More than ever, this school year we really needed a creative and effective way to help our students learn and thrive. The Walking Classroom was an amazing tool to be able to utilize.
We used it in our fourth and fifth grade classrooms, as well as in our after school program, and our students absolutely loved it! The podcast subjects lined up perfectly with the content being taught in the classroom. We were able to use the podcasts as an introduction to the unit or a conclusion, by listening to a podcast at the end to tie it all together. Many times, we would do both!
We saw improvements in behavior, knowledge retention, and participation in class discussion. Prior to finding The Walking Classroom, we struggled with rebuilding motivation and momentum in learning as students were out of school for such a long period of time. We wanted to focus on building them back up as young people who were also experiencing the stress of the pandemic, so we worked on encouraging their physical and mental health before diving into academics.
The Walking Classroom has found a way to incorporate all of these things! We were able to get some exercise and encourage positive character traits all while learning — and enjoying it again! I love that we found this amazing tool — and exactly when we needed it most!
Tiffany Herndon
Site Coordinator with Communities in Schools
Burroughs-Mollette Elementary
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