This year, I am building a classroom community with a lovely group of 2nd grade students at an arts-integrated public school in Alameda, California. Teachers at our school work to foster student curiosity and creative inquiry by allowing students the freedom to explore beyond the standard curriculum. We value the process of each student’s journey to understanding over the final product. Our school also allows me to spend two years with my students (looping). This will give me the time to build deep and lasting relationships with my students and their families. Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and socioeconomic situations. Many of my students are English Language Learners, have Individual Education Plans, or have been diagnosed as ADHD.
My students love working together and exchanging ideas.
My goal is to provide a nurturing and safe classroom for them to be their best.
My Project
Why a round rug? Our classroom is grounded in community-building and social-emotional development. We spend a lot of time gathering together to learn, solve problems, reflect on our learning, and support each other through mistakes and successes. It's important that our classroom environment supports these daily practices. This year and beyond, we will be moving towards a restorative practices model that involves learning and growing in a circular setting. This will promote inclusion, equity, accountability, and a feeling of security. I have long believed that a round rug will help achieve all of these goals.
By donating to this project, you will help me to create a classroom community where everyone feels welcome and heard.
A round rug will allow my students to see each other and focus on the speaker without continually shifting their bodies. It will promote an environment where we all learn from each other as opposed to a classroom where students are focused on the teacher. And, I hope, it will help my students to be more fully engaged on a daily basis.
This project includes a second smaller rectangular rug to build a comfortable reading space in our classroom library.
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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 Ms. Mills and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.