My students need a variety of calming and alerting fidgets to support them in the classroom including fiddlelinks fidgeters, finger springs, and textured tangles.
My class moves, gets tired, is excited. We are working to discover tools that calm our bodies, tools that energize us, tools that help us focus and be the learners we know we are.
I have an energetic 2nd grade classroom that supports learners of all types.
My students come from diverse backgrounds, languages, and cultures. Some live in poverty. Some are English language learners. All want to learn, but some find that harder than others. That is where the fidgets and energizers help.
At my school, we strive to be proactive and help students develop skills and tools to become successful learners and members of the community. I like to build a toolkit of strategies with my students that support positive growth and learning.
My Project
I provide a few fidgets to my students each year. Those who need something in order to focus on a lesson use them. Sadly though, I have not been able to meet the fidget needs of all. Also, what works one day, may not be sufficient the next. The additional fidgets, or tools, that I am requesting will be added to our toolbox of resources.
These tools also give my students the right tool for the job - an energizing tool, a calming tool, a focusing tool. I am able to let them try each and see how it helps with learning and staying in or coming back to the green zone (the learning zone).
The cushions will support students who are building their stamina to sit and listen on the rug. The cushions also allow students to move in their chairs while doing work. For some students, they are an energizer.
The finger springs, tangles, and spiky pickle, provide different types of tactile stimulation that can support focus and learning. They enable students to choose what works best and stay or return to the green zone.
These tools will enhance the toolkit of support of learning for all my students.
They may have trauma, ADHD, autism, no label at all; these tools support all types of learners and learning needs.
As a class, we celebrate our differences and recognize our challenges. We work to support one another in learning. Your support will help enhance their toolkit of learning supports throughout the day, the year, and for a lifetime.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Ladopoulos and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
