Context is everything. Very little in art or in history (or in life) happens in isolation, although works of art and events in history have been studied this way. This is especially true of the arts, which are so intrinsically connected to the cultures from which they emerge. This essential interconnectivity was also the premise behind the design…

Presents responses from seven practicing teachers to the question, "How have you changed the physical environment within your classroom to create an optimal learning environment?" (HB)

The contention that classroom design influences impression formation has not been empirically tested. The purpose of this article is to bring to the attention of educational psychologists the possibilities for research in this area. The paper summarizes the findings of some initial investigations and suggests directions for future study.…

Argues for a materialist and ecological approach to the study of school socialization. Journal available from Catholic University of America Press, 620 Michigan Ave., N.E. Washington, DC 20064. (RM)

It is suggested that a stimulating environment, rich with color, relaxed in mood, and imaginative in arrangement, will produce a favorable effect on the child's senses and hopefully create an attitude that will be favorable toward learning. (Author)

Explains that room arrangement can affect student reactions, create or prevent accidents, and increase or decrease a teacher's focus on the children. Describes a teacher's experience in rearranging a classroom by dividing the space into distinct learning areas and adding furniture such as a lamp, pillows, pictures, and a rocking chair to make the…

Noting that the design of the classroom used for early childhood and kindergarten classes can contribute in powerful ways to the education of young children, this paper applies principles of architecture to the organization and shaping of the interior classroom space. The paper maintains that five principles, when applied, create a climate of…

A classroom floor plan, conforming to theoretically equable features (line of sight bearings, expanding/concentrically diminishing wave forms, vectors proportionate, "time") is presented to show that an equable state exists but is entirely theoretical and as a reminder that different options can exist without diminishing the basic human…

This paper examines the methods used in designing school and classroom environments. The tools are labeled: (1) discipline-centered schooling; (2) empirical-naturalistic schooling; and (3) great works schooling. First, the outline endeavors to reveal the essential elements of the three tools that represent images, structures, or "maps" of…

Offers the following management strategies: (1) enforce appropriate classroom behavior; (2) post classroom rules; (3) stick to a smooth academic routine; (4) organize the classroom environment; (5) develop a self-checking system; and (6) develop filing strategies. The keys to successful classroom management are careful planning, frequent program…

Uses careful observations in Reggio Emilia preschools, and three of Thelma Harm's environmental checklists and questions, to identify and analyze the strengths in Reggio Emilia's centers that can be used to assess classroom settings in the United States. Focuses on concepts and practices American teachers can use to improve the teaching-learning…

This article critically examines classroom walls from four perspectives: (1) reading the environment; (2) walls that silence; (3) the purpose of display; and (4) aesthetics. The author offers some suggestions for teachers to consider when purchasing materials and in planning how to use classroom walls to enhance the educational setting. She…

Examines attributes of middle level classrooms and schools perceived by parents as inviting, and attributes related to student behavior and achievement. Notes that inviting schools/classrooms are characterized by a clean, neat building, student work displays, and pleasant wall colors. Environmental features that parents believe are related to…

Discusses ways to create a classroom environment that encourages students to test the power of their language through reading and writing experiences. Describes a writing lesson in a writer-centered classroom, what a writing classroom looks like, and what teachers should do first in terms of the physical setup of the classroom. (SR)

Nine elementary teachers explain how they design their classrooms to match and support their instructional styles. The teachers focus on whole language programs, student portfolios, science activity set-ups, technology transformation, learning center strategies, and space utilization. (SM)