Beyond Four Walls

My goal as an educator is to give my students the opportunity to learn and explore the world around them. Over the last few months I've really expanded my use of technology and innovation within the classroom. Completing activities such as mystery hangouts, virtual field trips, various apps such as green screens etc has dramatically increased the productivity and engagement in my classroom. This past week we were completing a mystery hangout with a class in Utah. I simply sat back at watched as my students ran the class. They each had an iPad and using google maps, google earth and an atlas map on the iPads they were able to pinpoint the particular community. The way my students formed their questions and used their skills absolutely amazed me. After our hangout, they asked for a few minutes of free time. I questioned it, as I am usually particular on allowing too much "free" time but this time I let it go. I watched as my students used google maps/earth to zoom in on the school of the students we just talked with. As I was walking around I noticed one student attempting to research the history of Utah. I had to ask why of course and was absolutely surprised by the answer. Our social studies curriculum focuses on comparing our community with three others throughout Canada. We also focus on the past of our particular community. Last week we discussed our community and how some of the first people to live in our community came from Utah. One of my students took it upon themselves to see if this information was in Utah's history. I didn't make that connection. The lesson I learned from this experience is the idea that sometimes students just need time to work through their thoughts and ideas. Its given me a new perspective to step back and let my students take ownership for their learning

Sometimes we get caught up in the curriculum and the "must do's" that we forget that sometimes children just need time to be children and explore for themselves. I've had the pleasure this year to see my grade 2 students grow and mature as a learner. I think that we need to make time in the day to give students the opportunity to research or create something of their choice. Watching my students expand their knowledge beyond our four classroom walls but more importantly willing to take the risk and step outside their comfort zones has been they greatest accomplishment I could possibly receive as a teacher. 

Check out our website: https://sites.google.com/a/horizon.ab.ca/math-group-project/home