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"If you peek into my classroom, you will often find me on the carpet with five third graders, who are sitting cross-legged in a circle, clipboards in their hands and math materials (cubes, blocks, etc.) nearby. I teach math to all three 3rd grade classes at my school, which means I guide 55 extremely...
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"If you peek into my classroom, you will often find me on the carpet with five third graders, who are sitting cross-legged in a circle, clipboards in their hands and math materials (cubes, blocks, etc.) nearby. I teach math to all three 3rd grade classes at my school, which means I guide 55 extremely different kids to meet our learning objectives. I’m lucky to have support from a a special ed/ESL specialist, as well as interns from a local college, who allow us to meet our students where they are and teach them accordingly. At any time, we have at least one small group puzzling out its math challenges together under the guidance of a teacher. I know I could better guide my groups if they were at a table designed for group instruction, rather than in a circle on the floor, sitting around a rectangular table or at individual desks. A kidney shaped table would allow me to see all my students at once -- and let them see and hear me. I could focus on their work and they could focus on me, free from distractions. From my seat, I also could monitor other students working in the rest of the room.
WHO will sit at the table? The five seats for students could be filled by any of my amazingly diverse and motivated kids. Most of my students speak a language besides English at home and some are in the beginning stages of learning English. It’s especially gratifying to see my ESL students shine during math, where they can (and do) actively participate in discussions and activities even with limited English vocabulary. Many of my students receive special education services within the classroom, an inclusive model made possible through group instruction. Some of my special education students struggle in math but they gain skills, strategies and confidence through targeted group work. My students who have already mastered our grade level objectives benefit from working in a group to move to the next level.
WHERE will your gift be? I teach at a public, urban, title 1 school in a large city. As a pilot school, we thrive on innovation, high standards for students and staff, family involvement and partnerships with local organizations. We understand that success in school has to do with more than what’s happening in the classroom and so we connect students and their families to support services in the school or larger community.
As a Donor’s Choose DONOR, I can attest to the wonderful feeling that comes from helping a passionate teacher I’d never met meet the needs of her students, who I’d also never met. Aren’t those thank you letters wonderful? :) I’m so excited to have the opportunity to be on the other end of the Donor’s Choose partnership… while still shopping around for the next proposal that I’d like to help fund. Thank you for your support in helping me fulfill the most pressing physical need in my classroom!
My students need a kidney shaped table for targeted small group math instruction. HIDELive Updates
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Benjamin K. (staff member)
on Sep 28, 2008
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