My Classroom

Cimg0081_1I brought my digital camera to school on Friday for a field trip with my Civil War class to a Confederate cemetery over at the University of Virgina.  [A post on that trip will be forthcoming shortly.]  Here are a couple of pictures of my classroom which I thought I might share given the amount of time I spend here during the school year.  Cimg0080I’ve worked hard on my room over the past few years trying to create an environment that is both welcoming and pleasant to learn in.  My desks are arranged in such a way that allows each student to see everyone else and allows me to move easily from side to side.  It also works well for lecturing as well as directing a student-led discussion.  My room contains numerous book shelves.  Students are of course welcome to sign-out any title, but their presence is also intended to send a message about the importance of serious study and learning.  The projector which sits in the middle of the room is used on a daily basis.  I can connect my laptop and project any kind of image on the white board which is ideal as it allows the Cimg0082teacher or student to mark important objects or words on the board with an erasable marker.  I am notorious for taking famous images of people and coloring their faces with sharp eyebrows and other markings; you can do wonders with Ben Franklin’s face.  In the photo to the right you will notice a cabinet which contains 16 laptop computers.  They were ordered last year for my Civil War research seminar but are now being used in all my classes.  Finally, there is my office.  It is a spacious setting which allows for student meetings and more importantly provides a nice quiet space when I am not teaching.  As you can see I’ve got just a few Troiani prints hanging on the wall.   

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2 comments… add one
  • Kevin Levin Sep 13, 2006 @ 20:58

    Chris, — My largest section has 16 students. Usual class size is around 11-12 students. My Civil War elective has 9 students. I know…I am spoiled. I teach two sections of regular US and 2 sections of AP US History.

  • Chris Sep 13, 2006 @ 20:41

    What a classroom! Out here (Colorado) a teacher’s office is their classroom. It looks like you are in a newer building, so. This one we are in is 30+ years old. Also, Kevin do you just teach AP history and electives? There are so few seats. We had 30 kids registered for AP History this quarter. It’s down to 25 but that is about the norm. Looks like you hold less than 20? We have no electives for social studies here. With the emphasis on standards (NCLB) it’s killed off classes not essential.

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