21st Century Learners Need to Communicate and Collaborate!

Funded Jul 24, 2019

I am extremely grateful for your support in helping me purchase tables for my classroom. I have found that students are able to communicate with each other more freely. Collaboration has also become easier, as they are already sitting with others. I have been able to integrate communication and collaboration into lessons everyday. Students have learned new social skills and are developing an understanding that working together is essential in today's society.

My class is learning to love the tables as well. At first, they were concerned about not having their things available to them at all times. We have bins and carts to help with organization of supplies, and they like this now! A few students have thanked me and have mentioned that they believe they are more organized now and have "less mess". Some students have told me that they used to hide snacks and toys in their desk and realize they focus more with less distraction. They have also stated that they appreciate being able to work together easily on tasks throughout the day.

The tables have allowed my students to work together on everyday tasks as well as projects. They have created posters on various topics we have been learning about. They discuss reading passages and share their thoughts regularly. Recently, they created an "ideal playground" in groups of four with recycled materials. They had to research different playground equipment and discuss the forces used while playing on that piece of equipment. They also had to tell about the simple and compound machines used throughout their playground. They continued with collaboration by creating a slide show telling what they learned.

With a larger push for communication and collaboration in the classroom, I am incredibly thankful to have a room that supports these 21st century learning skills.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Fisk