Teacher’s interest in architecture translates into learning opportunity for Klager students!

Klager teacher Suzanne Birgy with architectural blocks and books she will use with students during school’s new innovation hour.

Klager Elementary School is trying something new this Fall. Each week, students will be able to spend time in an interest-based course that they have chosen. There will be three sessions of Innovation Hour and each one will run for 6 weeks. These sessions will be multi-age and school-wide and students will be placed in sessions based on an interest survey they will complete.

Kindergarten teacher Suzanne Birgy explained, “Research shows that when kids are able to choose what they’re going to learn about, they’re more engaged, and they’re more likely to pursue that topic outside of class. It’s about engaging students and getting them excited about learning.”  

Topics for the sessions will come from teacher’s passions. Birgy stated, “We will be bringing our hobbies into the classroom. If you are passionate about what you are teaching and the students are passionate about learning, it’s a win-win!”

Birgy’s special interest is in architecture for young children. “I have always been a big proponent for the blocks area within an elementary classroom,” she stated. “I have a large set of classroom blocks for playtime in my kindergarten classroom.” 

But going forward she knew she needed small sets of architectural blocks for the class as well as children’s literature books on architecture, so she wrote a grant to Manchester Community Foundation for funding to purchase both block sets and books. “My grant proposal was accepted by the Foundation,” she stated. “I am very appreciative of them for all of their monetary support.”

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.