When I learned that schools in Ohio would close for three weeks due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, I tried to quickly develop a plan to continue to educate my students from afar. That plan involved giving my students as many physical materials as I could to keep them engaged and learning for three weeks.
Of course, like everyone else, I didn’t know that three weeks would quickly turn into nine weeks. Since I teach 48 students and own 30 WalkKits, I gave my students a choice. They could take the WalkKits, among many other engineering kits, logic puzzles, etc., home with them.
In no time, all 30 WalkKits found their way into a student’s hands! After the students left, I feared that most of the devices wouldn’t make their way back to my classroom. However, I knew the students could use them and would benefit more from having them at home than having the devices remain at school.
As time went on, the students told me how much they enjoyed using the WalkKits at home. Several parents even mentioned on the end of the year survey how happy they were that their students were given WalkKits to use. This enabled them to could keep walking, listening, and learning on their own.
When the time came to collect all of the supplies from my students, all the WalkKits returned! I’m really appreciative of the innovative product that The Walking Classroom team has created. I’m lucky that I could provide my students with an educational tool that allowed them to learn as they tried to get fresh air during this coronavirus pandemic.
Arin Kress
Fourth Grade Teacher
Worthington Estates Elementary
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