[BLOG] Giving our students space to think

 

Upon entering room 207, primarily an English language arts classroom, you will first notice a large table with seating, side by side, for 20-plus students and their teacher in the form of an elongated oval. Not simply a piece of furniture, it is rather an integral part of the learning process. Gone are the days of “sage on the stage” when the teacher would talk and the students would sit, eyes to the front, shifting uncomfortably in chairs that did not move. Today, the girls sit beside, across, and diagonal from each other in chairs that roll, allowing them to turn, talk, and collaborate with ease. The girls make eye contact, they engage, and they learn from each other as they benefit from the synthesis of the group.

 

As Grade 11 student Claudia Venevongsa notes: “The English classroom has transformed into a great space to support collaborative learning with whiteboardsshared among peers at a communal table in chairs that wheel around. It encourages students to connect effortlessly in class discussions, aid others in group projects, and help each other solve problems. I also find the colour scheme very relaxing.”

 

Similarly, fellow student Emily Thompson comments: “The oval table promotes conversation not only from teacher to student but also from student to student; it is a way to get everyone involved in the topics discussed in class.”

 

This space does not belong to the teacher, it belongs to every individual within it. The walls lined with student work tell the same story: girls belong here. At BalmoralHall we employ the Harkness philosophy of teaching, where the students face each other engaged in collaborative learning.

 

This philosophy, as described by Phillips Exeter, “is a way of being: interacting with other minds, listening carefully, speaking respectfully, accepting new ideas and questioning old ones, using new knowledge, and enjoying the richness of human interaction.”

 

We inspire girls to excel, to reach, and to lead by providing our students with space that allows them to feel rooted, to connect to each other, and to be confident.

 

Given that space, BH girls develop the skill set to make a difference in the world.