Ron+Olson-+Ideal+ELA+classroom

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 * __Classroom Annotations:__**


 * Overall, my class is set up to be very comfortable and relaxing for students to learn in, engage themselves, and maximize their use of time. I have several rugs in the room, a corner with comfy seats and glass walls, lots of windows (all three pane), a garden outside, roof windows, and finally a fireplace. Now, doesn't that sound like a classroom students would WANT to learn in? I certainly think so. As a student, I always disliked cold and rigid rooms; it just made it hard to focus and want to be there to learn. I really wanted to combat this in building my ideal classroom, and hopefully with all the comfort items I've placed, students will be excited to come and be there and engage themselves.
 * The glass walled corner is the literature/sit and think section of the classroom, where students can go and be warmed by the sun, situated close to nature, and be still to read and give thought to things. Reading, at least for me, needs to be an accessible activity with a calm environment, so that's where the sunny corner and comfy chairs come in. I think that students will be eager to use the space in their free time!
 * Every desk has a laptop, and it's an absolute must. Internet access, document writing, etc is such a necessity these days for students, and I want mine to always have that there for them to use whenever.
 * The classroom has a flat screen TV on one wall; again technology is vital these days, and a TV with DVD player is the minimum necessary in my opinion for when the class watches a movie/documentary/filmed class work. The TV does NOT exist for free use or anything of that sort, unless there is breaking news in the nation or such.
 * Desks are in four groupings, with four to a group. Desks are nice and large, and I chose 16 total because I think that is an ideal number of students for one teacher.
 * There is a class garden outside, and a door access to it. I think it would be a neat hand-ons thing for students to plant their own food or exotic plants, and also it would be a refreshing setting to look at with all of the windows in the class, instead of staring at concrete or something else mundane.