A hot topic in education today is how to create a socially just classroom.
Think back to elementary school, what kind of group projects did you participate in ? Did everyone participate ? Were you both mentally and physically active? 

More often than not the answers to these questions are no. Classrooms today fail to properly engage students, thus producing students that do not understand how to think critically,how to question,  and how to make real decisions.  According to the article "Rethinking our Classrooms","In a “rethought” classroom, concepts need to be experienced firsthand, not just read about or heard about. Whether through projects, role plays, simulations, mock trials, or experiments, students need to be mentally, and often physically, active."

 In order to create a classroom in which students are both mentally and physically active a teacher must ensure that every student is included, questioned, and often pressured to achieve higher goals. By assigning students to sit in groups or pairs it might help to engage more students. Mostly a teacher should assign projects that get students to experience things first hand. I remember in first grade doing "dress-up book reports" which really helped to get me to read the book I was assigned and to feel as that character felt. Dressing up as the character not only got me involved but helped me to understand what being that character felt like. 


As I continued my research, http://www.simteach.com/, helped me to better understand how to create a classroom such as this. They go on to say that it is all about "creating a balance" between having fun and getting the work done. Another method I found could be helpful was asking students to read aloud and even act out what they're reading. This helps the students that are listening and the student reading to better understand their reading and also helps them to imagine what they are reading. I can remember my teacher having us stand up and do jumping jacks just to get our blood pumping and our minds to refocused. Methods such as these greatly advance students to be both mentally and physically involved with their school work.

I think that creating a school environment that students can participate and be active in is a great thing for teachers and students. It will make class more exciting and beneficiary to all members of the class. Mostly it will make learning more fun for everyone!