Many years ago an outstanding consultant, Marcia Hebert, came into school to help teachers with their classrooms and environment.  We were all so focused on the children that the classroom itself was often overlooked.  Teachers weren’t seeing  their rooms through the eyes of a child.  Certainly I wasn’t.

After she looked at classrooms, we met as a group.  Marcia’s first question was, “Who has the orange pictures on all the walls?”

That was me!  It was our jack-o-lanterns.

My eyes opened, and since then my classroom is neutral instead of a carnival of colors.  In that way, children feel welcomed and calm, and can focus on the task and activity at hand.

Marcia noticed Gloria.  She had Sophia, the same puppet.  Of course Gloria invited Sophia for a playdate and a sleepover.  It was wonderful!

Marcia has been one of my favorite bloggers for a long time.  When I was…