Feng Shui Your Classroom Series 3: Wind

Wind

One of the most challenging elements to bring into your classroom is wind. Instead I let Mother Nature do the work. When we have a beautiful fall day, I open the windows and let the fresh air pour in. I know some teachers do not have windows in their classroom. My suggestion for you is to use an artificial window. To create one take a beautiful poster or print and hang it on the wall, crank on the air, and pretend the wind is blowing through your classroom. You could even mount a salvaged window around it like a frame. I’ve seen these at architectural salvage stores or Habitat for Humanity.

            Sound is another way to capture the relaxing impact of the wind. I have a sound machine that plays: rainforest, thunderstorm, ocean waves, waterfall, etc. Imagine writing a journal about “The Fall of the House of Usher” while a thunderstorm plays in the background. It really puts you in a creative place.

Aromatherapy is another powerful part of the wind element. I freshen my room with a couple of squirts from one of those popular cans of air freshener I get at the grocery store. I usually hit the four corners of the room before the kids come in. They love it. I use an apple and cinnamon scent frequently and they tell me that it smells like Christmas. Your sense of smell is a powerful ally. When my students think of Christmas or their grandmother baking cookies, they are instantly put at ease. They feel comfortable and accepted and they will be more receptive to the lesson.

            Those plug in cartridges are cool too, but keep an eye on the refill. When it runs out it makes a slight burnt smell. Never use sprays around students with severe allergies. You could always bring in natural scent enhancers: rosemary, roses, cloves, cinnamon, oranges, etc..

Feng Shui Your Classroom : Create an Engaging Environment Installment 1

Feng Shui Your Classroom

            Think about how much time you spend in your classroom each week—more than you care to admit right? Let me show you how to create a room that inspires you as well as your students. Let’s make this space a place that feels positive, fresh, and inspiring. Your students should walk in that first day and feel relaxed in an open work environment with a flow of positive energy. Let’s Feng Shui your classroom.

            Aside from the positive relationship that you foster with your students, a positive classroom climate is essential for a successful year. A high performing teaching space will be comfortable, attractive, and highly functional.

Feng Shui is an art/science developed in China over 3000 years ago. Feng means wind and shui means water, and in the Chinese culture wind and water bring good fortune. This Taoist vision also includes yin and yang and the elements.

This instructional guide is really an ongoing project that I’ve been working on for the last ten years of my nineteen in teaching. The first few years you spend perfecting the art of teaching. The next few years are about delving deep into your subject. After that you can take a breath, exhale if you will, and really look around your classroom and think about what type of environment you have created. When I looked I found it lacking a little life, and a little serenity. Although serenity might be a funny concept for a High School English classroom, it is essential for focus and contemplation. Over the years, I have created an environment that is inspiring to my students as well as myself.

            I’ve “teachified” the tenets of Feng Shui: water, earth, wind, and fire. I’ve created an easy to use guide that you can implement to make your classroom effective and engaging.

Water

            I bring water into the classroom in many different ways. I’ve had a few inexpensive fountains and set them up on my desk, or in an area that the students use often (near the pencil sharpener or where papers are turned in.) The sound of the water is pleasing, and the sight of the water is very calming for students that get easily distracted. Home Depot and Lowes have really beautiful fountains in the garden area.

            A vase of colorful flowers is another way to work water into your atmosphere. Fresh flowers instantly make everyone feel refreshed. They are natural and beautiful. You don’t have to spend tons of money on an expensive florist. Just check out your nearest grocery store or warehouse store. Gladiolus are always on sale in August in my area. They are enormous and beautiful.

            A friend of mine buys a large bouquet and divides it into 3-4 smaller vases. She gives the small bunches of flowers to several other teachers and it brings each one a little touch of sunshine.

Poseidon the fish

My best idea for bringing water into the classroom came this year. On a recent workday my friend and I decided to get a couple fish at the local Walmart. We were going for supplies anyway, and we found a water jug that said “fish bowl water” and we had our idea. We re-used a couple of large mouthed flower vases and glass pebbles (we washed them carefully), and purchased three Beta fish (Japanese fighting fish). These fish are viable in smaller containers and have beautiful angel wing-like fins.  I named mine Poseidon (I love teaching Greek mythology). We enjoyed the fish so much that the recycled vases became larger and more interesting tanks. Our third friend bought it a fish condo with lights a bubbler and a hiding place. We bought a fourth fish for a friend that was having a rough week – she loved it. The kids love having something alive in their English class. They beg to feed him, and love to come up to my desk to visit him.  At the end of the year, I started letting the fish bowl sit on the desks of one group of the students for the class period. It was a reward. Not only does the fish bring in water, but life. Living things are key to a comfortable, relaxing environment.

Follow this blog for the next two installments of fire and wind. 

 Try these ideas out and let me know how it goes. I would love for you to post some pictures of your results on my blog.

Or my Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/crazyenglishteacher   

Thanks so much,

The Crazy English Teacher