Journal of Scholastic Inquiry: Education
Volume 10, Page 87
However, it is noteworthy to stipulate that what occurred at this school may possibly not be replicated at other schools because of the high dollar value expenditure required to make this classroom transformation a reality. Second, it should be noted that a truly committed, student-oriented classroom teacher is indispensable to sustaining the proper usage of this equipment. The classroom teacher in this study frequently took the time to guide children’s stewardship of the equipment. Furthermore, the teacher intentionally positioned the equipment at strategic places around the classroom, which was pivotal to the ways in which the children safely moved about the classroom. Additionally, the teacher of record for such a classroom must be willing to let go of the reins a bit and allow the children to be owners and doers of their own knowledge construction. Without guiding the children to adopt a behavioral stance of self-regulation, this immense undertaking might not produce the collaborative, committed level of learning attained. It should be noted the range of children in this unique classroom setting consisted of a wide spectrum of student performance. Yet, what made a difference was the manner in which Ms. Aniston embraced and challenged children to perform at their best—no matter the difficulty or duration of the task at hand. She believed in the voices and energy of these children. What a wonderful legacy to impart on the hearts and minds of these children—a dream to learn!
Author Biographies Dr. Gilbert Dueñas is a Professor in the College of Education. Research interests include classroom communities that embrace experiential learning, multiple modes of content acquisition, and ways that classroom teachers acknowledge children’s diverse ways of learning. Dr. Erin Klash is an Assistant Professor in the College of Education. Research interests related to this topic include instructional strategies teachers can use to facilitate positive and effective learning environments in the elementary classroom setting.