In 2007, I set out to transform my classroom into something special.
Tim Bedley teaches 4th/5th GATE students in Southern California.
No more butcher paper covering the walls.
No more cold hard desks and plastic chairs.
I wanted my classroom to be more like Starbucks than a hospital;
more like a model home than a waiting room.
So first I painted the walls dark blue and red.I painted white ceiling tiles all black.At Back-to-School Night I asked if any parents could paint murals.One parent was a high school art teacher.The finished mural is stunning!
Another parent was just plain artistic. [White House]A third parent was an art major in college. [Capitol Building]
Capitol almost finished. The detail is amazing.The artists worked for many hours after school to complete the murals.Statue of LibertyMt. RushmoreThe parents stayed after I left one evening and I returned to a mural of me on the wall. Ugh! I painted over it, but it was a funny stunt.The crown of the room contains the words to the Preamble to the Constitution. Framed student artwork adorns the room.The results: A warm, professional, welcoming environment with very few distractions.Slowly but surely, I received couch donations to replace the desks.
Students work on their binders while sitting on the comfy couches. Student personal items are stored in plastic drawers purchased from Wal-mart.
