and the instructional framework. But all teachers meet challenges that seem to be beyond their control. But, the great teachers create classrooms that appear to have endless blocks of time for learning, free of interruptions and pullouts. Where kids spontaneously talk about their learning, with the buzz of conversation low enough for everyone to work comfortably. These teachers find time to reflect on their teaching, the data and apply all to tomorrow's lesson. In my ideal classroom I will be that teacher!


You may also want to visit Enjoy and Embrace http://enjoyembracelearning.blogspot.com/2010/12/teaching-with-intention-reflection-2.html.
for more reflections on Teaching with Intention.