My students are very active, and enjoy a lot of movement and interaction throughout their daily lessons. They love hands-on learning, and being able to "do" rather than only "see". Their desire for learning encourages them to find creative, and sometimes unusual, ways to express their knowledge.
This group of students have really come to understand that movement and engagement play a huge role in their ability to comprehend information.
I have watched them grow so much as individuals, and they have learned to voice their needs and wants in an appropriate manner. They are always informing me of new methods that they think may benefit them and their learning. These students really have a desire to learn, but most of them have neither the resources nor assistance to learn as effectively as possible.
My Project
Students are very active and should not be expected to sit in a hard, stationary seat for most of the day. I personally remember dreading classrooms where I was forced to remain in one location for extended periods of time. This causes students to lose interest in their learning and it does not encourage the students to stay engaged throughout the lessons. The students work best when they are moving and more involved during their learning.
Since implementing some flexible seating in the classroom, I have noticed a HUGE improvement in the focus and active engagement of the students.
I want to be able to apply flexible seating on a larger scale, and allow each class that comes into my classroom to have this amazing opportunity. The ability for the students to have options of where and how to sit really makes them feel that they are in control of their learning, which motivates them to succeed academically.
I have experimented with a few exercise balls in my classroom and I have noticed how much of a positive impact it has on their engagement. The students are motivated to pay attention in class, because they know that their needs are being addressed and understood. The extra movement helps the students to focus more on what is being taught, as well as provide health benefits while they are being used. It also assists the students with remaining in their seats when necessary, because the ball can roll away from them if they get up. These seats are easily movable around the classroom for when students are working in groups or different areas. The ability for each student to have this opportunity would increase the academic performance and student engagement a great deal.
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