My students need a group teaching (kidney) table for small reading, writing, and math groups. Currently, we sit on the floor or sit at a large round table.
Small group work is the highlight of the day for many students and teachers. This is the time for students to receive individualized attention, and to work closely with peers. In order for the small group work in my class to be most effective, we need a group work (kidney) table.
Our urban elementary school is a model of diversity.
We have students from all over the world and from a wide range of socioeconomic circumstances. Despite the struggles that many of our students have, most are engaged in their learning and take advantage of the wide variety of enrichment activities offered before, during, and after school. We are truly a community school where teachers, students, and parents collaborate to serve the children and help them flourish.
My Project
Currently, when I conduct small group work with my students, we sit on the floor or at a large round table. Neither spot is ideal for optimal learning. These places are uncomfortable and students get easily distracted in these spots. Sitting at a kidney table works like magic! Because the teacher is sitting in the middle and is close to each student, the children feel closely connected to the teacher and to one another, and are more apt to stay engaged in the work at hand.
Working at this group table allows the teacher to quickly scan each student's work and to provide immediate instruction. It is common to hear "Why do we have to stop working with you already?" at the end of each group session. If we had a kidney table, the students would want to stay there the entire day!
Small group work is the key to each student's success, especially when they can easily see and hear the teacher, and vice versa!
Having a group work (or kidney) table in my classroom would greatly enhance instruction. We would have a workspace that is much more conducive to learning than our current arrangement. Ergonomics are just as crucial in the classroom as they are in an office or in a kitchen. Please help me create this magic learning space for my eager and deserving students!
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