Painting our bedroom dark brown is a decision I would make over and over again. The warm mahogany color of London Clay has me swooning.
A simple, homey recipe for pancakes made with old-fashioned rolled oats.
The goal of this kitchen? Cottage vibes. As in English cottage with traditional elements that feel upscale but also like they belong in a kitchen where cooking and baking actually take place. We selected inset cabinetry in a neutral off white (BM Natural Cream), an alcove style hood in a plaster-like limewash paint, and used
Grace Zhang chronicles her many home improvement efforts personalizing this "boring new construction” 650-square-foot apartment she shares with her boyfriend.
What would happen if we simply opened the doors and let the students go; if we let them walk out of the dim light of the overhead projector into the sunlight; if we let them decide how, or whether, to engage this monolith? Would it be so terrible? Could it be worse than what they are currently experiencing? Would adults look at young people differently if they had to confront their children on the street, rather than locking them away in institutions? Would it force us to say more explicitly what a humane and healthy learning environment might look like? Should discussions of the future of school reform be less about the pet ideas of professional reformers and more about what we're doing to young people in the institution called school? Richard Elmore, Professor of Education at Harvard University Months ago, while searching for a way to engage my students with ADD, ADHD, ODD, lead poisoning, ED, and myriad other disorders, I stumbled upon the above quote. It weighed upon my soul. I tossed and turned at night, thinking about what the professor had said. What would happen if I told my students they didn't have to come to class if they didn't want to? Would they care about their education? Are we really just locking them away until they turn 18 and are old enough to sort of partake in societal norms? DO we provide them with a healthy and humane learning environment, or are we just tossing them away into holding cells to keep them out of our hair until they're old enough to "know better" and act like adults? Well, that is semi-hyperbolic. I didn't lose sleep because I was already only getting 4 hours a night. But I did keep thinking about what Professor Elmore had said. For so long kids have been forced to be in school buildings, and because of that, teachers have had the opportunity to get away with being sub-par. After all, the students have to come whether the teachers have engaging lessons or not. Whatever we're doing, we always expect the kids to SIT UP STRAIGHT! PAY ATTENTION! TRACK THE TEACHER! etc. etc. etc. It doesn't matter where the kid is coming from or what they did last night or what learning disorder they may have, they're all expected to sit in the same desk for the same 8 hours a day. But what if we could adjust ourselves to meet the needs of the kids instead of always expecting the kids to adjust to meet our needs? I mean, we're the adults here. We can change and be flexible to allow the kids to learn better, right? This year, I'm making some pretty big changes in my classroom. First, I'm painting. This is partly just to cover up the filth. We're going with a stark white with slate accents. Second, I'm getting rid of the desks. That's right, we're going desk-free! Instead of desks, we're going to have video game rockers, bean bags, low-to-the-floor seating, two circle tables, and a couch (eventually). I'm putting in a rug, throwing up some curtains, and I have some awesome little red end tables that will help to set clear work spaces. With colorful lap desks, students will be good to go! Take a look at some pictures I used for inspiration: I'm going for a mixture between the two of these... more of the bottom than the top. So what's the point? I get a lot of eye rolls from people, and I can almost read their minds: why can't you just hush and teach like everyone else? Well, for one... I'm not everyone else! And, well... my students aren't like everyone else. By the time our students come to us, they've already been pushed on through the system and on some level expect to continue to be pushed on through the system. The school system has failed them--and they know that. They're years and years behind in learning, and the gaps are obvious to everyone involved. At this point, half of them don't even expect to have teachers who really teach them, and they don't expect to have teachers who care. This is not a sweeping statement for every student out there--but it is true for many of my students. So what can I do to help them? I can show them, in a very tangible way, that I care. I can take their unique needs into consideration and create a learning environment that they can really LEARN in. When I remove the desks and bring in an environment that caters to them, they will respond in a positive way. I truly believe that. Stay tuned as I put together the pieces of my classroom next week! Shipments will be coming in Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday... I cannot wait! In the mean time, I'm going to post periodically some rational about why I am doing this. I want to talk about attendance, behavior, motivation, project based learning, and of course my lovely students. Check back often!
From food gifts to sentimental keepsakes, we've found 12 cool, easyl DIY holiday gifts the kids can make for parents, grandparents, teachers and friends on their own gift lists.
Once you've tried homemade au gratin potatoes, you'll never reach for the boxed stuff again.
Very few people know this useful cleaning trick.
Graphic designer Amanda Jane Jones and her family of five moved into their dream home in Utah—they just needed to (surprise!) gut reno it first.
Looking for the best nursery daybeds? You'll love these 9 affordable, stylish & top-rated daybeds that'll look perfect in baby's room design!
Is your hallway dark and outdates? These five tips will help brighten up that dark hallway to make it feel more open and airy!
The above is the loft bed I had in mind. I drew it out so my friends daughter, Nova, could approve. The look of it changed a bit since this drawing but is mostly the same. There will be a dresser tucked under the right side, the steps will have drawers, and the left side will look like drawers but would actually be a door. That last part changed though because I wasn't sure how well they would take care of the door (my friends kids are a bit rough with doors, haha!).
Totally change the look of your kitchen floors in just three easy steps.
Want to create the perfect outdoor tablescape? We put together 40 of our favorite outdoor table decor ideas for you to try!
I thought it would be fun today to share some photos from this dream of a home by Monika Hibbs. It just hit the market and I couldn’t help but pour over all the photos. From the countless gambrel roofs to the cedar shingle siding to the charming interiors, it stands as one of my favorite homes of al
It’s a unique problem, but no less worthy of attention than how to dress a gallery wall or what to do when your kitchen’s too small. The presence of a piano in the room can be seriously demanding on decor. Here are more than a dozen rooms who’ve mastered it. Do you have a piano at home?
Move over, Chip and Joanna! Your farmhouse aesthetic is about to get a serious glow-up. We're ditching the shiplap and embracing the sleek sophistication of white board and batten exteriors. These 25+ homes are proof
Vertical stripes for a long narrow hallway will not only make your guests dizzy and nauseous, they will make the hall appear longer and more narrow!
because we still love her style 25 years later
I get asked about our flooring almost daily, so I wanted to share a little more about the LVP flooring in our home.
Take a look at this stunning split-level transformation of an interior and exterior remodel. This split-level remodel opens up the layout.
The walls in our nursery were begging for a little personality so we decided to add chair rail and picture frame molding.
There is something so classic and simple about a patchwork square quilt. It feels homey, vintage, yet simple enough to be classified as
James Turrell is a boundary-breaking artist known for installations that involve light, both natural and artificial. I studied his work as part of my final project at the Oxbw School in high school, as his work is such a striking study of both color psychology and space. I am amazed by the ways in which his installations leave viewers with deeply emotional experiences, which really speaks to our foundational relationship with light and color that really defines our primary experience with the world. His work is found in museums, architectural installations, and private collections.
This summer we spent some incredible weeks in France. We are sharing our full Provence & French Riviera Itinerary with where we stayed and top highlights.
