The Best Colors for a Classroom
Color can make a significant impact on the productivity level and attentiveness of your students. Teachers can promote a sense of calm in a class full of active youngsters or they can grab the attention of distracted teens with the right color choices strategically employed throughout the classroom. The best colors help teachers and students accomplish class objectives with ease and comfort.
-
Blends
-
Classroom colors should be employed in patterns and blends that engage visual processing skills, while creating a soothing effect in an open creative environment. Adequate stimulation in a visual context supports your students' ability to formulate mental associations and think visually, according to Julie Barrett and the International Center for Leadership in Education. You should use six colors or less throughout the classroom to promote participation, focus, and productivity relative to the age level of your students. If you teach a class composed of different ages, select pale peach or pastel green for main colors. Incorporate basic geometric patterns in complementary hues if you teach a handicapped class. You can select colors that are dull and bright or dark and light, or you may prefer to use complementary colors. Classroom colors are blended in this fashion to assist in building a comprehension of symbolism and association skills.
Mood
-
Color can alter the mood in a room. In professional environments, this concept is widely accepted and has been employed in municipal settings to promote specific effects. For instance, blue is a popular color in hospitals because it produces a tranquil and sedative effect. Julie Barrett says in "The Color of Learning" that blue is employed in hospital environments to maintain low heart rates. Bright warm colors may over-stimulate if they are excessively present in the classroom. The cool colors are more suitable for a calming classroom environment.
-
Ages
-
If you're teaching preschoolers, include warm bright colors in the classroom. If you teach first- through third-graders, focus more on pastel shades. Higher grade classrooms in elementaries should incorporate bright greens and blues. In "Color Your World," Amee Meghani suggests the use of color cues for younger children, bringing their attention and focus to key areas of the room like the main blackboard. Different sections of the room can be color coded to create the optimal environment. For instance, a reading area could be blue and orange can be used around the blackboard. Middle school classrooms should feature mixed-tone colors like fuchsia or teal. If you teach high school classes, choose richer shades like olive green or violet. Mix bright and cool colors in classrooms for older children to promote concentration.
The Association Method
-
Every person with the ability to see and recognize different colors has developed some kind of mental link or association with each color. These associations change on an individual basis, so this method is less than ideal. Certain colors may correlate to positive feelings for one student and relate to negative experiences for another. It's often better to select colors based on the desired levels of activity and productivity you want to stimulate. If you decide to use the best color associations, shades of orange and yellow paired with bright green and blue are preferable over red, black or browns, according to the Publicolor organization.
-
References
- "The Effect of School Interior Environment on Students' Attitudes toward School: Suggestions for Philadelphia Public Schools"; Diana Vining; 2006
- School Planning and Management: "Color Your World"; Amee Meghani
- California Department of General Services: The Color of Learning
- "Color in an Optimum Learning Environment;" Dr. Willard R. Daggett, Jeffrey E. Cobble, Steven J. Gertel; 2008
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
