The Science of Classroom Decor: Classroom Walls
The education profession is full of sciences; there’s the relatively new Science of Reading, the very new Science of Math, and in this blog post the Science of Classroom Decor.
Since learning about the science of how reading makes connections in the brain, I have gone down a rabbit hole to learn how the brain takes in and processes information. Whole Brain Teaching uses brain research for effective behavior management. The use of technology and smartphones has affected our brains and our capacity for deep thinking and ability to focus.
In my reading, I stumbled on some research studies and a couple of websites about classrooms and how the way we decorate affects the brain and learning. Fascinating!
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“There is a growing body of research about how the visual environment of a classroom impacts students’ attention and learning. If we’re not careful, our efforts to spruce up the classroom can create visual noise, color variability, and decorations that distract learners and hinder their ability to focus on academics.” - MiddleWeb.com
When multiple objects are present in our visual range, they compete for representation in the visual cortex of our brain. This is not new information, but applying it to the classroom is a new way of using this information to help teachers create an optimal classroom environment.
THE RESULTS ARE IN
There was a teacher at my school years ago that would hang EVERYTHING up during the school year. Every single anchor chart was hung until she ran out of room on the walls, then she used the ceiling. Visual Overload!
A study was completed in 2018 by Rodrigues and Pandeirada that showed students performed better in a low-load visual environment (lightly decorated). High-load visual environments (heavily decorated) negatively affected cognitive performance.
In addition, it has been found that children tend to engage in more off-task behaviors in heavily decorated classrooms, creating classroom management concerns and increasing inattention.
VISUAL NOISE on your CLASSROOM WALLS
VISUAL NOISE is the amount of decor and other clutter in the students’ learning space. This includes your classroom walls and what can be seen on cabinet tops and the tops of bookshelves.
Is your classroom filled with visual noise?
According to Lindsey Hampton onLearningFocused.com, think of your walls as a Silent Teacher. Select visuals that support your learning goals. I call them “Purposeful Teaching Tools”.
Anchor charts
Graphic organizers
Vocabulary Walls
These visuals serve as cognitive tools that scaffold understanding and guide students through learning processes.
EVALUATE YOUR SPACE
Take some time to look around your classroom and “Marie Kondo” it. This means to analyze each item hanging on the classroom walls or sitting on a shelf and determine if it has a direct, daily impact on teaching and learning. Is it a Purposeful Teaching Tool or just space filler? If you look at something and it is not an immediate “Yes!” consider removing it and putting it away (and holding onto it just in case) to see if it is needed at another time.
Don’t go overboard. Empty walls aren’t the answer. Blank walls are uninspiring and don’t allow students to find the visual cues they need for effective learning. Find balance between overstimulating and underwhelming.
VISIBLE LEARNING on your CLASSROOM WALLS
“An effective visual learning environment accelerates learning for students by using its environment to showcase High Yield Instructional Strategies, such as advanced organizers, graphic organizers, and vocabulary word walls. These strategies guide and organize learning throughout a lesson or unit. It not only displays these strategies but also reinforces their connections when learning” - learningfocused.com
HOW COLOR INFLUENCES LEARNING
The latest theme in room decor in soft natural “BOHO” colors with eucalyptus leaves and succulents. At first I wasn’t sure what the appeal was. Do students like eucalyptus leaves and succulents?? But it’s also a minimalist way to decorate a classroom which is aligned with the current research of reducing clutter and “visual noise”. I get it now!
CLASSROOM THEMES
Teachers often have themes for their classrooms, myself included, but some can be excessively overdone. Students may be excited about your Disney or Superhero theme, but the increased visual stimulus can have a negative effect on their learning.
If you do have a theme and want to stick with it, I would suggest you select a theme that connects with your students. I have heard of teachers with coffee themes and Taylor Swift themes. While these may reflect your favorites, are the boys in your classroom excited about Taylor Swift and do your ELL students connect with coffee and lattes? Make sure your theme is inclusive, resonates with your students and is “sprinkled” around the room to keep the visual load low.
MY BEST ADVICE
I have always had a classroom theme, most recently “Super Surfers” with surfing, ocean, and some tropical thrown in for my Hawaiian name. It’s fun to have a theme you can use for classroom unity. BUT the main focus is not on the decorations that go with the theme, it is about the colors: light blues, greens, and yellows. These colors are used throughout the room for cohesion.
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF COLOR
Color also plays a key role in creating an environment that fosters learning. Dr. Robert Gerard recognizes this and has pioneered research, which suggests that every color has a specific wavelength, and each of these affect our body and brain in a different way. Using the right color, and the correct selection and placement can seriously affect feelings, attention, and behavior when learning.
Green is a good color for keeping long-term concentration and clarity.
Blue is the most effective color for learning. It promotes memory and enhances creativity, and depending on the shade, can have a calming effect on students.
Blue is best used for learning situations which are challenging. Blue paper, blue ink, or blue highlighting can be used to help improve reading comprehension too.
Red and Orange, when bright and bold, should be avoided as a primary color scheme. These aren’t good color choices for those prone to overstimulation, for instance if your group of learners have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or another health concern which leads to easy overstimulation. Red and Orange are great in small doses. For example, when using as a background for a poster or anchor chart or to highlight key information.
A NEW IDEA
Teaching in my Right Mind proposes the idea of ditching your classroom theme and adopting a classroom scheme.
“A classroom theme is when the décor is centered around one main symbol, such as a tropical, jungle, cactus or donut theme. A classroom color scheme is when the décor follows a small set of colors in specific tones. Choosing a classroom color scheme or palette is essential to creating a cohesive and inclusive space that supports student learning.”
Choose a classroom color palette that creates a cohesive and inclusive classroom environment. Using the right color palette is not only more aesthetically pleasing, but also better for student academic performance.
A few of my favorite teacherpreneurs and the color schemes for their classroom products…
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