More on Our Innovative Classroom

It is truly amazing to me to see my ideal student work space coming together. A place where students are met with a problem solving group space to identify problems and determine solutions. Just last week, final items came down from the wall to allow for paint and our unique white board wall to use as a community work space. This week our first table was put together. 

I find it interesting how this experience is allowing me to grow as a teacher. So much of this work is foreign to me. I learned that measuring wood to cut has to account for some wood loss as it is sawed away. I learned about the different sizes of screws, and the jobs of drivers and drills. In the end, I discovered that I needed to see some of these things unfold to understand them, or hold them in my hand to acknowledge how they work. It is a great reminder of how individual students need to learn. 

So many others have stepped up to help out, or just come by to support our innovative environment. If it weren't for Francis Wyman's 'Tech Guru,' Ben Schersten, there wouldn't even be a plan for this great table. If it weren't for Diana Marcus, I am not sure what standing desks would be in my room. 

Watching the children take on one new piece of furniture at a time has allowed us all to figure out best uses and best practices. I am impressed with the number of children already choosing standing over sitting.

I am even more excited to complete our transformation from a traditional classroom to what I hope to be a place where children love to come and work together, where they welcome a challenge and where they see each other as an asset in their learning.

Stools, Standing Desks and Bean Bag Chairs Are Here

They are Here!

After waiting for what seemed like forever, our grant items started coming in today. First off, 'the first' truck was the shipment of stools. As we came back from the lunchroom, the children, who are just as eager as me, volunteered to carry them up individually. As they were coming up to the room, the next truck came with the standing desks, bean bag chairs and tables.

The children were all 'happy' to read during ELA just to know that end result would be using the stools. We quickly removed the chairs and implemented the stools. The children got their testing faze out of the way and were ready to get right back to work. We continued reading Number the Stars on the iPads but now, children were sitting up and not slouching; they appeared more engaged! Test 1 holds true!

       

Next, the standing desks with rocker bars. Can the children make it through an entire class standing. Truth is, yes, but not preferred. We quickly moved the stools to the desks and had some happy children all around. The next step was to introduce the bean bags. They are for a real purpose. They can use them for reading and research as a reward for making the right choices. The boys and girls got right to their reading in hopes that they would be among the first to read on the bean bags. Even more, the reading was constant and consistent. 

Step one is clearly working out and the experimental stages are quickly making way to new routines. The tables are in the back of the room awaiting stronger, taller legs and wheels with stoppers. The whiteboards will be here soon and hopefully quick to go up. The level of enthusiasm by all the students is high and the energy is positive. Can't wait to see the next faze to come into play!

Standing Desks, Standing Tables and More!

I want to send out a very big thank you to my math class for helping with personalizing my classroom plan. Just Wednesday, I received the good news that our grant was approved. I can tell you, I was so excited I cried. Which leads me to the reaction of the class. You may want to turn the volume down.