My students need an area to gather for writers workshop mini lessons, math whole group smart board lessons, and read aloud time. The rug and cushions are inviting!
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
My students spend so much of their time in my room. I want that environment to be calming, peaceful, warm and welcoming. A place that will spark their creativity, maintain their focus, and motivate them to learn. A place that draws them in close to me where I can capture their attention and hold it.
I have twenty six third graders.
It is only the second day, so I am yet to discover all their likes and dislikes, hopes and ambitions. I do, however, look forward to our year of discovery together. Our school is a historical building and is quaint. The atmosphere is close knit and family oriented and when you enter you get that sense that everyone is family.
It's interesting that after only day two I can tell who I need to encourage to speak up, who I need to encourage to be patient and practice self control, who I need to push to step into leadership, who I need to encourage to seek positivity, who I need to affirm, and all that I need to inspire to reach for their potential. I have some awesome untapped potential in my classroom. Bright, shiny, smiling faces that I want to instill a love for learning and a belief that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. Circle time is the time when I teach and they listen, then they go out into the world and thrive!
My Project
There are three times a day when I pull students in close to me to teach a lesson. At the beginning of a math lesson students gather on the carpet in front of the smart board to view the lesson of the day and take notes. During, writers workshop students gather on the carpet for the daily writing mini lesson in a huddle. Lastly during read aloud time students gather close on the carpet to listen and be intrigued by the story of the day. We gather close to be focused, listen intently, capture and maintain attention. The rug will be that central meeting place that will invite my students closer to me. The cushions will give them an incentive to be the first group called to join so that they can enjoy the comfort of the pillows. Both the rug and the pillows will give the classroom environment a more comfortable and peaceful atmosphere. It will give my students a sense of home and feeling of happiness, contentment, and within that serenity, creativity, curiosity, and caring will spark.
It will definitely change the ambiance and therefore the atmosphere and appeal of my classroom particularly my circle time which is currently bare.
I believe my students will be more eager to come to the circle, therefore they will pay closer attention, thus learning more, which will improve the quality of their practice and application when they do their work. This will make them more successful. With success comes confidence and improved self esteem. It's amazing the difference this will make!
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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. Hicks and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.