At Bayou Blue Upper Elementary, we LOVE The Walking Classroom! In addition to our third grade science and social studies classes, we have started using Walking Classroom with our third through fifth grade reading intervention classes.
My students are often students who lack the ability to focus, have lots of energy, but also lack motivation or confidence to learn. Since I’ve started The Walking Classroom, my students can’t wait for our Walking Classroom days! They meet me first thing in the morning everyday, asking “Are we doing The Walking Classroom today?”
I’ve learned with my students that it is not always a traditional method of learning that works. They are excited to get out of a regular classroom setting and do something different.
We also talk about how far we walked and how we can alter our path on future walks. One time, we finished our podcast and arrived back to campus. We found that we had only walked 3/4 mile, so we decided to keep walking until we reached a full mile!
The first podcast we listed to was Idioms (4-#7, 5-#3, Complete-#3). I could not have picked a better lesson, as the students were also learning idioms in their regular classrooms that week! The podcast was interesting, funny, and kept the attention of ALL my students. They giggled and talked about it the remainder of the class period.
Again, this program is a game changer for my reading intervention classes. They are enjoying the podcasts and even enjoying the quiz afterwards! Even though they are having fun (and getting exercise!), they are amazed that they remember most of the podcast. And, let’s not forget, I’m getting my miles in too!
Michelle Authement
Third Grade Teacher
Bayou Blue Upper Elementary
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