We are a high poverty school in a rural town, and my third-grade class consists of twenty 8 and 9 year-olds. This is my second year teaching this grade level, and some of my favorite teaching moments happen when our class gathers at the carpet together.
It is hard for most third graders to sit in one spot all day, so I structure my lessons to encourage movement to new learning spaces.
Studies support this need to incorporate movement breaks, and as a teacher, I try to be creative in how to deliver these opportunities. Even just the simple act of moving a lesson to the carpet offers a change of pace and a new opportunity to learn. My current third graders respond well to this style of teaching, and I want to continue to offer them as many comfortable spaces in our classroom as possible.
My Project
We meet at the carpet every morning for our "Community Corner" time. Students learn about the day in history, geography, our schedule, school announcements, and each other. This is a time I look forward to each day because it builds the culture of our room and it inspires curiosity. However, this isn't the only time we utilize this space.
Having the opportunity to spread out and move around is a critical part of the learning environment for my students, and our corner rug is the most popular spot.
They gather in groups at the carpet for STEAM bin time, small-group lessons, math games, and buddy reading. It's also a favorite when students silent read each day or are allowed to work independently in a comfortable space.
As a mother of four, I find myself purchasing inexpensive carpets for my classroom almost annually. They are often very thin and uncomfortable, and they just don't last very long. Our current rug is bending at the corners, barely offers a cushion from the tile floor, and does not fit all of the students in our class. I would love to surprise this class (and many future classes) with a durable, comfortable new space to learn on.
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