before
after
work in groups, including one with a dry
erase top for solving math problems.
Seating is more comfortable and two-
person desks give students more room to
work.
"I could not be more pleased with how the
room turned out," Mr. Kirchner said. "It is a
warmer and more welcoming environment
that students actually want to learn in. I am
grateful to the District for giving teachers the
opportunity to fix up their classrooms."
At Dormont Elementary School,
Kindergarten Teacher Mrs. Kelly Seltzer and
Third Grade Teacher Mrs. Kim have recently
finished their rooms, as well.
Mrs. Seltzer’s room was refinished to
include flower-shaped tables that give
students more personal space, different types
of seating that allow young students to move
while they work, colored-coded storage
containers for organizing student work, a
new writing center and enhanced storage for
classroom books.
In addition to the walls being painted
yellow and a turquoise blue, students in Mrs.
Puffer’s classroom can now choose from a
number of different seating styles, including
benches, low and high stools, arm chair-like
floor cushions. Students can also sit on the
floor and work at a low table and they can
use balance ball chairs as they work at their
classroom computers.
“Being able to provide students with a
flexible work environment has been has
been very beneficial because it allows them
to be more comfortable and focused as they
work independently and with classmates on
assignments,” Mrs. Puffer said.
after
before
Keystone Oaks | Winter 2017 | icmags.com 31