If I was going to describe my students this year in 3 adjectives, they would be caring, risk-takers and thankful. They are caring because I have seen some random acts of kindness this year that I haven't seen in a long time; students holding the door open for others, students tying each other’s shoes and picking things up off the floor that belong to others.
They are risk-takers because they challenge themselves daily.
They always try their best in whatever we're doing. They work hard together, making sure their partners are on track and not struggling. They love learning and I see that in their work and their questions they ask everyday. They are excited to participate and be supportive in every sense. Lastly, they are thankful. They are very polite, kind and caring and very thankful to be here. They use manners and show appreciation towards the smallest things.
My Project
I believe that students learn best when they are comfortable and relaxed. Having students make the responsible choice in the morning of where they want to sit that day starts to promote independence, responsibility and choice. If students are not comfortable and relaxed in their own classroom, they are not motivated and willing to learn. When they come in the morning, they can make a choice of where they think they would learn best. This starts to promote independence and responsibility.
By allowing students to make a choice, they can start advocating for themselves.
My students understand that if the choice they made in where they sit for independent time doesn't work, they can make the choice to move in order to improve their productivity. Flexible seating choices make a learning environment fun. No more just sitting in chairs at desk, facing the board, but rather relaxing around the classroom in a comfortable setting. I hope more flexible choices make the classroom more welcoming and starts to build more of a community.
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