From artwork to award, Mr. Nicholas Miller has an intriguing collection in his classroom.
Journalism advisor and AP Literature teacher, Miller has been teaching at Redwood since January of 1999, almost 22 years. Over the years, he has decorated his room with abstract art and other interesting objects.
The artwork around his classroom has been provided by his past students. He says what he likes most about his classroom collection is, “that it was all created by kids. There is nothing better for a teacher than kid stuff.”
Miller “loves kid stuff.” Miller’s students mean a lot to him. He says that when the students are gone, he likes to have things on the wall that remind him of them.
Miller also mentioned that when he first started teaching, someone told him to create a drawer. He explains, “This drawer is full of ‘thank yous’ and like posters… weird things that kids thought I needed.”
He said that if he has a bad day, he “opens this drawer up… and just reads stuff.”
Photo courtesy of Brienna Burr in Miller’s classroom
His most valuable item is a charcoal piece done by a past student. “She created it while she was presenting in class.” He adds, “it was the most amazing thing.”
Photo courtesy of Brienna Burr in Miller’s classroom
Miller also really likes three pieces done by past student, Eric Rodriguez. “He is now a professional comic book artist.”
Photo courtesy of Brienna Burr in Miller’s classroom
One of the “coolest” things Miller has in his room is a 2021 Crystal Apple Award given to him by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Miller received the award during online learning, “the worst teaching year ever,” he says.
This award means a lot to him because of all the struggles he had to go through with teaching last year.
One of the most important things that he keeps in his classroom is a rock.
Miller explains that during his first year of teaching, he had a student that was a very strong athlete, but struggled in class.
Miller says that he made the mistake of saying to him, “‘Come on man, even a rock could figure this out.’”
Miller reminisces how he later realized how that hurt the student’s feelings.
The next day, the student brought in a rock, he put it on Miller’s desk, “pointed at it and said ‘prove it.’” Miller apologized to the student and said that he uses the rock to remind him how to be a better and more understanding teacher.
“Everything [in this classroom] is so symbolic,” according to Miller.
Brienna Burr
Brienna Burr, '24, is in her third year of writing and editing for the Redwood Gigantea. Outside of journalism, Brienna is a part of Dance Force, CSF, Assisteens Visalia and International Dance. You can reach her by email at brien.bu9038@vusd.us
Tags: AP literature teacher, art, Brienna Burr, clubs & lifestyles, masterpieces, Mr.Miller, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood journalism, redwood rangers