How a special education teacher turned his old classroom into a tropical-themed learning spot

Think your old room is too outdated and hopeless for a makeover? Think again.

A 35-year-old teacher was able to breathe new life into an old classroom to make it more conducive to learning. It can be noted that he’s particularly teaching children with disabilities, so a good environment is a must. 

“Right now, I’m handling learners with the difficulty of remembering and concentrating,” Cyrell Jones Sidlao told PhilSTAR L!FE. “My job and my love for my students really inspired me to turn my room into something that will make them feel relaxed and refreshed for physical classes.”

Since there are only a few stores in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte where the school is situated, he had a hard time sourcing materials. “What I did was I ordered nalang sa mga online shops like wallpaper, hanging divider, and mga adhesive vinyl tiles,” he shared. 

For only P20,000, he was able to transform his old space into a tropical-themed learning spot in just two months. “Nag-check ako sa mga shopping apps kung sinong seller ang mas mura nagbebenta and kung kailan yung mga sale and may voucher,” said Cyrell. “Nakatipid na ako, nabili ko pa yung mga materials na wala dito sa amin.”

Doing everything by himself helped him stick to his allotted budget. “I did it all—from painting the walls to installing wallpapers on the ceiling to sticking vinyl tyles on the floor,” he recalled, expressing his excitement over its pleasing turnout. 

For those who are looking to give their spaces a revamp, Cyrell gave the following tips: “Take your time in planning and designing, don’t stick to just one shop for materials as you might find cheaper alternatives to what you’re looking for, and believe you can do it, too.”

Article thumbnails courtesy of Cyrell Jones Sidlao