Learning centers organized Over the summer, Randall was a regular visitor at the school as she moved her things into the new classroom and decorated and arranged it in ways that would appeal to her students and facilitate learning. She set up mailboxes for the children, adorned one wall with their names in a colorful, eye-catching panel and organized areas in the classroom as learning centers for math, science, handwriting and art. I try to make the classroom very inviting for them. Teachers' desks at Highland, as in countless other schools, aren't particularly appealing. The priority in first grade is reading, and that's where Randall will concentrate.
Students come to first grade knowing their letters and reading a few words.
It's our job to expand on that by really emphasizing reading. To provide the individual attention necessary to improve reading skills, Randall relies on small-group instruction. She spends Monday with the entire class going over the material they will work on that week in various subjects. The reading sessions are conducted at the front of the room around a semicircular table. Five small chairs are placed around the outside of the half moon.