The SIP team set out to create an alternative learning space that encourages collaboration, creativity, and innovation. Below is a photo timeline of the before and after photos. This space is sure to be highly sought out by staff and students this upcoming school year.

A big thank you goes to the Rochester Hills Home Depot who generously donated the three white boards pictured on the lime green wall. These boards will be used to capture students thinking. We are excited to see how this space enhances students' understanding as they discuss their thinking, share ideas, debate viewpoints, and engage with other learners.

Members of the SIP team met in the morning to brainstorm ways to enhance classroom environments. Natalie James, SIP co-chair, started the discussion by sharing the story of Steven Mattice, a math teacher at Roosevelt Middle School in San Francisco. Steven and the designers from The Third Teacher Plus worked together to create an environment that enhances creative collaborations and shared learning experiences.

 The Leaderless Discussion strategy was used to share out our thinking and learning from the environment chapter in Ron Ritchhart's new book Creating Cultures of Thinking. The conversation ended with a generated list of ways to create campfires, watering holes, and caves within our classroom environment.  The group planned to meet again on August 18 to transform the environment of an alternative learning space that can be used by all teachers and students.