Janet Faulk – författare

Based on the latest research about how children learn, this book helps elementary school teachers make their classrooms into creative spaces that facilitate teaching and learning. It also delves into specific areas of classroom design such as use of color and plants, room arrangement, learning centers, and the impact of clutter. With before and after photos of real classrooms, teachers can examine each area and determine their own classroom's need for improvement.

Environments are a complex interaction of physical elements, including sensory components, design and organization, aesthetics, nurturing attributes, and pedagogical resources. Research shows these elements can work together to improve early learning, self-efficacy and higher-order thinking skills. Pamela Evanshen, EdD and Janet Faulk, EdD, have developed an environmental rating scale—Assessing the Pillars of the Physical Environment for Academic Learning (APPEAL)—to help educational professionals evaluate and improve the design and use of elementary learning environments.  Transform learning spaces from teacher-centered classrooms where creativity and collaboration are stifled to student-centered, developmentally appropriate learning communities where children thrive.  The APPEAL rating scale is a valid and reliable assessment that quantifies six environmental domains:  Meaningful Learning: occurs in a healthy, welcoming, and inviting classroom Social Learning: encourages positive learning interactions through room arrangement and seating choicesPurposeful Learning: facilitates discover and active engagement through learning centers and stations, personal spaces for children, and teacher spaceResponsible Learning: encourages children to take ownership of their learning, be accountable for their effort, and work together to accomplish learning goalsContinuous Learning: showcases children's understandings of core content knowledgeInquiry-Based Learning: project-based learning and collaborative problem solving supported by rich resourcesRoom to Learn: Elementary Classrooms Designed for Interactive Explorations will help elementary educators completely reinvent their spaces to achieve the best child outcomes.