TeachKidsArt

a resource for teachers & families

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Artist Birthdays
  • SHOP TPT
  • About
  • Contact
  • TIP Vault

Why Sharing a Classroom Might Be Better Than You Thought…. and 5 Ways to Make it Work

By Cheryl Trowbridge Leave a Comment

Share
Pin
Tweet
Print

Why Sharing a Classroom Might Be Better Than You Thought.... and 5 Ways to Make It WorkLet’s face it, given the choice, we’d all prefer to have our own space. But consider this…. maybe sharing a classroom isn’t so bad after all.

I used to dream of having my own classroom… complete with storage for supplies and a sink for clean up. A place I could call my own and make my own decisions about. A teaching space where I could leave things set up, knowing the room would be exactly how I left it when I returned.

Over the years, I’ve taught Art in public and private school settings, charter schools and homeschool co-ops, summer camps and afterschool programs, for ages kindergarten through adult. Yet I’ve never had that elusive fully-equipped classroom I could call my own.

And I’ve decided that’s really okay…. and maybe even a good thing!

When you share a classroom, you have a genuine “stakeholder” who probably cares as much about the space as you do. While you will need to forfeit having total control, two heads are still almost always better than one.

Using a shared space also creates physical limitations and parameters within which all your decisions about your classroom and your teaching are made. It may be human nature to push back against limitations placed on us, but just as giving parameters in assignments benefits our students, parameters can benefit us as teachers, too.

So if you find yourself sharing a teaching space, here’s how you can make it work for you instead of against you:

  1. Have a positive attitude. Rather than assuming that sharing a classroom is going to be a problem, expect the best! Lean into it with a great attitude and always be looking for the good in it.
  2. Reach out to the other teacher (or teachers!), realizing that they, too, would probably prefer to have their own space. Ask what would make the space work better for them. Offer to help!
  3. Communicate early and often! If an issue pops up, address it before tension builds and it becomes a bigger deal. Leave a note or text a compliment when you see something positive from the other teacher’s class, so you’re not only communicating when there’s a problem. Leave an occasional treat or small gift, just for fun.
  4. Problem solve together. Brainstorm ideas. Share what you’re thinking about a particular issue and ask, “What ideas do you have?” Let the other teacher know you’re in this together.
  5. Be grateful that your room is getting so much use, because that means more kids are getting to do art! Remind yourself that having a classroom of any kind means you have a J-O-B, so be grateful for that, too! There’s no situation that can’t be improved by gratitude.
Keep in mind that if you had your own classroom, there would be problems associated with that, too. Life is full of compromises, and sharing a classroom is just one of many. But it doesn’t have to be a bad thing if you’re determined to make the best of it. And remember, your students are watching…. your example of being a “good neighbor” and sharing something as important to you as your teaching space can affect student attitudes toward things they have to share, as well!
Share
Pin
Tweet
Print

You may also like...

10 Mistakes every Art Teacher Can Avoid10 Mistakes Every Art Teacher Can Avoid Default ThumbnailHow to Draw Out the Very Best Artwork from Your Students

Filed Under: Back to School, More, Philosophy, Tips for Teaching Art Tagged With: classroom

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Me

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Never Miss a Post - Follow by Email

Find a ** FREE ** Lesson (Below):

  • Lessons Inspired by Famous Artists
    • Britto, Romero
    • Burch, Laurel
    • Calder, Alexander
    • Carle, Eric
    • Cezanne, Paul
    • Chagall, Marc
    • Chihuly, Dale
    • Dali, Salvadore
    • Da Vinci, Leonardo
    • Delaunay, Robert & Sonia
    • Escher, M.C.
    • Goldsworthy, Andy
    • Haring, Keith
    • Johns, Jasper
    • Kahlo, Frida
    • Kandinsky, Wassily
    • Klee, Paul
    • Klimt, Gustave
    • Matisse, Henri
    • Miro, Joan
    • Mondrian, Piet
    • Monet, Claude
    • O’Keeffe, Georgia
    • Old Masters
    • Picasso, Pablo
    • Pollock, Jackson
    • Pompon, Francois
    • Posada, Jose
    • Remington, Frederick
    • Renoir, Auguste
    • Seurat, Georges
    • Seuss, Dr.
    • Van Gogh, Vincent
    • Van Honthorst, Gerard
    • Wood, Grant
  • Lessons by Holiday
    • 100th Day of School
    • Chinese New Year
    • Christmas
    • Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos
    • Earth Day
    • Easter
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
    • International Dot Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Mother’s Day
    • New Years
    • Other
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Lessons by Culture
    • Africa
    • America
    • Chile
    • China
    • Europe
    • Haiti
    • Japan
    • Mexico
    • Middle East
  • Lessons by Process
    • 3D / Sculpture
    • Bookmaking
    • Calligraphy
    • Collage
    • Drawing
    • Embossing
    • Folding
    • Lettering
    • Micrography
    • Mosaic
    • Origami
    • Painting
    • Paper Cutting
    • Paper Folding
    • Printmaking
    • Quilling
    • Recycling with Art
    • Sketching
    • Stitching / Embroidery
    • Weaving
  • Lessons by Medium
    • Acrylic
    • Clay
    • Colored Pencil
    • Crayon
    • Digital / Computer
    • Fabric / Fiber
    • Markers / Pen and Ink
    • Mixed Media
    • Oil Pastel
    • Paper
    • Pencil
    • Tempera
    • Watercolor
  • Lessons by Style
    • Abstract (Non-representational)
    • Abstract (Representational)
    • Cartoon
    • Cubism
    • Expressionism
    • Fantasy
    • Impressionism
    • Op Art
    • Orphism
    • Pointillism
    • Pop Art
    • Post Impressionism
    • Realism
    • Surrealism
  • Lessons by Subject
    • Abstract Design
    • Animals
    • Birds
    • Buildings
    • Butterflies
    • Cityscape
    • Color / Color Mixing
    • Creatures / Monsters
    • Cross
    • Faith
    • Elements of Art
    • Fish / Marine Life
    • Flowers
    • Greeting Cards
    • Hearts
    • Imagination
    • Landscape
    • Mandalas
    • Masks
    • Math with Art
    • Misc. Subjects
    • Names
    • Nature
    • Ocean / Seascapes
    • People
    • Portraits / Self-Portraits
    • Religion
    • Quilts
    • Scripture
    • Seasons
    • Sky
    • snow
    • Stars
    • Still Life
    • Trees
    • Words / Letters
  • … and More!
    • Bulletin Boards & Displays
    • Classroom Management
    • Elements of Art
    • Imagination
    • Inspiration
    • Middle School Art
    • News & Announcements
    • Philosophy
    • Portfolios
    • Product Reviews
    • Quotes & Stories
    • Supplies / Products
    • Teacher Workshops
    • Tips for Teaching Art

Follow me on
Teachers Pay Teachers

Support Teach Kids Art When you shop Amazon.com

TEACH KIDS ART IS AN AMAZON AFFILIATE. I earn a small commission when you visit Amazon.com by clicking through my site and make a purchase of any kind. This supports Teach Kids Art at no extra cost to you.

Click here to shop Amazon.com!

Related Posts

  • A Creative Color Game for All Ages
  • An Engaging Art Museum Activity for Kids
  • TIP #66: 10 Ways to Save Money on Art Supplies for Kids
  • Better Paint Brush Habits for Kids
  • Review the Elements of Art with a Beachball Scavenger Hunt

Copyright © 2023 Cheryl Trowbridge / Teach Kids Art · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Design by Laugh Eat Learn



We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
x
x