Working With a Pro

What a great opportunity I had today thanks to my department chair! We are always trying to find more/different methods and practices to improve our own classrooms.  In order to see what a professional in a different content area does to promote student learning, I went to visit a Latin class during first period (Thanks, Mr. B, for getting a sub to cover my Biology class!). But not only did I go to Latin class, it just so happens to be as former Indiana Teacher of the Year! It amazed me enough that the Teacher of the Year works in my building, but on top of it, I was able to see how he works his magic everyday and then share that with my colleagues in the Science Department. 

I love the set up of his room.  There are ribbons for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place that create a banner all along the wall as you enter the room. There are posters from movies such as 300, Passion of the Christ, or Julius Caesar framed and hanging on the walls (maybe I should put some up of Biology movies...?).  He has multiple book shelves FULL of books. REAL books, not just the class textbooks. There are figurines from the Greek/Roman stories everywhere.  He even has a Roman suit of armor on a mannequin in the corner.