My Thoughts on the "Classroom Tour"

In class, we watched a 25-minute video of Mrs.Forbes going through all the intricacies, decorating decisions, and workflows of her classroom. Focusing on the bright and lively aspects of decorating, she aims towards a bubbly/happy mood to her space. Some would call the room loud and obnoxious and some might find it warm and welcoming. Mrs. Forbes teaches History and English at a middle-school level, partially explaining the themes of her decor.

Although she has a concentration in two different subjects, she displays a natural bias and preference for one of them, English. An admitting Hamlet super-fan, Mrs. Forbes tailors much of her posters and daily-use apparatuses to her favorite musical, leading to a high number of English-paralleled things around the room. Clever jokes and novelty images relating to English class fill the room's walls and her own desk. Aside from one poster and a small collection of books, the history material runs quite thin in what is visually represented everyday around the room.

As for the mood and overall feel of the classroom, it is very reflective of Mrs. Forbes' personality in quite a positive way. But although her room projects her awesome personality, I believe that these types of rooms are not the most productive to work in. Obviously, classrooms have factors that vary based on grade level, for instance, a kindergarten room should have rugs to sit on and maybe some posters of popular children's TV shows. However, I personally do not work so well in these loud, bright, bubbly classrooms, as opposed to the more mood-lit and warm spaces. In middle school, these types of rooms distracted me and often did more bad than good when it came to focusing on work.

I completely am aware of how much of a case-by-case opinion this is, as I know many people who find my type of educational space rather boring and even sleep-inducing. Additionally, I had high school teachers who followed the same classroom scheme as Mrs. Forbes, and just like Mrs. Forbes, carried a similar bubbly demeanor. People I went to high school with preferred these classrooms over the more simple and dim ones, even at a much older age than the kindergarteners who love these rooms just as much. But this is just another amazing aspect of people a teacher, your classroom is your space; make it an extension of yourself, because students will only be comfortable in your class if you are.