I’ve been tagged for my first blog meme–Eric wants me to write about the physical space in which I work. I can do that, I think.

I was going to bring my camera today to take pictures of the room, but that struck me as unnecessary. Description should do the trick.

I teach in two rooms. Room 109 is where four of my five classes meet. It’s got one small exterior window that doesn’t open. None of our windows open, because someone years ago decided that our HVAC system would be sufficient for air circulation. I call this window the Arrow Loop, but only in my head. It overlooks a steep hill down to the road, but between the window and the road are usually dozens of America’s Future smoking cigarettes.

Anyway. There are 30 of those desk/chair combos arranged in a double-layer horseshoe facing a chalkboard. They used to face the whiteboard, which is on the adjacent wall, but Gary and I reoriented the room so that we could more easily use the screen that hangs above the chalkboard. There’s a teacher’s desk with a computer that is poorly placed for student OR teacher access, but it’s where the Ethernet jack is, so there it is. We have a huge bookcase filled with books and trinkets, including a smelly apple-shaped candle and a papier-mache parrot that says “Ecuador” on it.

The walls are covered with student work, including posters leftover the from the satire project, visual representatins of outsiders and rebels, and the Nine Circles of Hell, circa 2006-2007. In addition, a large poster of John Coltrane looms over the teacher’s desk.

I’d love to rearrange and refurnish the room. The horseshoe is the best arrangement I could come up with, but it seems to induce too much separation. I sit in the front and center, but at times I get up and walk over to the side of the room to let the students talk without feeling like they’re only talking to/for me.

Meanwhile, Room 120 is a Social Studies room. My 12 Essay Writing students and myself take up very little room, don’t disturb the desks (in rows–egads, the rows, the rows), and don’t feel at home.

I guess I’m supposed to pass this along to some others…so, let’s see–how about Evan, Kim, and Dave (all of whom I work with, so I hope they count…), and, just for fun, Dan and Sarah.