How bright is your classroom?
I have been fortunate because all but one of my classrooms during my long career have had windows. I spent only two years in an interior classroom that had no windows, and those were the most depressing years of my career – for other reasons. The lack of windows had nothing to do with how I felt.
At least I don’t think they did.
On most days in the classroom I have occupied now for eight years, two large windows fill my classroom with glorious sunlight. For a couple of hours during the day, the sunshine streaming in is so bright and so hot that we love it, except for the students who sit in front of the windows and have to shield their eyes from the sun and endure the heat. Much to my chagrin, these students usually lower the blinds. It’s a rational and perfectly understandable decision, just not one I like. I can’t really blame them.
When I open the new semester on Tuesday, however, I’m going to reserve the seats right in front of the window for the sun lovers and hope they will leave the blinds open so we can all enjoy the sunlight.
I’m always perplexed by teachers who lower their window blinds and turn off part of the classroom lights. Some even turn off all of the florescent lights and plug in a lamp to create a peaceful ambiance. I used to visit an elementary school where most of the kindergarten and first grade teachers turned down the lights, apparently thinking the lower lights might calm students. Some of these classrooms were so dark, however, that I would have trouble reading and writing in the classroom.
I like the light!
I want the sunshine to brighten my room and make me momentarily wonder if it’s June instead of January.
Last semester one of my students wrote a research paper about the effect that sunshine has on individuals. Within the paper, she highlighted several studies that showed that students in classrooms where there is greater natural light from windows and skylights actually achieve more than students in classrooms without windows. I can’t remember the student’s sources, but here is a link to one study I found online.
I don’t think one study proves that sunshine actually increases learning. I do know, however, that on days when the sun shines brightly into my classroom, students are happier and more engaged in classroom activities. On cloudy and rainy days, we all want to take naps.
So, I’m telling the sun lovers to keep the blinds open and let the sunshine in!
If we all become a little smarter because of the sunshine, that’s an added bonus!
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2 comments on this topic
3. January - 9:06 am
This is my first year in a room without windows and I honestly feel trapped all the time. I live in a house where every room has a window (aside from the laundry room and hall bathroom). I thrive on natural sunlight.
3. January - 9:37 am
When I was an assistant, I always had a classroom with sun, but now that I sub I’ve been in plenty of classroom without windows – especially PE and high school classrooms. On those days, I feel tired. There’s a reason for the expression that ends, “… like a day without sunshine.”
Is there any way to shift your students’ desk so that none have the sun in their eyes? Where your boards are located does not always make this possible, but I know that white boards are easy for a custodian to move if you have a better wall.
3. January - 9:45 am
I always seat my students in a circle because it prevents them from hiding and facilitates good discussions. Since I often have 30 students in a circle, I’m really limited in how I can alter the desks. To be honest, I’ll lower the blinds for one window before I will give up the circle. Maybe I can find students who thrive in sunshine who will bear the bright light and heat!
3. January - 9:46 am
John, “trapped” is how I felt the years I was in a classroom without windows, but I never considered that it might have something to do with the fact that I had no windows. Interesting!
3. January - 10:33 am
I have TONS of windows in my room… the issue is my windows face out onto the main walkway to the school and five-year-olds are VERY EASILY distracted… as is there teacher.
I do pull them sometimes, not to block the light, simply so they don’t run over and watch ever squirrel, parent, friend, snow removal device, you get the idea… I do pull them up as much as possible and TRY to explain to my class that if they are distracted, I’ll have to pull them.
Usually, I end up pulling them, it’s simply too hard for little boys to ignore a truck removing snow.
3. January - 11:16 am
How funny, Matthew! I hadn’t thought about windows and the distractions for the little ones. Just for the record, when snow FLAKES fall in Georgia, my eighteen year olds have to watch, and instruction is close too impossible!
3. January - 3:53 pm
You know how I feel.
I like the light — I read the Bible. I knows the difference in light and dark.
*twirls*
I never taught in a dark classroom — all of my rooms have had light. I did, however, teach without air-conditoning — now that’s a story for a blog. My blog — not yours.
Quit moving, will you?
3. January - 4:04 pm
I taught at Pine Mountain in a book closet for 3 years. I had 21 students laid out on the floor on beanbags in front of me. I had no path to get out of the door. Some days I felt that I would run screaming out the door over the tops of my students. Those were the worst days of my teaching career. You never found the windows of my classroom closed unless I was showing a movie. I think sunshine is unbelievably important. Harriett had heard that I took students outside all the time – and disapproved, I am sure – no offense to my team buddy! I took them out because we were in a closet.
3. January - 4:09 pm
Uh, I did? I don’t remember that, Margaret. Of course, I don’t remember a lot of things — I blame it on the 70s.
I was about to come back and say that I find those classrooms with the lights off and the single light overhead depressing — it just look like a good place to sleep to me. And easier.
If it calms kids down, then, well, I don’t want em that calm — that’s like unconscious. I just like ‘em quiet when I’m talking….
3. January - 4:21 pm
Harriett, I think you and Margaret need to come back to teaching. We need you! Margaret, I always wondered why you weren’t upset about teaching in a classroom that overlooked the loading dock. Now, I know why! I guess that’s better than teaching in a closet.
4. January - 1:16 am
I completely agree about the windows. I made sure I ask to see the room when I am subbing for extended periods of time-way back in the day. Well, one year I GOT MY WINDOW ROOM with an adjoining room….with a teacher that never changed her diaper pail….ACK!
You want to talk about feeling trapped?
I wouldn’t mind overlooking a loading dock….sure, it wouldn’t be my preference, but it has been my experience that teaching is a mindset….I would like to be as comfy as long as possible. But sounds like many of us have worked through some pretty uncomfortable situations.