In René Blume’s second grade classroom you are likely to find students engrossed in activities such as sewing, studying birds, or constructing a vessel from common classroom items.
René’s method of teaching NYS Next Generation Learning Standards utilizes hands-on experiential learning in order to fulfill the requirements set out by the state, employing commonplace interests as the tool. The goals she has for her students go beyond report cards and test scores. “I want them to leave with what they need to know, and then some - I want them to know about the world.” René says she teaches by making connections so the knowledge gained is not taking place in a vacuum.
René loves teaching second grade because “they already know a lot.” She supports her students by allowing them to share what they know and then encouraging them to expand upon it. “I talk to them about building their background knowledge, and how important it is for future learning.”
A good day for René is when the classroom is noisy and seemingly chaotic. That means her students are engaged and she doesn’t need to be in front of the class giving a lecture. If a student shouts out because they can’t wait to share that they have learned something, she doesn’t tell them to sit down and raise their hand. “I want to keep them eager to learn.”
Come June, the goal for Blume is that her second graders have mastered the skills necessary to move on to third grade, paired with an appetite for learning. “I want my students to leave our room curious. It is one of the most important ways our knowledge grows. I hope their curiosity pushes their learning forward not only while they are engaged in formal education, but in life.”