In 2003, Jane, a middle school math teacher, struggled with a new problem-solving curriculum, revealing that traditional teaching methods kept students busy but not truly thinking. Over 15 years, working with 400 K-12 teachers, 14 key factors were identified to foster deeper student engagement and thinking. Implementing specific practices such as using vertical non-permanent surfaces (VNPSs), random grouping, and dynamic workspaces led to the development of thinking classrooms where students actively engage in meaningful learning. These innovative methods break institutional norms, creating environments that promote sustained intellectual engagement and collaboration.
Over the summer I was introduced to the importance of incorporating vertical non-permanent surfaces into your classroom. We are 3 weeks into our 2022-2023 school year and the Wipebook Flipchart's have been used daily in our 5th grade math and science class. Flipchart's large size makes it easy for students to have space for all their work and its reusable surface erase easily.
Being a new teacher can be busy and overwhelming. After creating a defronted classroom with Flipchart I am able to stand in the middle of my room and view all of the students' work at a glance. At any point in the room I am able to know what my students are thinking, know where they are at in a problem, or know which students are ready for a challenge or who may need more support.
