Episode Details
Back to EpisodesEasy Wins on the Sensory Dashboard (yes, in ELA!)
Description
The other day I found myself walking through a parking garage stairwell in Iowa City, and I realized they were using the same scent design as the local mall in Bratislava where we used to live. Half-shocked, half-amused, I climbed the cement stairs as I remembered riding the escalator through the same subtle scent cloud two years ago. The memory was visceral.
Though we don't always think about it, our sensory experiences have a strong impact on how we feel and how we work. I do my best work in a situation where I feel comfortable. In fact, I generally prefer not to work at home because step one, for me, to working at home is often to clean the entire house, put music on, light a candle, pick flowers, make tea, etc. and so I spent an hour prepping to work before I do anything.
I bet you've already put considerable time and effort into making your classroom a space where you feel comfortable and where students feel welcome. Today isn't about changing any of that; it's just about finding small places where you might be able to tune your sensory dashboard in class to make it work even better for you and your kiddos. By thinking specifically about the five senses - just like we have students do in their writing - you can find easy wins to make the workspace more welcoming, energizing, and comfortable for everyone inside.
Throughout this podcast, and all the ones in this series, I'm showcasing graphics and displays from the #evolvingEDdesign Toolkit, a vast free resource I made for you.
You can grab it here: https://sparkcreativity.kartra.com/page/evolvingEDdesign
Please share your classroom design stories, questions, photos and ideas with the #evolvingEDdesign hashtag across platforms so we can continue the conversation off the pod!
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Links Mentioned:
Scottish Castle Fireplace Video
Fun Stanford d.School Timer for Class Work (one of many they've created!)
Sources Considered, Consulted, and Cited for this Series & for the Toolkit:
Abdaal, Ali. Feel Good Productivity. Celadon Books, 2023.
"Aesthetics and Academic Spaces." Teachers College, Columbia University Youtube Channel: Curriculum Encounters Podcast, Episode 4. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuFs4Fyk-v0Bwtuy1eQJ3JkRTeL4Sjyz4 Accessed Oct. 21, 2025.
Chavez, Felicia. The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop. Haymarket Books, 2021.
Dintersmith, Ted. Documentary: Most Likely to Succeed. 2015.
Dintersmith, Ted. What Schools Could Be. Princeton University Press, 2018