Creating Places to Gather

It never stops amazing me how a single piece of furniture can transform an environment, change the mood and attitudes of the folks within. Although this image is blurry the relationships being build and connections being made between learners from Kindergarten to grade 7 were  very clear to any observer. Could it be that by deinstitutionalizing our classrooms we are encouraging everyone within to feel more comfortable, more able to give of themselves and receive from others? Could one answer to creating environments that encourage reading and sharing books be making them more home like with furniture, softer lighting and multi age groupings? Maybe it is time to ask our students what and who they would like in their classrooms.