My students need to move and create opportunities to increase their motor pathways for learning. Having desks to support movement is crucial for brain development.
A typical day in my classroom begins by greeting 22 first graders. We are a very diverse group of excited learners and our biggest challenge is focus and stamina.
"If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn."
-Ignacio Estrada
Our first grade classroom has a very diverse population.
Out of our 22 children, 12 of them qualify for an Intervention group in reading or math support. We have 3 autistic children and 2 others with behavioral and emotional needs. Twenty eight percent of our school population receives free or reduced-price lunch.
I have implemented movement and the use of stability balls to help build stamina and focus. There is a need to get our students moving to increase their learning potential. I have taken on the goal of creating a classroom lab for movement. Children are sitting too much. We are seeing more and more students with ADHD and behavior issues because they are not able to release the energy in their bodies. I have grown over the years to turn my classroom into a student centered classroom to meet the ever changing challenges our students face.
My Project
It my goal to help children understand what their optimal learning styles are by providing different ways to learn as they are moving their bodies. I would like to create a classroom lab that offers traditional and non-traditional seating options. The brain is wired to learn through pathways of movement. Teachers who have the desks in their classrooms say the kids pay attention better and they can teach longer with less distractions. Children will be activating the BDNF, the Miracle Gro for the brain that nourishes and protects the neural pathways for learning. Our BDNF is stored in our large muscles mainly in the legs. The positive effects of physical activity last for 15-20 minutes. We need to remember that we were made to move.
I have developed a passion to help our students build a solid core and vestibular system at a young age so they understand how their bodies feel different when it is calm and ready to take in new information.
Every year I see young children struggling with the expectations in a traditional classroom. I would like to open this environment to other colleagues so they too can see the importance of getting more movement into the educational setting. It's a win-win for all.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Suryan and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.