On a hot and humid day in September, we took our first steps with The Walking Classroom. In the beginning, we established the rules, expectations, and took a tour of our walking path. I could sense the students were skeptical about participating in this program.
During the first two weeks of the program, the first few minutes of each walk presented a challenge for my students. They worried about the walk, the weather, and whether the podcast players could stream music.
However, I was determined to get my students motivated to walk, listen, and learn. Soon, The Walking Classroom became routine for my students. Their reaction, engagement, and motivation to participate increased. Some students even asked to listen to the podcasts to review for tests, to improve their cardio-health by exercising, or just to help them relax. As time has passed, students have commented that they appreciate the differentiated strategies that help them to learn.
Today, just about a month into using The Walking Classroom, students are excited when they see me pull out The Walking Classroom box. We have taken over 10 tests, and not one student has failed!
I appreciate the opportunity to experience this program in my classroom. My students demonstrate motivation to read, exercise, and participate in classroom activities. Increasing student motivation at school will help increase their learning and understanding of the curriculum. As a teacher, this is my goal.
Chad Davis
5th Grade Teacher
Gateway School of Caldwell County
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