Feng Shui for the Classroom: 101 Easy-To-Use Ideas

by Renee Heiss and Elizabeth Renee Heiss

Formerly published by Zephyr Press

A carefully planned learning environment can improve the quality and meaningfulness of learning and instruction.

This unique resource translates the ancient Chinese interior design concepts of feng shui into practical ideas for creating positive, harmonious classroom environments based on the thoughtful arrangement of color, furniture, and learning centers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1569761744
• ISBN13: 9781569761748
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Corwin Publishers
• Length: 127 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 11.0" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

A Joy for Classroom and Home!

I ordered this book for my future classroom and also shared it with my children's current teachers. Not only did they find it helpful for their classrooms, I was able to take many of the elements and apply them to my three children's rooms at home. Mrs. Heiss has written a book that I will read over and over again and will take with me to every classroom that I work in. A JOY to read.

Author response

I am the author of Feng Shui for the Classroom and I would like to respond to J. Crown's comments. Yes, I reiterate that cleaning is essential to feng shui rememdies, but not because teachers are so sloppy. It is because they are so overworked by educational systems that require them to teach to the standard or the test, that they rarely have time for classroom housekeeping. Space cleaning is indeed a ritual best practiced by those who are purists in feng shui. My book deals with the basics that any teacher, whether spiritual or not, can embody to improve the educational atmosphere in the classroom. Finally, regarding the designation for the northwest corner. This is traditionally designated as the "helpful people" and "travel" corner of the room. How better to interpret that than to say it governs cultural diversity? It is about being treated fairly and honestly. And do teachers need strength, power, and leadership? Only if they consider themselves educational dictators. The true teacher is a facilitator of learning, a person who identifies student needs and responds to them, a person who draws power from the students rather than directing it toward them. The teacher who uses feng shui in his or her classroom has taken the first step toward modeling organization, kinship, and intellectual stimulation in the classroom.

Feng Shui for Elementary Classroom

For my new elementary classroom, most of the ideas suggested worked very well. It helped me design a room with little clutter, and the colors in different areas work well at "tying" an area together without competing with the rest of the room. The author has a nice chart to make this easy to do. Everyone who has come into my room notices that it is tranquil and peaceful. My class is a special day class for students with learning disabilities, ADHD and/or autism, and I think the uncluttered room helps them focus and concentrate. I also feel peaceful and tranquil when I enter the room. It helps me, too! Plus, it's aesthetically pleasing.

Great Ideas!

This book gives the reader many ideas for practically using feng shui in the classroom. I am already reaping the benefits of a more balanced and focused student body as a result.

A Feng Shui gem!

I ordered this book thinking that I would get some ideas for my classroom. What I got was a book chock-full with wonderful suggestions on how to de-stress, organize, and improve my 3rd grade classroom. I especially like the workbook-style pages at the end of each chapter. Now for the fascination news: after trying a few adjustments, my students appear to be calmer and more eager to pay attention. Maybe this is a temporary change, but I would like to think that it is permanent. I can't wait to try more of the ideas in this excellent book.