by Taylor Brightwell
The school countdown has begun. Redondo Beach teachers have been working for weeks trying to get their classrooms ready for their students.
They have spent hours hanging posters, cleaning desks, arranging books, and adding their own personal touch to make the students feel at home.
“The most difficult thing is that they are setting up for kids they don’t know,” Alta Vista principal Susan Wildes said, “You don’t know their personalities and you don’t know how they learn, but how the classroom is set up now will definitely change by Friday.”
The newest things added to several Alta Vista classrooms this year are Promethean boards that teachers and students can use to improve the learning experience.
“It’s an interactive whiteboard providing technology that’s really engaging and it really just enhances your lessons,” said fifth grade teacher Angela Chen.
Alta Vista purchased six of these boards last year and has added three more for the upcoming year.
“I can’t buy one for everyone yet, but my goal is to have one in every classroom,” Wildes said.
The boards allow teachers to create and save lessons virtually. They can also add music, graphics, videos, and pictures to enhance the lesson.
“The boards really allow the students to participate in the lesson their learning,” Chen added, “They can actually come up to the board and write and drag answers with their own pen. I can also create quiz games that they can answer with wireless remotes.”
Since teachers have the ability to create the lessons beforehand it gives them more time to teach since they don’t have to worry about writing.
“We are all really excited about the Promethean boards,” Wildes said, “It’s going to be a really great year and I think all the teachers are going to work well as a team.”
