Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Elementary Education Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Round Top Elementary staff showcase new Critical Thinking Lab funded by PTO and Richland 2 Education Foundation
Summary
Round Top Elementary staff presented a newly reestablished Critical Thinking Lab that uses hands-on stations to build fine and gross motor skills and problem solving. Staff said the lab was funded by the school PTO and a grant from the Richland 2 Education Foundation and credited Principal Clarissa Bennett for support.
Round Top Elementary School staff presented the board with a demonstration of a reestablished Critical Thinking Lab — a silent, station-based workspace designed to help students develop problem-solving, fine-motor and gross-motor skills.
"The critical thinking lab is a silent workspace where students rotate through a variety of different stations independently," said Jessie Parramore, lead academic and behavior interventionist at Round Top. "They're using their, their building problem solving skills without the help of their teacher. This ... encourages them to think critically, which helps improve their fine and gross motor skills. Examples of these include using tweezers to sort small objects, handwriting practice, stacking odd shaped blocks, stepping stones to improve balance, just to name a few." Parramore credited Principal Clarissa Bennett for support in establishing the lab.
Nikki Dennis, a reading and math interventionist at Round Top, said the lab’s materials and adaptive seating were purchased with funds from a school PTO grant and a grant from the Richland 2 Education Foundation. Several students who visited the meeting described the lab as a favorite part of their day and said it helped them practice pencil grip, balance and independent problem solving.
The presenters said the lab is staffed by the intervention team and is intended to give students independent practice in skills that are difficult to incorporate into general classroom time.
Ending: The board acknowledged the presentation; presenters invited trustees to observe the lab in action and noted the program was funded through the school PTO and district education foundation grants.
