IN Keystone Oaks Winter 2017 | Page 33

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