Hickory Hill Sixth Graders Find the Middle Ground in Vertical Classrooms, 9/29/2026

Sixth graders at Hickory Hill Elementary are finding the middle ground, literally. In a recent math lesson in Mr. Behounek's class, students lined up sets of data and worked to locate the median, the value that sits right in the middle of it all.

To tackle the problems, students worked in pairs at their "vertical classrooms." In a vertical classroom, partners stand together at whiteboards to discuss each problem and solve it collaboratively. Working side by side, students share knowledge, talk through their reasoning, and help each other get unstuck when a problem proves challenging.

The setup also benefits instruction. With every pair's work visible on the whiteboards around the room, Mr. Behounek can scan student thinking at a glance, provide real-time feedback, and address mistakes as they happen, before misunderstandings take root.

Understanding the median is a foundational statistics skill that helps students make sense of data in math, science, and everyday life. By pairing that skill with a collaborative, active learning structure, Hickory Hill students are building both mathematical understanding and the communication skills that come from explaining their thinking to a partner.