Creating Teacher Spaces

Welcome back 😊

One of my biggest challenges has been creating spaces where teachers can go to do planning time and take their breaks. As a leader in Early childhood, we tend to use the square footage in the building to accommodate the maximum children. When I was a teacher, I left the center for my lunch break, and planning times didn’t exist, so when renovating or building, I didn’t take into consideration a staff lounge. Over the years, I started to notice teachers not leaving for their lunch break or going to their cars. When we implemented teacher planning times, we didn’t have a designated space to do these.

It is teacher appreciation week, so this is a perfect time to talk about creating staff areas😊

Why are staff spaces important? 

➡️This is a space that is away from the children that allows them to relax, recharge, or disconnect from the classroom for a while during their breaktime, or it can be a place focus and collaborate on lesson planning.

➡️Can help influence and express the center culture.

➡️Increase productivity and generate new perspectives.

Where do I start? 

By involving your teachers! This will create excitement and ownership. What a great team building experience this will be😊

1. Share the idea about wanting to create a staff space though your center communication or at a staff meeting: Ask who would want to help design this space.

2. Create a staff space design committee.

3. Schedule a meeting to discuss the purpose of this new or redesigned space, and create a timeline for this space to be completed.

4. Second meeting: all committee members bring ideas and inspiration to start a vision board and a budget for this project.

5. Third meeting: finalize ideas, create a list of what supplies are needed, who is responsible for what, and then pick a day and time to start designing!

6. Finally, put the committees’ ideas into action. Don’t forget to take before and after pictures📸

Here are some things the committee can think about when creating the staff lounge:

📍Location, location, location – Indoors, outdoors, or both?

🤔What tone do you want to set?

🍕How will this area be used by staff? Worktime, lunchtime, or both?

🍎Who will maintain this new environment?

What to consider designing an Indoor v Outdoor Teacher Space:

As a leader by creating this space for your staff you are saying I care, and you are valued and special. Involving your staff in the experience you are saying I want to hear your ideas and would like for you to participate in this project with me. 

Till Next Time,

Jen

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