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Mrs. Szewczak's Classroom Edit display name

  • Martin Elementary School
  • New Kensington, PA
  • Nearly all students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

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Research shows that guiding students to make their own choices is one of the most valuable lessons we can give. Allowing kids to make a choice gives them ownership of their learning. Currently in my Kindergarten classroom, I provide students with a “Lucky Duck” spot that they keep beside their desk as an alternative to their desk and chair. Some examples of this I have already implemented are: mats, lap desks, and beach chairs. There are certain activities and lessons when students have the choice of what spot they’d like to learn from. I have found flex seating helps with engagement, motivation, self-expression, and a sense of community. I have successfully executed flex seating with this “Lucky Duck” spot in the 2020-2021 school year for my 23 students and am excited to expand and change my classroom layout to accommodate flex seating full time in the year 2021-2022. Now more than ever, I think it’s vital to give students choices. After teaching through a pandemic and seeing their choices stripped away, flex seating will lead to my students becoming independent thinkers in an inviting Kindergarten classroom community.

About my class

Research shows that guiding students to make their own choices is one of the most valuable lessons we can give. Allowing kids to make a choice gives them ownership of their learning. Currently in my Kindergarten classroom, I provide students with a “Lucky Duck” spot that they keep beside their desk as an alternative to their desk and chair. Some examples of this I have already implemented are: mats, lap desks, and beach chairs. There are certain activities and lessons when students have the choice of what spot they’d like to learn from. I have found flex seating helps with engagement, motivation, self-expression, and a sense of community. I have successfully executed flex seating with this “Lucky Duck” spot in the 2020-2021 school year for my 23 students and am excited to expand and change my classroom layout to accommodate flex seating full time in the year 2021-2022. Now more than ever, I think it’s vital to give students choices. After teaching through a pandemic and seeing their choices stripped away, flex seating will lead to my students becoming independent thinkers in an inviting Kindergarten classroom community.

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About my class

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