Classroom Redesign Improves Reading

An Active Learning Classroom

More than 3,400 students have passed through Julie Marshall’s classrooms in her 30 years of teaching. She thought she had seen it all. Until this past year.

In 2015, Saluda Trail Middle School in Rock Hill, South Carolina was one of 12 recipients of the Steelcase Education inaugural Active Learning Center Grant bringing flexible mobile furniture, new technology and interactive learning tools to Marshall’s students.

“We’ve brought life into our classroom. The first day students walked in they were shocked. They had never experienced this kind of environment and couldn’t believe somebody cared enough to give this to them,” said Marshall. “The engagement is incredible; students who have never been able to achieve come into this room and suddenly they’re participating.” Read the case study.