Tour My Classroom (March 2019)

I moved into my new space towards the end of 2018 and as such needed to trial out different set ups for my new space. I'm lucky in that, in my new home, I have a room that is a dedicated office space but a lot of the tips and strategies that I have used can be used in multipurpose spaces as well. 

Things that I would change if money was no option and I taught purely for the love of it (someday ladies and gents, someday):

• I would change my overhead light fixture. The fixture I have is not one with interchangeable bulbs (I know, right, I didn't even know that was a thing until I moved in) so I can't switch it out to one better suited for being on camera.
• I would like a different desk setup. Preferably of the sit/stand variety with a large work space on top. Possibly white but maybe black to match my bookshelf. 
• I would upgrade my organization system to something that was a little more chic and pretty. Again, its more than functional and works great but with money being no option its mostly about the pretty right? Haha
• I would likely order a bunch more on Teachers Pay Teachers and Etsy because I love those sites and the materials make life so easy (plus they're adorable). 
• That's it... I'm happy with my space and its functional for how I teach in it so the changes would essentially all be cosmetic. 

Tips:

• ​Lighting should be your number one concern. After lighting- and a whiteboard- you can pretty much work around anything else that comes up. They have cheap solutions at Walmart and on Amazon depending on your space but a pro-tip is to use 'daylight' light bulbs rather than soft white. The clarity is so much better and the light brighter on camera. 
• Have a small set of go-to props, whiteboards, markers and rewards systems. The rest is all fun but most isn't really necessary. Wait to expand your props and tools stash until you know what you actually need rather than being drawn in by the excitement and fun of teacher shopping. Its totally a thing... brick and mortar teachers get it and so do online teachers. 
• Check the online community for free/cheap ideas and DIYs before spending a lot of money on your classroom. Sometimes just asking for an idea for X class or topic will garner you 30+ ideas without spending any money whatsoever. Most teachers are more than willing to share ideas and brainstorm. Just return the favor when you have awesome ideas of your own. 

Here is a link to the light I use on my laptop for online teaching. It's technically a selfie light but works great as a clip on light to pair with my on-board camera. ​

Until next time,

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