Break Up the Horror of 7 Hour Seated Days with Desk Cycles!
My students need 8 desk cycles and a fit desk to get fit, or to just break up the horror of a monotonous 7 hour day that is seated, and to allow ADHD kids to move and work.
$1,936 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
"Students move almost never. And never is exhausting...the expectation was for us to come in, take our seats, and sit down for the duration of the time. By the end of the day, I could not stop yawning and I was desperate to move or stretch." Valerie Strauss- The Washington Post 10/24/2014
I am a Boston teacher and most of my students are under the poverty line guideline (about 60% of my school has, for example, a family of 4 making under $23,840 annually).
My population is over 60% Hispanic, with our population of second language learners growing every year. The remaining percentage is about 20% Black (not necessarily African American) and 15% White, 5% Asian or other. My students are ambitious, street smart, funny, out of the box thinkers that can lead passionate analytical debate and write moving, crushing memoirs. They have what it takes. What we need are resources such as desk cycles. Students that have difficulty with the intense amount of seat time involved in a high school day, are hyperactive, and/or attempting to be healthier, can unobtrusively exercise while working. I purchased one and it is coveted. For reference, this issue was recently in a Washington Post article, Teacher Spends Two Days as a Student and is Shocked at what she Learns.
My Project
My students absolutely love the current desk cycle. It straps to the bottom of the desk. One example: I have a hyperactive student that was previously only comfortable working off a clipboard so that he could stand or walk around, which was a tiny bit distracting. Now he can work at a desk, spread out his stuff, and others don't notice him. Another girl loves working with it because she wants a "Bum like Beyonce" and she is delighted to spend her first block getting fit while she works. She now comes to school in layers so she can comfortably work out. This has added to her grade, simply because it has increased her attendance. I have her first block and she was chronically late previously. I have a student who uses it on an easy speed, just because he says it is relaxing. He is not a hyper student. He isn't looking to get fit, but he says it breaks up his day, and he is grateful for it. I've asked for a fit desk as well, because I have three very tall hockey players who feel left out.
I am a National Board Certified teacher for adolescents and young adults in English.
I have a Masters in ESL and I'm College Board Certified to teach Advanced Placement Language students. Currently, I am certifying in SPED. I am a teacher leader and mentor and highly active in my district. I am attempting to change not just my classroom, but urban public education in Boston. By obtaining these desk cycles, I hope to start a movement that will prove to administrators the effectiveness of the idea.
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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. Fabian and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
