My students need 22 Air Stability Wobble Cushions to allow for movement and comfort while seated at desks during instruction and group/individual work time.
"The middle school classroom should be an active, stimulating place...[in which] movement is common and planned for... " Peter Lorain - Thinking, moving, and sharing occur daily in my classroom. However, some students need more movement in order to focus on challenging tasks.
My 8th grade students are angsty, goofy, compassionate, self-conscious, excited, silly, hopeful young people.
They are excited to prepare for their future and are keenly interested in finding their place in their world. When polled, almost 100% plan on attending college, in spite of the financial and other hardships many of them face. Don't let their adult-sized bodies fool you; they still crave acceptance, fun, joy, and connections with caring adults. As growing adolescents, they need frequent opportunities to move and interact with one another. I am always pleasantly surprised by how much they appreciate being given the choice to stand, move, or sit on the floor. They work even harder when they are allowed to find a way to get comfortable in their rapidly growing bodies.
My Project
Students will be given the option to use a wobble cushion for all or part of the class period. They will simply grab one and go to their seat. I envision some of my students using a cushion every day, and others using one when they have choice about where to sit to read. I already allow students to stand when they need to do so. This is an extension of meeting their comfort and movement needs.
Often times students simply can't sit still for long periods of time.
This difficulty can make them irritable and interrupt their concentration. Unfortunately this negatively impacts their learning, self-image, and attitude about school. The movement of the wobble cushion will meet their need for constant motion. When students' needs are met, they are more likely to find success in the classroom. Success breeds success. This is what I want for all of my kids.
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