The Hidden Impact of Classrooms: How do Classrooms Impact the way we feel and learn?

By: Serenity Ceja

Here at Redwood High School, we have amazing staff and teachers who shape our future through their ability to educate us on the knowledge we have yet to acquire. Have you ever thought about whether the decoration and atmosphere of the classroom affect the way you gather this knowledge?

I decided to conduct a test of what I felt stepping into classrooms that were decorated to comply with the subject the teachers taught. As a student, I have constantly felt fatigue walking into bare-walled classrooms with harsh, intense lighting, fighting to stay focused. While not all my classes are like this, many are. I found that when I am in classrooms with no comfort, I tend not to focus as much as I do compared to when I am in classrooms that are made to make me feel calm and focused.

It is hard enough to wake up early to prepare for an 8 – 9 hour school day, not including extracurriculars, and have to sit in a room for about an hour surrounded by white walls and lights that are extremely bright.

Room 70, Ana Romo’s Classroom, which teaches ELD and AVID, is a classroom full of college motivation posters, banners, and decorations. When I walk into her classroom, I feel like I can accomplish anything. The amount of college banners around the classroom reminds me that I have the potential to achieve success through the work I put in now. 

Mrs. Romo says, “I think as an AVID teacher, I like to decorate my classroom so the students see what’s out there by putting different colleges and universities on display. Some of them are out of state. I think having them on the wall inspires them to go above and beyond.” Her logic behind her decorations does comply with what I feel about being in her classroom. I am face-to-face with so many opportunities, and the banners motivate me to achieve the success that comes with those opportunities.

A student of Mrs.Romo, Sofia Mesa, ‘28, says, “Her classroom makes me feel like I am in a safe, comfortable environment that is very welcoming. Her decorations are encouraging, and it is inspiring to read the posters or past work her students have accomplished, indicating the positive impact Mrs.Romo’s classroom has and how it shapes students’ thinking.

Encouraging classrooms are always a great way for students to strive for their goals. However, what about classrooms that make you feel calm? What I mean by this is, instead of harsh lighting and blank walls, how does entering a classroom that is the complete opposite affect a student?

Amanda Fariss, an English teacher, says, “I spend so much time here, and I try to make it one, somewhere I like to be, and two, a place students want to be. I noticed that it definitely impacts the vibe when they walk in. I don’t like the fluorescent lighting, so I have lamps that provide a calming presence. I hope it reminds them a little bit of home, for they feel they can be themselves.”

Stepping into Mrs. Fariss’s classroom was like all my stress and anxiety were gone. It was such a calming environment that I could definitely focus. It wasn’t too homey, like where I would fall asleep, but just enough to where I felt at ease.

Stacy Gonzales, an American Language Development teacher on campus, was another classroom I found calming. No bright lights that made me feel stressed, and no blank walls that made me feel tension; instead, lights that felt undisturbed with a mix of motivation and comfort. There were college banners and decorations that made you feel zen. 

Gonzales says, “You want the students to feel comfortable, especially when you’re asking them to do a lot of work like heavy lifting and a lot of rigorous work. So, you want them to come in and automatically feel like they’re not there at home, but they still feel comfortable in their work environment.” I like her statement on making her classroom feel comfortable but not too comfortable. Just enough to make the student calm and focused.

Overall, classroom decorations mean something to me. They affect the way I learn and focus. Maybe they have an impact on you as well, and you get fatigued from boring blank classrooms. Classrooms are a big part of our high school experience; classrooms should feel like an environment we want to be in, where we can focus and expand our learning. 

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