Why Teachers Must Own Their Classrooms

Does your school nurture dreams? Does it encourage risk-taking and promote innovation? Chances are it is probably not the case, yet. 

A positive school culture is often a chimera everyone talks about, but few know how to materialize. 

In this series of posts, we won’t be looking at principles, but at the practical steps schools can take to create a positive and student-focused school culture.

First of all, students need to take pride in their school, and this starts with teachers taking ownership of their classrooms.

Giving an Identity to the Classroom

Teachers can personalize their classrooms to fit their teaching styles and needs.

A teacher-owned classroom is a living entity. It evolves according to the topic, the season, or the mood. For instance, I move my classroom tables once a month as I sometimes need students to face the board or each other in small groups. Students appreciate it and always wonder when the next change will happen. 

In addition, sedentary teachers have access to four empty walls, a great opportunity to display related learning material. 

Teachers can keep their teaching materials and resources organized.

Unless you have gone 100% digital, you likely have and need many resources. Teachers cannot simply use textbooks and notebooks, and they are more likely to use resources that are easily accessible. A science teacher needs a well-equipped, a maths teacher needs manipulatives, squared paper, and compasses, whereas an MFL teachers needs flashcards, board games, and more. 

I have worked in a school with a rarely visited basement that contained multiple treasures for each subject. The problem was that teachers had to teach in different classrooms, and they were unwilling to climb the extra steps before and after the lesson, so these wonderful resources slept under a blanket of dust. 

Teachers can create a comfortable and welcoming environment for their students.

Not all teachers want to go outside during recess. The same goes for students. When teachers have classrooms, they also create safe places where students feel comfortable looking for counsel or simply killing time. Teacher-owned classrooms are multiple bridges leading to your school counselor. 

Establishing Clear Routines and Set Clear Expectations

Students can establish routines and procedures specific to their classroom to maximize student learning.

When I have guests at home, I ask them to remove their shoes. My space, my rules. What do they get in return? The promise is that they enter a clean space (and comfortable slippers they may borrow). 

Similarly, when students enter a teacher-owned classroom, they know the expectations and what to expect. In exchange for respecting the rules, students get the promise of a safe learning environment. 

A designated classroom helps students feel a sense of ownership and belonging in their learning space.

Have you ever shared classrooms with other teachers? If you have, you know that people don’t respect what does not belong to them. Just like the sink in the staffroom: always full of dirty cups even if the dishwasher is empty. Nomadic teachers do not respect a shared classroom. As we lead by example, students do not appreciate it either. Teachers need to own their space for students to feel a sense of ownership for their learning environment. Only then will they keep the desk clean and ask students to rub off graffitis and pick up litter. 

Teachers can create a positive classroom culture by having control over their environment.

Setting routines and clear expectations allows teachers and students to focus on what matters. The less we deal with behavior management, the more we can focus on learning.

Promoting Innovation

Teachers can use space to create learning centers and group stations.

The most exciting aspect of a teacher-owned classroom in creating a positive school culture is the creation of innovation hubs. Picture it: The science teacher is busy marking some copies, but he keeps his classroom open to students who want to experiment with the multiple resources available. While three students investigate circuit building, another group designs a game involving shadows and light. 

In the maths classroom, students willing to work on the weekly code cracking displayed on the wall are welcome to spend their break inside. 

Meanwhile, a group of students is watching Le Petit Nicolas in the French room and adapting it into a play. 

A designated classroom provides both teachers and students with stability and consistency. 

A stable and clear school map lets students know exactly where to go when needing help with homework or counseling. 

I am lucky enough to have my classroom this year. Sure enough, four students come to me every Thursday afternoon to debate various topics. 

Teachers can create an environment conducive to their teaching styles, leading to increased effectiveness.

I have recently been working on creating a student-led classroom. It is a lot of planning, but the promise of transitioning from the almighty know-it-all teacher to a facilitator that guides independent students through their learning is worth the effort. 

With that in mind, my classroom has evolved from rows facing the whiteboard and groups facing the board to no more classroom front or back. The board becomes another surface for temporary displays. At first, it was disorientating for students, but they eventually got used to it. There is no front or back; there are simply multiple hubs, and each group owns one. The classroom evolution reflects my teaching style. A teacher-owned classroom allows students to learn effectively in a living environment. 

Takeaways.

There are multiple steps to create a positive school culture, but the first one is to make sure that students take pride in their school, which is only possible when teachers make it theirs. 

Allowing teachers to control their classrooms can provide students with a personalized and dynamic learning space that promotes innovation and a positive classroom culture. 

So what are you waiting for? Take ownership of your classroom and see your students strive.