I Love This Waste of Time

Let’s think of a bright sunny morning. The cool breeze is blowing outside, there is freshness everywhere. Suddenly you are reminded that it is a working day...and the biggest challenge...waking up your child and getting her ready to school.

Whew! Isn’t it exhilarating?

Now think about your child…why is she so reluctant?

It is normal because she is entering into a world of strangers. She feels overwhelmed. She is scared. She is completely unaware of the vast experience that lays in front of her.

Now comes the part where the school and its teachers play their role. It is their task to welcome the child and make her comfortable in her surroundings.

This is where classroom decoration plays a pivotal role.

Wall displays are one of the most important part of any classroom. They make the classroom more inviting and create a better learning environment.

Researches prove this too.

 According to Dr. Sheryl Reinisch, director of Early Childhood Education Programs at Concordia University – Portland, a child-friendly and high quality classroom environment, “help children feel safe, secure, and valued. As a result, self-esteem increases and students are motivated to engage in the learning process.”

Dr. Reinisch talks about a case study with 25 first-graders. Their classroom was remodelled in period of four months. It included appealing elements such as cosy reading spaces, fishes and plants. The artwork done by the students were also put up.

The feelings and reactions of the children were recorded.                                          

The first-graders seemed very comfortable. They expressed ownership and pride at their artwork being included in the classroom decor, and their journals, comments and drawings expressed appreciation for the artistic additions to their environment.

Students in the study said that being relaxed helped them feel at home in their classroom, which in turn helped them in learning. Quotes included:
“I feel relaxed.  When I’m relaxed I’m more ready to learn.”

“It’s like a little living room when the plants are here.”

“Up here [in the reading loft] makes me learn because I read and it’s comfortable reading here.”

 Here are 5 reasons why we teachers ‘love to waste our time’ doing displays:

1.    Displays are used to supplement or enrich learning

2.    Displays help bringing a subject ‘to life’.

3.    Displays can ‘set the scene’ for a new topic.

4.    Displays can stimulate interest.

5.    Displays can be used to communicate to others what that class is doing.

I would conclude by quoting a small phrase which touched my heart. We as adults are continually trying to create a space for children to think independently. So as a teacher, learner and parent I feel this quote inspires all of us to create a visual world for our upcoming generation. It is a quote by Betty Fetter, an author. She rightly says,

                            “THINKERS need to SEE to think…” 

- Ms. Nisha Bhakar & Ms. Smita Sarkar