Tables for Fantastic Firsts!

Funded Aug 29, 2018

Active-learning is a trend affecting education in recent years. The teacher is no longer standing in front of the classroom providing facts for passive listeners to ingest. Instead, students are directly involved in the teaching and learning process, with the instructor guiding the learning process.

As a concept, active learning has been at the forefront of early elementary classrooms. For example, kindergarten and first grade classrooms are filled with hands-on and exploratory learning experiences. In recent years, the addition of varied implementations through the use of furniture are impacting the learning environment. Furniture can be a positive factor in classroom success.

With all the buzz about flexible seating, I decided to make the switch to tables, in lieu of desks, in my first grade classroom. Thanks to gracious donors, I have been successful in creating a much better learning environment that is conducive to cooperative learning.

The first day the students walked in and saw the desks, they were so excited. They love having a "team" to work with each day. The students love doing counting collections at the tables because they can easily work with a partner. They also have room to spread out which makes organizing their counting collections easier.

Some ways the switch to tables has impacted my classroom include:

-Collaboration is easier. Students are able to sit within close proximity to work together in small groups.

-My classroom has more space. The tables create a lot more space than the desks did. This allows for other comfy furniture like bean bags and fun floor type chairs.

-It's easier to move things around. The tables are much easier to move than desks. It's a lot quieter too!

-It forces my students to be more organized. Students no longer have a desk to just throw things into. The tables have forced the students to put things away in their bins and chair pockets right away. There is only so much space, so they must make the decision if it's something they need to keep, take home, or toss.

-The sharing of supplies is better for several reasons. Kids don't make a big deal out of what pencils or markers they have (everyone has the same). They're also not spending half the lesson looking for a pencil in their desk. We have appointed table captains to make sure the supplies stay stocked.

-We don't have a whole lot on the table besides the community supplies. So students no longer have those "trinket" type things they liked to hide in their desks and play with.

-It's easier to keep clean. The tables are much easier to wipe down than the desks, which means better cleanliness overall! It takes a lot less time, too!

Donors, your generous gift has made a huge impact on the learning in our classroom. Our classroom is a community and a family. Your donation has helped make our "home" a place to live, learn, and feel safe. With your donation, you have become a part of our family.

As this quote states, "No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks." ~ Author Unknown. Thank you, again, for your generosity and commitment to educating children.”

With gratitude,

Mrs. Kephart