My students need balance balls (both with and without base support), different types of wobble seats, fidget bands to fit on traditional chairs, and lap desks. These tools encourage physical movement in a contained and focused manner. Seven- and eight-year-olds are in constant motion; providing them an avenue of release will increase their focus to the task before them. Students will be explicitly taught how to use a variety of learning spaces and then will be able to choose a classroom seat/location that best supports their learning.
A flexible, non-traditional learning space is an important part of meeting my students’ physical, emotional, and educational needs. We’re all familiar with the outdated model of students required to sit still in a chair, at a single desk, facing forward, and expected to remain focused for significant stretches of time. While our expectations of what students should learn, what they should be able to do, and the skill set they should possess has changed, our physical environments have not!
My students need a flexible learning environment to develop their 21st century skills, often referred to as the 4 Cs (Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity) in a physical environment that accommodates their needs. The flexible learning environment I am creating will encourage small group, active participation in communication and collaboration, increasing both verbal and non-verbal skills. These flexible learning spaces will include a variety of tables (for standing, sitting, and kneeling) and different types of seating from which students may self-select. Tables, rugs, pillows, and crate seating have already been acquired (begged, borrowed, and bought).This non-traditional classroom environment will allow students to have mobility and access to flexible learning spaces throughout the classroom.
About my class
My students need balance balls (both with and without base support), different types of wobble seats, fidget bands to fit on traditional chairs, and lap desks. These tools encourage physical movement in a contained and focused manner. Seven- and eight-year-olds are in constant motion; providing them an avenue of release will increase their focus to the task before them. Students will be explicitly taught how to use a variety of learning spaces and then will be able to choose a classroom seat/location that best supports their learning.
A flexible, non-traditional learning space is an important part of meeting my students’ physical, emotional, and educational needs. We’re all familiar with the outdated model of students required to sit still in a chair, at a single desk, facing forward, and expected to remain focused for significant stretches of time. While our expectations of what students should learn, what they should be able to do, and the skill set they should possess has changed, our physical environments have not!
My students need a flexible learning environment to develop their 21st century skills, often referred to as the 4 Cs (Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity) in a physical environment that accommodates their needs. The flexible learning environment I am creating will encourage small group, active participation in communication and collaboration, increasing both verbal and non-verbal skills. These flexible learning spaces will include a variety of tables (for standing, sitting, and kneeling) and different types of seating from which students may self-select. Tables, rugs, pillows, and crate seating have already been acquired (begged, borrowed, and bought).This non-traditional classroom environment will allow students to have mobility and access to flexible learning spaces throughout the classroom.
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