A classroom management strategy that works extremely well is making positive connections with students. Students have had about 19 months of dysregulation because of the pandemic, and their need to connect is stronger than ever. Reconnecting with students has been difficult this year especially with my school being a new high school that has encountered many construction delays and supply shortages. These challenges have impacted our ability to fully settle into our new home. However, just as the construction of a new school takes time, effort, and teamwork, connecting with individual students take time, effort, and collaboration. At the beginning of the school year, we (art teachers) were told our rooms would not be ready until sometime in October, and we were temporarily placed in science rooms. My temporary room just so happened to have an adjoining conference room with windows all around. I converted this room into an art studio where Honors and Advanced Placement students could create artwork, play music, make coffee, and feel at home. This was a huge success, and I have never seen students so motivated to experiment and to make high quality artwork! Many students expressed how the space has made them feel special and motivated to create. This is especially evident in their academic success! Also, since this is a glass room, many other students, faculty, and staff members enjoy seeing and complimenting students actively working and displaying their completed and in progress artwork. The students and I are currently collaborating on how we can replicate the studio space ambiance in our permanent new home (the official art room).
