Multiple districts — In Ariana Fredericks’ classroom design for 4-year-olds, there are three distinct spaces: a teaching and meeting area, a play center and an open area.
“What I learned through my research is that at this age level, students learn through interactive play,” said the Lowell High senior, who is considering becoming a preschool/kindergarten teacher. “There are not a lot of pencil assignments, but more realistic play.”
So Ariana planned her classroom with lots of open space, allowing students to explore while learning, she said.
Ariana was one of several first-year Kent Career Tech Center’s Teacher Academy students who showcased their future classroom designs during a recent gallery walk presentation. Local educators and guests went from station to station where students explained their rationale and highlighted how their choices foster growth and learning.
“The students have thoughtfully designed classrooms tailored to specific developmental stages,” said Teacher Academy instructor Melissa Pierczynski of the first-time event. “They’ve applied learning theories and developmental knowledge to create environments that support the unique needs of their chosen age group.”
The Teacher Academy, which started in 2021, introduces high-school students to the field of education. During the two-year program, participants work with local mentor teachers in school districts throughout Kent County and attend classes and meet with peers at Kent Career Tech Center. Those who complete the program may be eligible for college credit and classroom paraprofessional jobs.
Encouraging Independence & Collaboration
Students were tasked to create classrooms for specific age groups between the ages of 4-14. The high-schoolers had to select at least five components of their classroom to focus on that connected to a specific developmental need. Components could be seating arrangements, centers and stations, technology integration, decor and materials, and lighting and sensory elements.
During the gallery walk, Pierczynski said the goal was that “students should be able to tell you the ‘why’ behind the design.”
All the students were able to tell the “why” as they covered the five components. Some examples:
Kelloggsville junior Liliana Diaz-Rodriguez selected 7-year-olds — who are mostly in second grade — and one focus was on seating arrangements.
Recognizing that age group is discovering independence, she also wanted to encourage collaboration, so Liliana said she would have a seating chart with students sitting in pairs. Her room would also include an area with barstool seating to foster independence, she said.
“The reading area in the room also would be designed to encourage independent reading, with space for only one or maybe two people at a time,” she said. “This age group also likes to know what is happening, so lunch menus and agendas would be posted near the door for the students.”
Forest Hills Northern junior Alistar Meier also focused on seating arrangement, deciding on a U-shaped arrangement for the desks so the students would feel listened to and heard by everyone in the classroom, Alistar said. Alistar’s group was 9-year-olds, or fourth-graders.
Warm & Inviting
East Grand Rapids senior Ayantu Knapp focused on lighting and sensory elements. Her age group was 13, or eighth grade.
“At that age level, students are going through a lot,” she said, adding she wanted to create a welcoming space. “I wanted them to be able to walk into the classroom and be able to breathe.”
Ayantu created a space using warm color tones, adding plants and softened and natural lighting, all to create a feeling of a safe space for open conversations and working together, she said.
East Kentwood junior Piper Clark said she recognized how important it is to have age-appropriate materials in her classroom.
Her age group was 11-year-olds, or fifth-graders, who she discovered are a good age group to introduce hobbies such as sports or reading. To do that, she would make sure her classroom would have books and other materials to help encourage exploration, Piper said.
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