Kids and teachers enjoy open-plan classroom

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 40, 18 March 1986, Page 3

Kids and teachers enjoy open-plan classroom

Acceptance of the open plan concept is growing at Ohakune Primary School with both teachers and pupils of the junior syndicate adapting to their new, enlarged environment. Last year three classrooms were renovated and rebuilt into one large openplan room and several small rooms for individual instruction. Four teachers take new entrants and J 1 and J2 pupils in the new room, and all agree that it is working well,

younger children are getting to know their older classmates and older children are helping new pupils. Six-year-old Desarie Wilson told the Bulletin: "I like helping the little people," and Rebecca Goddard, also six, said "If they don't know something I try and help them." Pipi Hansen, six, said he enjoyed the open plan rooms because "there are lots of kids and more groups, so it's more fun." The children are divided into ability groups for activi-

ties such as printing, maths and reading, while for some other activities they are grouped by age. All the groups are much smaller than in a normal classroom so pupils can receive more individual attention than before. There is a set programme for the class each day, with activities changing approximately every half hour. One of four teachers in the classroom, Katherine Craig, believes sharing the teaching with three others stimulates

more ideas and teachers can help one another with their own strengths. Teacher Rita Wise, who previously taught the new entrants class, said that the abilities of new entrants can be quite varied so with the new classroom, they can receive more individual attention. "The set-up is ideal for specialised individual attention for the children who need extra help or for those who are advanced," said Mrs Wise.