Look at a space inhabited by an individual and you will find that space is reminiscent of who that person is on the inside and the outside. The beauty about an inhabited space is it tells the hidden story of countless individuals. You can see the stories in the pictures, the colors, the tapestries, the filled space and the space left empty. Some find completely covered walls a source of comfort whereas others find comfort in the blank canvases and spaces that will one day be filled with just the right portrait. 

The beauty about being a teacher is we are allowed the time to recreate ourselves every year. There are certainly teachers who generally have the same aesthetic year after year, but I find it comforting at the end of the year to take down absolutely everything and then begin again the following year. Because every year brings on a new vibe with new students. Not only that, but every year brings about new inspiration, new experiences and thus a recreation oneself as a teacher and as a person. 

I have to laugh because in general, I wear very subdued and earthy colors. You never see me wearing bright blues or yellows or pinks or oranges. I have a closet full of black and gray sweatshirts. My wardrobe is very subdued and yet my classroom this year is full of brightly colored oranges and yellows, suns, flowers, etc. It is not the colors I would have wanted, but after being in California this summer, my soul has been replaced by much more vibrant colors. Every sidewalk seemed to be filled with colored murals, every school painted with bright colors and it helped to create this beautiful culture of color and sound that is difficult to describe unless you have witness it firsthand. There are certain places you find yourself visiting that leave a pretty solid imprint on your heart. And this year, with vacation time spent in California, the vibrant colors somehow imprinted themselves onto the heart of my classroom. 

So this year, replacing the more subdued hues are neon rugs and brightly colored tapestries and a little taste of California found in a suburban Pittsburgh classroom. The hope is that my students are just as in awe with the murals and the tapestries-finding excitement in every crevice.