A Teacher’s Room

Today ends a long week of Vacation Bible School.  The entire school has been transformed in a National Park at the hands of many, many volunteers.

Since we are in the school we are using the classrooms.  My classroom is the Kindergarten room and I have spent many hours in that room over the past year assisting the teacher–my kid spent everyday in that room.  On a school days that room was her home away from home.

As a parent I think we sometimes forget that the room that a teacher spends her/his very long days in is a sacred place.

A teacher’s room is the place where the passion for learning is transferred from the teacher to student.

A teacher’s room is their space to create an environment where they can be comfortable and make the kids comfortable.

A teacher’s room is their place to pursue their dreams of being the best teacher they can be.

How would I feel if someone came into my home and rearranged the furniture and didn’t put it back?  How would I feel if someone used all my tape and staples?  or loaded purses and jackets on my computer space?  I would be NOT HAPPY!

Often times I think we look into a classroom and assume that it is “ours” somehow.  That we either paid for that room through our taxes or by tuition–and that may seem true–at Culver’s if you want more lettuce on your burger do you just walk back in the kitchen and get it?  No!  At the grocery store do you just  walk back into the meat section and get the best cuts?  No.  A teacher’s room is no different.

I volunteer in the school a lot.  I volunteered in my old school a lot.  I’ve taught classes in a homeschool coop.  I’ve seen a lot of teachers and classrooms–each teacher and each classroom is so different–I think it is easy to forget that the classroom, the grade, the teacher is an entire package.  It is not a buffet where we pick and chose what we want.   I feel that it is very important for teachers to be respected and validated for the varied and difficult tasks that they accomplish.

This week at VBS gave me a different perspective on the classroom.  It wasn’t just a room with a bunch of stuff in it–I really felt Mrs. H and Mrs.  G.’s personality in the room.  It wasn’t just a room it was THEIR room.  I know when I go back in the Fall and talk to the teachers about what their rooms might need I will be asking how I can make their room better for them–not what I think might make it better.