reflection

In the most basic definition, a teacher’s role is to facilitate learning, so too should Space.

The following is a list of roles that speak to both the human and ’Space’ teachers:

• establishes a context for learning to take place
• provides resources that expand possibilities
• harnesses thinking and reflection
• removes barriers to learning; promotes growth mindset
• encourages collaboration
• celebrates learning
• ensures safety of the learner

It is easy to lose sight of the effects that the ‘Space’ teacher brings to the learning experience of the student. Human teachers can spend so much time making “their” classrooms just so ready for their students to arrive on the first day of the new school year. There’s so many elements that are troubling about this scenario starting with the culture of ownership that it establishes by the teacher over not only the space but the people that use that space.

I remember two years ago, on the eve of the school year beginning, being frowned upon for not having my classroom “set up”, picture perfect ready for the students and their parents. People questioned why I wasn’t ready. Time and time again I explained that I was. With the furniture in the middle of the room, whiteboard markers ready to go, I was ready for the students to come in and make the space their own. Thinking about purpose, their needs and the needs of the unit that we would be embarking upon first, what would they like their space to be?

Purpose has to come first. Purpose for who? to achieve what? I used to make a point of asking the students to change their space to consider the needs of each unit. This year, in a much smaller space, my mind became smaller too. As a class we did rearrange the room a couple of times to accommodate our frequent use of a circular meeting on the floor, but then we got stuck. This module has reinvigorated me to think beyond the confines of the small area that we physically have, and focus once again on purpose and what we need the space to provide for us. What deserves space inside the classroom (everything that benefits the students), and what is better kept outside (my resources I reference once or twice a year).