One of my students paid me the biggest compliment the first week of our new semester with one sentence, “Mrs. Shaver, you got style!” Let me tell you first hand, teenagers are not easy to impress and will tell it like it is whether I want to hear it or not. So hearing one of my sassy 16 year-old students tell me that I have style is a huge deal. I don’t care who you are, that will make you smile.
In case you’re new here or don’t know me personally, I have been a high school English teacher for five years. I’ve learned way more in these five years about dedication, hard work, and the joy of making a difference in the lives of others to better our future generations than I could ever describe. A big part of me is sad to see this chapter come to a close in June of this year as Robert and I have chosen the opportunity for me to be a stay-at-home mom to spend more time raising our own little one, but I know I can look back on these years with warm memories of the 800+ students I have taught.
From the day I set foot in my new classroom, I didn’t want to only make it a place to learn; I wanted to make it a safe haven, a place where my students felt comfortable and accepted and, nearly as importantly, where I could find an escape in my own place of work. At the same time, teachers can only do so much with so few resources as money is always tight in education. Plus, what money there is primarily is used for lesson plans and teaching resources. So after pulling every trick in the book, I think I made it happen.























Love your room! It’s so cozy! I still remember a room in high school that I had with little lamps all over. I always felt more peaceful in there without the florescents. Bravo! Thanks for a complete tour!
Aw thank you, Lindsay! A lot of my students always told me how much they loved it here. It was prime writing space. Perfect for creativity. 🙂
I love your room! How did you attach all of the frames and letters to the “Inspire” wall?
Thanks Marissa! My students enjoyed it too. I used Scotch Mounting Tape to stick all of the frames. It’s on the same aisle as Command Strips and picture hangers in Walmart.
Is the brick wall a REAL brick wall , or a faux one. I’ve seen classrooms that create a brick wall look, but don’t know how. Your room is wonderful!
It’s real! Isn’t it so cool? Our building was fairly old, but that brick wall was definitely a redeeming quality. Thanks, Diana! I had a lot of fun in this classroom, and my students really felt at home in here. (Sometimes to a fault. They usually didn’t want to leave. Haha)
Love it! I am a 25 year nurse turned Health Science teacher….the 15-16 school year will be my seconded teaching high school! I am all about aesthetics and its hard to make a science class homey but I did an ok job last year….but I am thrilled I found your site! At 253 am no less! Great ideas that I plan to utilize! Thanks for taking the time to share!
Yay! I’m so glad you liked it. This really was my home away from home, and my students loved it. Definitely was worth the work to have a happy atmosphere all school year. 🙂
Hi from the UK, Lauren. I’m a high school Head of English in Wales and have realÅ‚y been inspired by your great ideas. I’d like to create a similar environment but with a little more masculine style – maybe to engage boys. Was thinking of a modern twist on a Victorian study theme. Would you happen to have any ideas about boy-friendly decor? Thanks and well done.
Hi, Alex! A former colleague of mine actually did exactly that in his classroom! He taught British literature, so he found several posters of famous British paintings and photographs of London, framed them, and hung them up all over his room. It was very simple but had a lot of impact. His entire classroom looked like something straight out of Sherlock Holmes.
Absolutely inspiring. I was feeling overwhelmed by all the amazing classrooms I was seeing on Pinterest, with all kinds of IKEA purchases etc. I have to buy back to school supplies for my own four kids and simply cannot afford to glam up my bland classroom. You’ve given me lots of great ideas! Thanks so much!
This is so fantastic! I’m in my third year and got my own classroom this year (usually we share in our school) and I can’t wait to try some of your ideas. I don’t have as much wall space so I’ll have to be creative.
Did you find that posting the positive essays was disheartening to kids who never got on the wall?
Thanks, Emma! No, actually it was a big motivator. Every single one ended up on the wall at least once in the school year because so many of them improved so much.
Wow! I needed this! Thanks for sharing, it was encouraging and enlightening. Also motivating to encourage my boys this year.
Love this! It is so sweet! I’m guessing it’s not just the room that made the students feel like you cared ?. I’m working on cheating up my middle school art room. I painted the bookshelves and some nasty looking cabinets bright blue this summer and it has made a lot of difference!!! I no longer hear about the room being “ghetto” haha? It cheers me up too!
What is the name of your school? just wondering because I’m doing a school project on changing up classrooms
Hi, Jasmine. I worked at a school in the Charlotte NC area. I wish you the best on you project. 🙂