No Walls!!

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No Walls!!
By Cindy

Hi Tina,
I taught in an open classroom setting for five years. I was right out of college and had never had my own classroom before. I was also "freaked out" when I realized I would have no walls. I thought there was
no way to teach in a situation like that. There were several times when the noise level was so high that it was very difficult to keep students attention. However, I got used to the open-space concept and my students did too. It will take a little time, but you will get used to it also. I was always worried when my class would do an activity that the noise level might disturb other

classes around us. I would hear my class getting loud but after awhile I really didn't pay much attention to other classes getting loud. Other teachers around me said the same thing...they only heard their class getting loud, not mine. I agree that you should talk to the teachers around you and try to schedule your activities. I taught 1st grade and all of the 1st grade teachers would do reading at the same time because we taught Sing,Spell,Read and Write and the kids had to sing songs everyday for the lesson. That really got loud!! If we had finished and another class had just started reading (which happens sometimes) I would find some of my kids singing along with the other class. It was really funny at times! An open-space concept has it's good points also. You see the other teachers more and you really get to know them. Your basically in the same room all day. I was lucky and had a great group of teachers to work with--we were all in the same boat--a loud one! It was a good experience for me because in an open area there is always someone walking by your area and seeing what you are teaching. So, I am not really nervous about observations anymore because I was observed all day everyday by lots of teachers, principals, parents etc. Also, if you have to run to the restroom really quick you can ask the teacher next door to watch your class and she can be right there while still teaching her own class. There is both good and bad to the situation. I know you'll do fine!! I used lots of colorful material to create a sense of walls. Good Luck!!