Mindfulness for NQTs: Classroom Environment
by Alison Laycock
Recently, I’ve seen lots of tweets coming through my Twitter feed showing NQTs proud of having designed their classroom and showing off photos so we can all see. They look wonderful and they prompted this blog post. So up to now, these posts have focussed on you as a person and as a teacher in and outside of school, however as you’ve been showing the environment also matters and impacts students and teachers greatly.
Can you be mindful in setting up your classroom? If it is set up already then don’t give yourself an added pressure to change it but think about how you will go forward. What will you have around the room, will you fill the walls or will you leave space, how will students know who and how you are when they walk into the classroom?
How will you help students learn more from what is around them? Will you have words of encouragement or positive stories up around the room or will you include them during the day/ lesson?
Will the classroom feel a welcoming environment to walk in and spend time in? Are there quiet spaces to encourage students to do individual work or incorporate individual learning too especially for students who may thrive more in quiet learning environments?
So that is the physical feel of the classroom, however a major part of classroom environment is how it feels, how everyone interacts, what is the agreement within the room in terms of how students and teachers will talk to each other and how will everyone be supported.
All previous posts and those to follow cover behaviours, attitudes and how we can impact ourselves and help students and colleagues, however there is also the physical environment which plays its part. Maybe going out in nature will help too and changing the learning environment in other ways through visits and trips when permitted (following Covid-19, this may be different).
Every day throughout August, these tips will be shared across social media so I’m including my links here. Throughout August, I’m offering meditation/ mindfulness sessions for NQTS/teachers and school staff on 4th, 11th, 18th and 20th August at 7-7.45pm via ZOOM. If interested, please email Alison at info@beingthebestyoucanbe.org
Follow me across social media if you aren’t already to have access to the tips every day:
Facebook: Being the Best You Can Be
Twitter: @alisonlaycock23
LinkedIn: Alison Laycock
You Tube channel: Being the Best You Can Be
I’m also offering 25% off all courses for NQTs who wish to develop their mindfulness and compassion skills and resources more. The courses on offer are the 8 week MBSR programme with sessions lasting 120 mins and there are also 6 week Mindfulness and Compassion courses which last 60 mins each session. If you prefer workshops rather than courses then these are also available and can be checked out and booked via http://www.beingthebestyoucanbe.org
