If weâre sticking strictly to reality, there are lots of rooms I wish my school had. I would start with a teacherâs lounge that has multiple copiers, a bathroom with working hot water, and the list could go on and on. But what fun is reality? Here are the rooms I really wish you could find in my school building. If we had these, teacher mental health would be at an all-time high!
1. The Puppy Room
Having a bad day? Come cuddle with a pile of golden retriever and beagle puppies during your planning period! Students would be able to schedule time in this room, but it would be available to teachers any time theyâre free.
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2. The Sensory Deprivation Room
You plug your phone into one of the chargers provided at the door, then bask in silence, dim lighting, and an utter lack of sensory input. Do you hear that sound? Thatâs right; no. You donât.
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3. The Gym
I mean, we have one of those for the kids, but it smells like feet and is loud and full of, you know, students. Itâd be nice if we had a small bank of treadmills and some space for a yoga class for teachers who would like to take advantage before and after school. Iâm not one of them, but Iâd include it in the blueprints for my colleaguesâ sake.
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4. The Primal Scream Room
Itâs soundproof. The walls are padded. There are punching bags and a whole array of cheap glasses available for shattering. I think this room would benefit both teachers and students because, letâs face it, that rage is going to come out somewhere. Wouldnât it be nice if it wasnât the classroom?
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5. A Polarized Speakeasy
This one requires some explanation. First off, obviously, it would only serve alcohol after school. During the day, there would be an array of healthy smoothies instead. But it would also be divided into positive and negative zones. If youâre having a bad day and need to vent, head over to the negative side and avoid the Unikitties who are full of cheer and joy. But if youâre flying high from a great lesson and donât want to hear a bunch of whining, join your more positive colleagues to talk about why you love your job.
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6. The Gryffindor Common Room
Grading papers would be so much more appealing with a comfy chair, a roaring fire, and a house elf to bring me snacks.
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7. The Garden
Not technically a room, but still part of the campus. Go take a stroll along the nature trail, pick a few flowers for your classroom, help yourself to a ripe cherry tomato. Get a little vitamin D before your third period class.
I donât think my school will be making these major architectural changes any time soon. Probably my best bet is to find a student teacher whoâs good at Pinterest-y stuff and let them make my classroom a little more awesome. But if I ever find a grant for millions of dollars with no stipulation on how itâs used, Iâll be out shopping for house elves and puppies.
What rooms would you add to improve teacher mental health? Letâs design our fantasy school!