For parents or educators-what would you like in a classroom environment?

Question

I am in college and we are doing a survey on classroom environment. What would you prefer to have in your / your child's classroom? One has suggested a swimming pool. It would benefit the children, teachers and community with lifegaurds, of course.
If your school had the money to fund a specific program, buy new equipment, etc. what would you want them to buy?

Answer 1

i think money needs to be invested in a few areas both outside and inside the "classroom" as i believe the "classroom" is outside as well as inside...now a days the average child hardly ever goes outside except to go from home to car to school and back again...and it shows in our national obsiety epidemic.

the things that are most needed are a large enough set of wooden blocks(and all the necc. items to go with them....animals(zoo,wild, dinosaurs..all of varing sizes and textures), cars/truck/vehicles, assorted other blocks (soft, and of varing colors, and shapes), also the best library available to both the teachers and children(including all sorts of books, flannel stories, puppets, and teacher oriented classroom enhancers) and for both inside and outside a top of the line water table/trough and one to have other materials used in (sand, rice, material pieces, etc) and of course a sandbox(you can buy the special made school sand toys but the children also enjoy old or thrift store items such as mixing bowls, various spoons/scoops too.

and most important of all......well educated, trained and experienced teachers who want to be there each and every day to assist our future citizens in achieving their highest levels.

if you have the above he or she will figure out how to make the best environment for her group of children not only every day but every year.

Answer 2

Musical instruments. Then again, I'm a music teacher. I believe that music benifits everyone - especially if there are good resources to learn with. I think every music classroom should have a classroom set of xylophones in some assortment (2 bass, 6ish alto, 4ish soprano, and 8ish glocks). An assortment of drums, both hand drums (class set) and african drums (at least 5). And recorders (classroom set of soprano recorders). In addition to good instruments... good musical resources would be nice. Classroom set of textbooks for each grade. Plus a budget for educational CD's to support the lessons.

Answer 3

swimming pool would be awesome, but can you imagine the costs ?..
try something more realistic and working really nice, like animals: fish, guinea pig, hamster, turtle, etc. Animals teach responsibility and kids have a lot of fun with them.
I personally like the classrooms styled into some original world, like aquarium, zoo, pirate ship...you know - posters, paintings on widows, toys, crafts, books...you can keep the style for a whole school year or change it seasonally
have fun!!!

Answer 4

Posters, signs, diagrams, alphabet, clocks and labels placed low enough for children to see and read. It sucks to walk into a classroom and have everything placed at the teachers eye level and not the childs.