The students in my classroom are 7 to 11 years old, and all have a diagnosis of moderate to severe mental retardation. Everyone in this lively bunch qualifies for free school lunch and breakfast. We are a specialized school that also offers related services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language therapy and counseling.
I'll be frank: The two carpets currently in my classroom are gross. This is the end of my first year teaching and learning from these eager students, and I can say with certainty that they haven't been significantly cleaned since I've been there. (They don't appear to have ever been cleaned.) Plus they're only functional as a floor covering. They are each single, solid colors... No graphics, no interest, no educational value!
So by helping us get a new carpet for our room, you're helping us solve a number of issues. First and most obviously, you'll help inject a sorely-needed splash of color and fun into our room. Secondly, you'll be providing an inviting place that I'll feel comfortable asking the students to gather for circle time, story time, or our always popular "game show" time. (I turn teaching into a fun game show format, where everyone is a winner!) And lastly, you'll be putting the alphabet literally at the center of our learning.
My students struggle not only with academics, but also with their emotional responses to the demands of everyday life. A carpet like this will be an invaluable tool in reinforcing proper behavior and personal space. ("You get to sit on 'A' today, Petunia. And Wilbur, you skip a letter and sit on... which letter? 'C'? That's right!) Academically, I can envision any number of kinesthetic learning activities that can help bring the alphabet and phonics to life for my students.
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