Page 7 - The Wayne Dispatch

Mr. Kozaczynski's 2nd grade class with their flag that flew in Antarctica.
Second grade students visit the world

By Carolyn Marnon “Not all of us have all the answers, but this year Mr. K has done more of
The doors through which I en- his own research on places. He also
tered Walker Winter Elementary and we’re learning from each taught other Walker Winter teachers
School from the parking lot did not last summer how they can connect
seem very welcoming. Once I walked other all of the time.” technology with learning.
down the hallway and stepped into The students have been on some
the school office, it was a different incredible adventures with Distance
story. There were chairs arranged Mr. Chris Kozaczynski Learning. Mr. K says students were
around an electric fireplace that recently disappointed when the
seemed to scream out “sit down and school district called a snow day be-
make yourself comfortable!” A stu- been at Walker Winter Elementary educational style called project- cause that happened to be the day
dent was snuggled up on a bench School teaching 2nd grade. The last based learning. The subject matter they were supposed to do one of
reading. She said it was a very comfy six years have been teaching in the that the students are expected to their SKYPE calls with Chichen Itza
spot. TAG program. Because students in learn are all embedded in a project to learn about Mayan and Egyptian
I met Mr. Chris Kozaczynski out- the TAG program all stay together as that pursues their interests. Stu- cultures.
side the office. He led me down the they move through the grades, the dents are more engaged in learning The penguin project is in its sec-
hall to his classroom where he students really have a chance to get and have fun choosing what to learn ond year for the students in Mr. K’s
teaches 2nd grade TAG (talented and to know each other. The families be- about. The learning goes deeper and class. He was able to write a grant
gifted) students. The room was lit come close and do activities like there is more questioning going on. that made it possible for the stu-
with small lamps scattered around mini golf together in the summer. Distance Learning is a new con- dents to visit the Detroit Zoo and see
the room rather than the usual fluo- The structure of the TAG class- cept that Mr. K is in his 2nd year the penguins up close. Students
rescent bulbs that fill classrooms room day is different from the regu- teaching to his students. Each of the were able to speak to penguin ex-
with light. It was like entering your lar classrooms. Since the students schools now has a Technology Inter- perts there. Later, the class made a
own living room to pursue your stud- are able to pick up on subject matter ventionist who can research things Skype call to a penguin researcher in
ies in. Mr. Kozaczynski says that more quickly than regular students, for teachers and help them with tech- Antarctica while she was working.
many of the classrooms are like this subjects are moved through at an ac- nology. Rebecca, the TI at Walker They could see penguins in their nat-
because they have found that natural celerated pace. The students are also Winter, showed Mr. K how he could ural habitat and ask the researcher
light is more relaxing for the stu- able to go more in-depth on subjects. use technology in his classroom so questions. Through these calls, stu-
dents. “Not all of us have all the answers, students can visit with people in dif- dents are able to make “true, mean-
Mr. K has taught K-3 in the and we’re learning from each other ferent places using the internet. Last ingful connections to learning,” says
Wayne-Westland School district for all of the time,” says Mr. K. year, she researched a lot of the
22 years. The last 12 years have Mr. K’s classroom uses a different places the students learned from, See World, page 9
The Wayne Dispatch · February 2019 · 7