Walk This Way: On the Trail with Ms. Goldfarb’s Class

I can tell you right now, the most frequently used phrase in my classroom this year is going to be, “Ms. Goldfarb, can we do The Walking Classroom today?”

I am extremely fortunate to be the teacher of twenty-four wonderful fourth graders, many who have just arrived to the United States. All of my students are English Language Learners, so I am always looking for engaging ways to support English language instruction. I received an email in July that I was a recipient of The Walking Classroom grant and I knew I was being given an incredible tool that would help me enhance my students’ learning.

Rising to the Occasion

I will be honest: I was a bit nervous to start The Walking Classroom as my school is on a very large campus and I do have a few very energetic boys in my class. While going over the introductory materials provided by The Walking Classroom, I could see the anticipation on my students’ faces.

After our first walk, all of my nerves went away. My students rose to the occasion and met every single expectation that I had for them.

Well after our walk was finished and our WalkKits were put away, I would overhear whispers about the podcast, about their excitement. I noticed that students who usually shy away from participating during whole-group discussion were now raising their hand to share what they had learned! I have also noticed that these energetic boys return to class calm and ready to continue learning.

Walking the Red Carpet

My students feel like celebrities as they walk through the school hallways with their WalkKits and earbuds. Their friends passing by excitedly wave and shout their names, but my students remain focused. Once while stopping to talk to a colleague, I had a student remind me that this time is for walking and learning, not socializing. Talk about dedication! Student engagement is at an all-time high when we are on a walk.

The Walking Classroom has been a tremendous addition to our class. We are always looking forward to our next walk!

Judith Goldfarb
Bilingual Teacher
Charles A. Mulligan Elementary

Look for more Friday posts to follow Ms. Goldfarb and her students as they walk, listen, and learn through the school year.

And, be sure to check out how the program is being implemented by three other teachers in future Friday posts!