2 minute read
Cool Classroom
CREATIVE Classrooms
If your idea of crafty doesn’t include washi tape—or you’re saying what the heck is washi tape—then you’ve probably seen that classroom or bulletin board that makes you say, “why didn’t I think of that?” MEA members are full of creative ideas to get students engaged in learning at all levels. So if you’re a few Crayolas short of that perfect pack of 64—feel free to “borrow” some ideas from your colleagues to help you create a cool classroom.
Be an OWL
Teacher: Melissa Knight, Massabesic EA Grade: 5 School: Line Elementary, RSU 57
Melissa received a small stuff ed owl at an MEA meeting and literally took off with the owl theme turning the word owl into a motivator for students, calling them Original Willing Learners “hoooo” soar.
The owl mascot has his own passport and email address. When the owl travels to other countries with Melissa or her friends and family he emails stories about where he’s been and what he is learning. “My students live vicariously through the owl because many of these kids haven't been to a lot of different places and I hope they aspire to go somewhere and see a lot,” said Melissa. The owl theme goes beyond the posters and decorations, Melissa creates her lesson plans to include owls and even calls her classroom newsletter the Parliament Press, because a group of owls is called a
parliament. “We started looking at the performance-based piece—I used the owl as something unifying that they could identity with no matter where they are from,” said Melissa.
Leap into Learning
Teacher: Luanne Phair, Augusta EA Grade: 3 School: Gilbert Elementary School, Augusta
Luanne’s frog theme leaps with the theory that all her students are FROGS—Friendly Responsible Outstanding Growing Scholars. The frog theme started with a small bulletin board for the student named the best FROG that month and grew from there.
Luanne uses the stuffed frogs to help her students open up about issues they may not feel comfortable telling an adult.
“I’ll pull out Freddy the frog in morning meeting when I find out
tell Freddy about their weekend and why they felt a certain way. One time a student said, “my dad was in jail.” I can tell the guidance counselor so we can try and help kids with their issues about their weekend. I ask them to
and behavior before things get worse,” said Luanne.
Brilliant Bulletin Board
Oh, the places you can go!
Guidance Counselor: Amy Vacchiano, Tri-County TA School: Sacopee Valley Middle School
