My students need to experience how to interact with others outside of the classroom, whether it’s in a waiting room or a job interview. a futon, chairs, end tables, etc, will allow us to simulate this.
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
I am a Special Education teacher in Birmingham, AL. I work primarily with students with learning disabilities and/or ADHD, who attend classes in the general education setting.
These are innercity students, who need to be able to feel safe while at school.
My classroom is their sanctuary. Many of them find it comforting to keep belongings in my classroom. I have become their "School Mom".
My students come to me to meet some basic needs, from encouraging words to basic school supplies.
My Project
I work with students with various disabilities. As I prepare them for life after high school, I would like to be able to simulate different scenarios. I hope to be able to help them feel comfortable when going on job interviews. How do you act when you arrive early for an interview? What about when you boss has you over for dinner? How do you react when you’re the only person in a waiting room as opposed to when the room is crowded and there are no available seats?
Some life lessons are best taught by putting students in that situation in a controlled environment.
With the items I have chosen, a futon, chairs, end tables and coffee table, rug, and bookshelf, I plan to help my students experience a variety of situations that they will encounter in life. We will work on basic etiquette lessons that might arise in a workplace. I plan to arrange the furniture to resemble an office waiting room. Students will enter the “waiting room” and wait to be called for their interview. This will allow me to observe their behavior. I will be able to give my students positive feedback to help them when they enter the workforce. I will also have the flexibility to rearrange the furniture to resemble a living room and work on social skills for attending an Christmas party at the boss’s house. My students need practice in these areas so they know how to act.
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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. Stell and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
