Multiple Uses
In most areas, the educational dollar is not as plentiful as it should be. As a teacher, I always looked for products or additions to my classroom that I could use for multiple teaching experiences. I have been doing a series of math workshops this year and explain to teachers how easy it is to use items for teaching numerous different skills. I also have been working on ways to keep children active and energized. One item that caught my attention was a circus tent for active play that could also double as a reading center or any other type of center. I am very much in favor of products and activities that can be used for various teaching strategies. That way, the teacher can stretch that scarce dollar a bit further. It will also help children think of creative uses for toys and games.
posted by John Funk @ Permalink1:52 PM
8 Comments:
heidi H. here, from your Monday night children's - lit class at the "U". I love the idea of finding any way to make the educational experience more fun and exciting for children. This circus tent idea seems like it would be so fun to get children involved in their learning experience. Reading and leaning, I think, should be paired with something that brings comfort and joy to children. If they were to have the opportunity to read or study in a fort, tent , or what ever their imaginations could make of it I think their learning experience would be heightened immensely.
It really is a shame that teachers are paid more..because there are so many great things out there for the classroom! I think the circus tent idea is great, because it is involving imagination and fun with their learning! Think of all the great things that could be done with those props! By making your classroom a creative one, you are allowing your children to stretch their creative wings..steering clear of the same old desk work!!
Shanda P.
FCS 5170
Tara T. from your Monday night Children Lit class at the "U": I really like this idea you brought up of the circus tent. My mother in law is a librarian at an elementary school and she's been doing this lately with her kids. During the summer she had a parent construct a giant castle for a unit during that time period. The students could climb through it and peek out the windows. It kept them energized and focused on the topic. Then when the unit was finished, she kept the castle and turned it into the reading corner where kids can go inside and sit in comfortable chairs and read some books. This castle was donated by the parent and a lot of work went in to it. It was a neat idea. The circus tent reminds me of that, we can use things is many different ways for education.
Colleen from your Monday night children's lit class. I love the tent idea. I have often made a "house" by draping a quilt over chairs and then my 3 little girls and I sit under it and read stories. (they then want to take there naps there, or eat dinner there...) It really enhances children's imaginations and experiences.
I love your class on Monday night. It is probably my favorite class I have ever taken at the U. I think you have a great way for conveying your passion for good quality children's books of all genres to the class, and it has really strengthened my love of children's literature.
My sister-in-law is a first grade teacher and is always telling me that she doesn't have enough money to buy the things she wants for her class. She often says how she ends up using her own money to buy even small things little scissors and glue. I think adding things to a classroom like these rainbow tents would be a great addition. Children truly thrive in colorful and creative areas. I have noticed when I watch my nephews, they are much more apt to listen to me if I am being animated and using colorful props to teach them.
Tammy T.
Stacy D.-FCS 5170 I think this is an excellent suggestion. I will soon be graduating and as I have been putting together various lesson plans for my courses I have been trying to take care of and save materials I have been using for my future classroom use. I believe if I start gathering things now that have multiple uses such as your circus tent it won't be such a large investment all at once.
Tonight I had family over for dinner and my friend who is an administrative intern at an elementary school to become a principal gave me a great idea on using exercise equipment (ball, balance ball) as a tool to use in a classroom. She told me of a student in her school who has ADD and to make him sit still they got him a balance ball that you stand on to balance. This student had to sit on the ball and do all of his work. Because of this ball he had to balance, and the concentration on wanting to move around so much moved to his bottom instead of moving around his legs, arms, etc. I thought that was so cool that something you think adults use to exercise can be used in a classroom as a tool to help a student with ADD sit still and do a lesson without getting to antsy. I think it's great that you are looking for things that you can use in a classroom that you woulnd't ever think of using. I think that it's creative and exciting for the students and I think all teachers should try and look out for daily objects that you can use in a classroom you normally wouldn't think of.
Lisa Endo
FCS 5170
Brittany Harfst (Mon Night Children's Lit & Tues. Afternoon Creat&Cog)
I absolutely love that you leave these finds on this blog. In the lab school we have an igloo tent that we have already put to good use for many different reasons. We use it for a place to read, a place to count, we even taught the children fire safety by teaching them a safe way to light a fire outside of a tent! They absolutely love that thing and you can see them light up when we bring it in from the storage room. Although it's a shame that teachers aren't paid nearly what they should be for the service we do for this country (you know, we just educate EVERYONE...)I believe that finds like this and alternatives to things that may be a bit out of our price range can easily be put into good use and will be accepted by students as long as the attitude of the teacher is positive in encouraging these materials.
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