Role Reversal Day: When Students Lead the Classroom

At Savremena Primary School, World Children’s Day was celebrated in a unique and playful way — by letting the students switch roles with their teachers.
For an entire day, our young learners became teachers, activity leaders, assistants and class organisers, while the actual teachers took on the role of students — ready to listen, participate and follow instructions.
This special day wasn’t just fun — it was a meaningful lesson in responsibility, cooperation, empathy and understanding different perspectives.

Small Classroom, Big Teachers: Students as Instructors

The students embraced their new roles with enthusiasm — preparing materials, planning activities and even leading full lessons.
Some groups taught mathematics, others prepared creative tasks, while some organised quizzes, discussions or knowledge games.

In the role of “teacher,” students:

explained lessons independently,
asked questions to their classmates,
made sure everyone was following along,
and — just like real teachers — offered additional explanations when needed.

Through this role-play, children realised how much focus, preparation and responsibility a teaching role requires.
At the same time, they became aware that learning is a two-way process — teachers are a strong support system, but they also constantly manage classroom dynamics, atmosphere and the needs of every student.

Teachers as Students: A New Perspective on Classroom Life

While the students led the lessons, teachers sat at their desks, raised their hands to speak, answered questions and listened carefully to the “young instructors.”
This delightful switch brought plenty of laughter, funny moments, small surprises and periods of serious concentration — because the students took their new roles very seriously and responsibly.

For teachers, this was an opportunity to see the school day from a child’s point of view — to understand how important clear instructions are, and how much children enjoy when they are given trust, responsibility and space to shine.
This role reversal strengthened the teacher–student relationship and showed how valuable it is to let children actively participate in the learning process.

Although it looked like a playful activity, this day carried a strong educational message.
Students had the chance to realise:

how much preparation goes into a single lesson,
how challenging it is to lead a group,
what it means to take responsibility for someone’s learning,
and why patience, understanding and good communication matter.

At the same time, teachers observed the creativity, courage and initiative of their students — many showed natural leadership skills, strong organisation and clear communication.
Activities like this build confidence, encourage independence and teach children to appreciate the effort adults invest, while also helping them believe in their own abilities.

Savremena uses days like this to reinforce its educational philosophy — experiential, active and child-centred learning.World Children’s Day at Savremena was filled with smiles, energy and wonderful ideas.
The children felt important, seen and empowered.
Teachers were proud, moved and pleasantly surprised by the abilities their students displayed.
And the entire classroom radiated joy and togetherness.This day showed us that when children are given space, trust and freedom — they shine.
Savremena will continue to nurture activities that place the child at the centre of the learning process, because these moments are the true foundation of education for the future.