Alternate Classroom Environment: Promoting Sensory Awareness, Mindfulness, and Flexible Seating
Help me give my students an alternative learning environment, where sensory awareness, meditation in various forms, and comfort will allow them to focus on learning and forming strong partnerships with their peers, while believing in themselves!
We are a gifted and talented classroom in Brooklyn, New York. My classroom is filled with intellectually stimulated students, however, they are all diverse and learn in their own unique way.
My gifted students take such pride in their learning environment and we spend a great deal of time in our classroom together.
Social-emotionally, gifted students enjoy their time with self-exploration and independent projects that gear to their interests. I love allowing my students to use our classroom as a second home. My students enjoy using the classroom resources and centers that enrich their learning. Each year, adding a new component to my classroom brings such joy to the children and a refreshing excitement for me. I am so happy that Donors Choose makes that possible!
I feel my new project, creating sensory awareness and a flexible seating option classroom, will create comfort and an enhanced awareness that will make learning more accessible to my students. These cool new seating options will be for all student to enjoy are sure to make students excited about completing their work. Sensory awareness with allow for an enhanced focus and decrease adverse feelings that our littles encounter daily. Thanks for checking in!
My Project
Social Emotional learning is a strong component in my classroom and involves many facets of the classroom environment. My littles come to me each day with a variety of strengths, but also worries, difficulties pertaining to learning and focus, and individual needs that need tending and cultivation towards positive outlets. Taking the time this summer to research child development through the amazing text The Body Keeps the Score, I have learned how sensory awareness can help promote a safe environment for children to learn optimally. Various types of seating arrangements that provide different types of textures will help my students feel cozy, so they may sit and learn, while feeling safe and supported by the various options in my project.
Sound meditation will be a common theme in my classroom this year to support my finely tuned and researched behavior management skills.
The chimes and singing bowl will assist in children tuning in mindfully to the sounds, to help regulate their nervous system, and come back to their bodies. Mindfulness is so important in my classroom and teaches the children to be aware of their behavior and capabilities, so they may learn to regulate themselves, with my assistance and guidance. Tactile objects listed in my project will help channel nervous energy and assist some children in redirecting their focus back to their work, rather than expressing it in ways that aren't conducive to learning.
Thank you for assisting me in making this project become a reality! If it is funded, I hope to use my classroom as a pilot classroom for my school, so other teachers may learn to use these very necessary tools to help their diverse students in any capacity in which they may need.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Gaiam Kids Balance Ball Chair - Classic Children's Stability Ball Chair, Alternative School Classroom Flexible Desk Seating for Active Students with Satisfaction Guarantee, Blue/Green
• Amazon Business
$64.98
4
$259.92
bonVIVO Froggy Folding Floor Chair for Kids, Floor Seat for Kids in Frog Design, Children Floor Chairs with Back Support, Kids Folding Chair Easy to Store, Child Chair Loads Up 154lbs, 100% Non-Toxic
• Amazon Business
$39.90
4
$159.60
bonVIVO Easy II Padded Floor Chair with Adjustable Backrest, Comfortable, Semi-Foldable, and Versatile, for Meditation, Seminars, Reading, TV Watching or Gaming, Elegant Design, Blue & Beige
• Amazon Business
$49.90
2
$99.80
TOPFUND Crystal Singing Bowl Perfect Pitch A Note Third Eye Chakra 7 inch (O-Ring and Rubber Mallet Included)
• Amazon Business
$94.99
1
$94.99
Roore 5 lb Weighted Blanket for Kids I 36"x48" I Weighted Blanket with Plush Minky Blue Removable Cover I Weighted with Premium Glass Beads I Perfect for Children from 40 to 60 lb
• Amazon Business
$44.95
2
$89.90
Foldable Laptop Table, Superjare Bed Desk, Breakfast Serving Bed Tray, Portable Mini Picnic Table & Lightweight, Folds in Half with Inner Storage Space - Dark Gray
• Amazon Business
$25.99
3
$77.97
AVAFORT Velvet Plush Home Fleece Throw Blanket (Rainbow, 50"x 60")
• Amazon Business
$29.95
2
$59.90
AVAFORT Velvet Plush Home Fleece Throw Blanket (Rainbow, 50"x 60")
• Amazon Business
$29.95
2
$59.90
Stuffed Animal Storage Bean Bag Chair for Kids and Adults. Premium Canvas Stuffie Seat - Cover ONLY (Grey with White Arrows 200L/52 Gal)
• Amazon Business
$28.99
2
$57.98
little dove Kids Foldable Teepee Play Tent with Carry Case, Banner, Fairy Lights, Feathers, Floor Mat , Four Ploes Style Raw White Color - New Version
• Amazon Business
$54.99
1
$54.99
bonVIVO Easy II Padded Floor Chair with Adjustable Backrest, Comfortable, Semi-Foldable, and Versatile, for Meditation, Seminars, Reading, TV Watching or Gaming, Elegant Design, Blue & Beige
• Amazon Business
$49.90
1
$49.90
4E's Novelty Pack of 4 Expandable Balls, Hand Catch Expanding Breathing Sphere Flower Ball for Kids Boys and Girls, Great Stress Relief and Anxiety Toy, Helpful Gift for ADHD Sensory Issues
• Amazon Business
$22.96
2
$45.92
Large and Thicken Floor Cushions Seating for Adults - Yoga Meditation Cushion Pillow Velvety Futon Tatami Mat Square Balcony Pillows Seating with Handle 23.6''X23.6'', Blue
• Amazon Business
$41.99
1
$41.99
Woodstock Chimes - The ORIGINAL Guaranteed Musically Tuned Chime, Zenergy - Trio
• Amazon Business
Impresa Products 5-Pack of Stretchy String Fidget / Sensory Toys (BPA/Phthalate/Latex-Free) - Stretches from 10 Inches to 8 Feet!
• Amazon Business
$9.99
2
$19.98
Fidget Toys Set, 22 Pcs. Sensory Tools Bundle for Stress Relief and Anti-Anxiety for Kids and Adults, Marble and Mesh, Pack of Squeeze Balls, Soybean Squeeze, Flippy Chain, Liquid Motion Timer & More
• Amazon Business
$18.95
1
$18.95
Decorbox Cotton Linen Square Decor Throw Pillow Case Cushion Cover Colorful Imagine 20 x 20 Inch
• Amazon Business
$8.99
2
$17.98
JES&MEDIS Cartoon Style Alphabet Quotes Sea World Buildings Cotton Linen Burlap Decorative Square Throw Pillow Cover Cushion Case, 18x18 Inch B
• Amazon Business
$8.98
2
$17.96
Decorbox Cotton Linen Square Decor Throw Pillow Case Cushion Cover Colorful Imagine 18 X 18 Inch
• Amazon Business
$6.99
2
$13.98
YOUR SMILE Inspiring Quote Cotton Linen Square Decorative Throw Pillow Case Cushion Cover 18x18 Inch
• Amazon Business
$6.99
2
$13.98
Where The Wild Things Are Max Costume Supplies Wild Max Crown Tail First Birthday Gold Pleather Fur Play Boys Girls Dress Up Party Cake Smash Things King of the Jungle
• Amazon Business
$10.99
1
$10.99
ArtCreativity 8-Point Pinwheels Set - Pack of 24 - Assorted Colors - Fun Carnival Toy and Party Favor - Amazing Gift Idea for Boys and Girls Ages 3+
• Amazon Business
$10.97
1
$10.97
Impresa Products 5-Pack of Stretchy String Fidget / Sensory Toys (BPA/Phthalate/Latex-Free) - Stretches from 10 Inches to 8 Feet!
• Amazon Business
$9.99
1
$9.99
Be Kind Be Brave Inspirational Quote and Arrow Throw Pillow Case Cushion Cover for Sofa Couch Home Decorative Cotton Linen 18" x 18"
• Amazon Business
$8.99
1
$8.99
Neliblu Wacky Tracks Snap and Click Fidget Toys for Sensory Kids - Snake Puzzles, Assorted Colors, (Pack of 4)
• Amazon Business
$8.97
1
$8.97
JOYIN 3 Pack Jumbo Squishy Slow Rising Fantasy Animal Toy Slow Rising Stress Relief Soft Squeeze Kawaii Animal Friends Toys for Boys and Girls
• Amazon Business
$7.95
1
$7.95
Materials cost
$1,356.34
Vendor shipping charges
$3.56
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$20.35
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$1,410.25
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$248.87
Total project goal
$1,659.12
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$1,659.12
23 Donors
-$1,320.00
Donations toward project cost
-$1,145.25
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$174.75
match offer
-$311.76
Match offer toward project cost
-$265.00
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
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 Ms. Kender and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
