Hey everyone welcome to my blog for Reggio Emilia Design!!! I'm excited to announce my first project of redesigning the classroom of Oakland High School's art teacher Mrs. Guerrero. But, I need your help fundraising to make this teachers dream classroom a reality by August 1st! For more details scroll down.
Teacher #1: The Teacher
Mrs. Guerrero is a first year art teacher who is excited but also nervous about starting the new school year with new students, new career skills, and a new working environment. She has dreamed about being a teacher for a long time and is ecstatic to finally be pursing her passion as an art teacher full-time. What she offers students is a warm welcoming when they come in, encourages them to do their best work, connects with them on a personal level, and shares her experience of careers in the
design world.
Teacher #2: The Students
Oakland High School is the oldest public high school in the city of Oakland, CA serving a diverse population of students ranging from:
32% African American 29% Latino 32% Asian
3% Pacific Islander 1% Mixed Races 2% White
1% Native American
Many of the students are from low-income families and find comfort at school more than at home. Students participate in various academies that group them into career industry focused cohorts. Elective classes, such as art, are one of the few classes that mix the student cohorts together.
Teacher #3: The Classroom
Needs some major improvements:
- unorganized cabinets
- uneven and patchy tabletops
- dirty mix matched chairs
- NO large white board
- tables crammed together
- blank white color walls
- dirty back storage room
- not enough storage for students artwork (6 classes)
- unlocked and uncovered door that leads to another classroom
Planning
- making digital mood boards
- researching inspiration images
- picking wall colors
- compiling a materials list
- creating a budget
- drawing floor plans
- creating a schedule
- meetings with client (Mrs. Guerrero)
- finalizing design plans
Dream Classroom: Montessori meets Oakland
- BUILDS COMMUNITY - CREATIVE - ENERGIZED - INSPIRATIONAL - INSTAGRAM WORTHY - NATURE -
- TRANQUIL - SECTIONS - POSITIVE - ORGANIZED - COZY - VERSATILE - VIBRANT - COLORFUL -
Materials & Budget:
Need Items - Tier 1 Goal $1,400
- paint walls (to get rid of unwanted marks and energize the room)
- add storage (store more student artwork, art supplies, wellness station)
- buy a bench (place for students to sit in a quiet space and engage in the Oakland Community Map)
- paint Oakland Community Map and chalkboard wall (turn front entryway into an interactive community wall)
- resurface tables (refinish old and uneven tables for a proper working space for students)
- install a large white board (need a larger board to write due dates, project requirements, agenda, date, announcements for multiple class subjects)
Dream Items - Tier 2 Goal $2,000
- lights around the room (have more light in the darker parts of the classroom when the lights are off - many students prefer to have the bright florescent lights off)
- paint chairs (make all the mixed chairs look uniform and clean)
- buy new office chair (replace old, ripped, and dirty office chair)
- buy kitchenette counter (to store teachers kitchen ware - no teachers lounge at the school)
- buy plants (for garden corners that will be placed in pockets of the classroom to add a natural element of tranquility)
- essential oil diffuser (freshen the air of a classroom from the art material fumes & body odor)
- classroom wellness station goodies (snacks for students, band-aids, hand sanitizer, tissue box, cough drops, female products, hand soap, lotion)
- eco-friendly cleaning supplies (student, teacher health, and keeping the classroom clean that's good for the environment)
Above & Beyond - Tier 3 Goal >$2,000
- goes to the next redesigning classroom project
Throughout July I'll be creating, fundraising, and redesigning this classroom, but I need your help fundraising to make Mrs. Guerrero's dream classroom a reality by August 1st!
Stay tuned for the before and after photos!!!
Oakland High School