NEWS

Classrooms of the future: Gaining student empathy

Anya Rath
Times Herald
Third-grade students Nicholas Delia and Wiley Roose, both 8, work together on a math lesson Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 at Capac Elementary School. Janet Buzzell is one of 10 teachers awarded a $20,000 "Classrooms 4 the Future" from St. Clair County RESA.

Janet Buzzell has been a teacher for 17 years — but that doesn't mean she ever stopped learning.

"I am always looking for ways to improve my teaching," said Buzzell, who has been teaching third grade at Capac Elementary School for the past six years.

The draw of new professional development and the opportunity to create a better classroom environment for her students is what prompted Buzzell to apply for St. Clair County RESA's "Classroom 4 the Future" grant.

The countywide district awarded $20,000 grants to 10 teachers across the county in early September. The grant includes elaborate redesigns of each of the classrooms to bring in furniture that promotes the development of professional skills. Teachers also receive intensive professional development to learn teaching tools that best utilize their new classrooms. Three additional teachers also participating in the process found funding elsewhere.

The Times Herald is profiling each of the classrooms undergoing a redesign.

Buzzell's main goal is to see everything she does from her students' perspectives.

"I'm always looking for ways to get the students engaged," she said. "Have them be a part of their learning. I’d like them to be able to move around much better. I’d like them to get groups together much easier, I’d like to mix it up easier and faster."

She has taken steps to enhancing engagement by introducing Chromebooks to her classroom. Now, the students sit at their desks in a variety of ways while using the technology. Some kneel on the floor, some have a foot or two propped up while others sit properly.

By introducing a variety of seating options, Buzzell hopes to create choices that comfortably fit into the way an individual student learns.

One of her students, Wiley Roose, said he is ready to get rid of the room's traditional chairs.

"I just think we need to move around more," said Wiley, 8.

Buzzell has tried to get her students as involved as possible in the process of re-envisioning her classroom. She has had them draw out sketches of what kind of spaces they think they would learn best in.

Third-grade student Lilah Dietrich, 7, leans forward on her chair Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016 at Capac Elementary School. Janet Buzzell is one of 10 teachers awarded a $20,000 "Classrooms 4 the Future" from St. Clair County RESA. New classroom furniture will be purchased as part of the grant.

"It’s important at this age that they take responsibility for their learning," Buzzell said. "And by giving them choice, I think its important that they start having those choices as soon as possible."

Some of the changes she plans to make is introducing more color to the classroom, reducing clutter and completely removing her desk.

Buzzell said that she is extremely impressed with how the professional development segment is going.

"We go there after work at 4 p.m. and we're there until 7:30, but I always come out inspired to do better," she said.

A student shared their displeasure with classroom furniture on a 'pro/con' list in Janet Buzzell's room at Capac Elementary School.

Rachel Verschaeve, educational technology consultant at RESA, said that Buzzell was selected for the grant because she has an appreciation for innovation.

"She's one of those teachers that embraced the empathy phase and feels like she's getting to be a better teacher," Verschaeve said.

Brenda Tenniswood, RESA director of education services, said with the designs due soon, the next stage will be determining how the teachers want to implement all the things they have learned into their classrooms.

"We knew this project would change teaching, but we did not understand how much it was going to change," Tenniswood said. "Watching the level of reflection has been amazing."

Contact Anya Rath at (810) 434-2172 or arath@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @anya_rath.

AT A GLANCE

Recipients of the Classroom 4 the Future grant

Additional teachers​