TETA Board of Directors
Immediate Past President
Ah, the beginning of the academic year! So many opportunities exist; they involve our new students, new approaches to curriculum, new coworkers, and perhaps even new teaching techniques we've discovered during our summer 'off'. However, one of my favorite things about the new year is preparing the space where the learning will take place. I've certainly enjoyed seeing so many of your classrooms on our Facebook interest pages; they make me smile. In my opinion, this ritual of preparing and creating the space is perhaps the most enjoyable of the year; it is infused with hope, ideas and dreams of wonderful experiences to come.
Upon reflecting on my years as a public school teacher, it's clear that the way I prepared my classroom space changed a bit. In my first years, my classroom reflected a great deal about me. Philosophical quotes as well as posters of shows I loved and posters of my heroes adorned the walls. As the years passed, there was a shift; my walls were filled with production photos of my students, their accomplishments, and posters of shows we loved. The more personal things now mostly surrounded my desk in the corner, and many of those things were gifts from former students.
This year, my space preparations were much different. As I've transitioned to the university campus, I've lost one aspect of preparing for the new academic year: preparing a classroom. Instead, I prepared my office, which students and faculty here are now describing as 'homey' or 'comfy'. I'm quite delighted with those descriptions, as I wanted to avoid creating an office space that felt like the old stereotypical austere monastic space associated with the life of an academician.
In one of my discussions with a colleague about the environment I created here in my office, I remarked that I've always believed in “creating the space” for almost every endeavor. I think that taking the time to create the space where we will learn, create, and relate to one another is hugely important. Perhaps it's the set designer in me, but I believe that the space should enhance and reflect the purpose and mood of my intention. In all honesty, when my classroom began to reflect my students instead of me, things changed on a very large level. We truly became a community.
I hope that throughout the year we all continue to very aware of creating a space for learning and creativity that enhances and clarifies our message. I hope that in the midst of the busiest day you and I remember to take a moment or two to remember to create the space before every class we teach, every rehearsal we have, every heavy conversation we have to have.