On the surface, many may be taken aback by my library's apparent disorder, the lack of desks, the constant movement of students, cardboard everywhere, the constant chatter and the energy level. But, spend more than a cursory look, more than a quick investigation and you will find the future of education.
The movement turns out to be students owning their environment, identifying necessary tools and working to set up their learning conditions to best suit their needs.
The cardboard is indicative of creation, an expression of student ideas and working product. The chatter is purposeful, direct and focused on deep investigation of subject materials. The energy level shows true engagement by every single child in the classroom.
Our children thrive in self-directed activities with hands-on learning and collaborative play. They make choices in their learning which encourages personal accountability using their teacher as a resource.
My Project
The library at our school is not your typical library. The maker mindset began here for our students and is cultivated every week in the library. Students are invited to change their negative understanding of failure, determine their own direction, research and innovate solutions to problems, and participate in literacy based or student initiated build challenges.
LEGOs have a versatility that allows students to create in both guided and independent pathways.
Some scaffolding is helpful to students to gain those skills that come with engaging creativity, imagination, real world problems and critical thinking. LEGOs allow for build challenges, are adaptable with Little Bits and robotics, enable students a tool for stop motion videos and best of all are vital for Rube Goldberg contraptions.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Rosie Herold and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
