A teacher’s classroom can have many effects on students, especially through the lighting and decorations in each classroom. There are many teachers at Kaneland who have countless decorations in their room to help their students, as well as act as an extension of their own personality.

Some teachers put a lot of effort into designing their room, which can really benefit students in many ways by not only bringing the classroom to life but also having some effect on student engagement and interest in the class.

One teacher in particular who has quite a lot of notable decorations around her classroom is Kaneland social studies teacher Sarah Ray. One thing you may notice while entering her classroom is the amount of Stranger Things-related posters and items displayed throughout.

“I was really excited to get my classroom, and I kind of wanted it to be an extension of myself,” Ray said. “I think it really shows students who I am outside of school and that I’m not just a teacher.” 

Many of her students feel that her decorations really help bring life to the classroom and help them to relate to her through her interests and who she is as a person. This is evident through all of her Stranger Things posters and items around her room. She also has a lot of Taylor Swift merchandise, which is pretty popular among students. Students can bond more with their teachers through shared interests.

“When I first walked in, I noticed how much thought she put into personalizing her classroom,” one of Ray’s students, freshman Brooklyn Kelly, said. “I think it definitely shows her personality and gives her room more of a positive vibe.”

While some teachers, like Ray, think of their decorations as a reflection of their personality, other teachers use decorations to enhance the look or overall vibe of the classroom. One teacher that seems to personalize his classroom like this is Kaneland French teacher Cristian Hernandez.

Hernandez’s room has many different lights that can create a subtle ambiance. Many students feel more comfortable in a room that has alternative lighting, as opposed to standard fluorescent lights. It can really help create a positive environment for students.

“The ambient lighting really helps me perform well because it feels like I’m more comfortable, and I don’t have those regular bright ceiling lights beaming into my eyes,” Kaneland sophomore Jaxon Rogers said. “The alternative lighting emits a welcoming feeling, and it makes me feel less stressed in class.” 

Rogers is not the only student of Hernandez’s that enjoys and appreciates the lighting in his room, as some of his other students have commented about it as well.

“A lot of my classmates have given Mr. Hernandez compliments on his lighting, especially the LED lights,” Rogers said. “They mentioned that the room feels more comfortable and homey, especially since many students have LED lights in their own rooms. It helps create a relaxed atmosphere that makes them feel more at ease and encourages them to work in a space that feels familiar.”

Not only does the alternative lighting create a positive atmosphere, but it is also better for the well-being of students, juxtaposed with the regular ceiling lights in most classrooms. 

“I don’t like having the overhead light on all the time because it can cause migraines and strain people’s eyes,” Hernandez said. “I also like to have the window open to get some light from the sun.”

Some teachers also incorporate decorations that hold special meaning to them, such as pictures, drawings, letters or even gifts. These meaningful items can help create authenticity in their classrooms and show students a little bit about the teachers’ values and personal lives. This can help students relate to and connect with the teachers as well.

Kaneland Spanish teacher Angela Franics has many meaningful items around her desk area, especially things that she received from students. Francis is a new teacher at Kaneland this year but has received a lot of positive feedback and gifts from students that she has connected with.

“I have a lot of items with sentimental value, like pictures, drawings, emails or gifts that students have given me,” Francis said. “I put them up in my room, and they come in and see it, which makes them feel special about it.”

Decorations in Francis’s classroom also heavily relate to Hispanic culture, which can help expose students to the culture and help them learn more about it. There are also things put up around her room that can be used as helpful learning tools for students or reminders about things they have learned.

“I have Hispanic flags all over the room as well as phrases that kids could use,” Francis said. “They serve as friendly reminders if a student forgets something or needs a refresher.”