Elementary News
January 2018
Upcoming Events
16th-19th Homecoming festivities, more information to follow.
19th - Homecoming (game and festivities start @ 5)
24th - Hats On for Kids with Cancer fundraiser (wear a hat on this day for $2. All money goes to the Friends of kids with cancer foundation.)
What in the world is flexible seating?
Much of this change focuses around engaging learners and providing opportunities for movement. Research shows classrooms that are designed to support learning in which the student is continuously participating (i.e. table groups, collaborative partner work, hands on) increased student engagement compared to classrooms with traditional row and column seating (Steelcase Education, 2016). Additionally, when children feel comfortable, they are more likely to stay engaged and learn at greater rates.
Education will always be an evolving creature. While myself, as well as many of you, grew up going to a school where we had traditional desks and seats placed in neat rows, we no longer live in the same world. Our students must be able to work collaboratively to solve challenging problems. We must continue to evaluate what is right for our students and make changes that will put them on the path to success and provide opportunities for them to be prepared for not only the next grade level, but for college or career and beyond.
Please feel free to contact the Elementary Office if you have any questions about Flexible Seating or would like to come see what it looks like in action.
Article Resources:
Rethinking the Classroom
https://www.hermanmiller.com/research/categories/white-papers/rethinking-the-classroom/
Flexible Seating
Moving with the Brain in Mind
https://www.nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/www/filebox/service/preventive/nhps/pep/braininmind.pdf
Flexible Seating Options
Flexible Seating Options
Flexible Seating Options
COPE - Winter update
January "PAWS" high-light
The expectations that we teach and reinforce in the cafeteria include:
- Using table manners (i.e. chew with your mouth closed, say please and thank you)
- Eat your own food
- Sit on your bottom
- Use an indoor voice
- Walk
- And, when finished push in chair and put all items in the appropriate places (i.e. silverware, trash, unopened food items)
If you have time at home, talk to your child about these expectations or even practice them at your own dinner table. Anytime we can reinforce these expectations both at school and at home, our children make connections and are better able to apply these skills in many settings.