My students need 20 stability balls and 24 frisbees to help with focus and engagement. These will be another type of seating choice in our alternative seating classroom.
Think about how you like to work. Do you like to work in a traditional setting with a chair and a table? Or do you prefer to get comfy on a couch or with pillows? As an adult, we usually have the freedom to choose how we work best. I want to give my students that same freedom in my classroom.
My students are an energetic, diverse, group of second graders with varying needs.
They are hard workers who like to have choices and make their own decisions. They love to sit on the couch in my classroom, lay on the carpet with pillows, sit at my desk or in the rocking chair, and some choose to sit at their seats. Each time we are independently working in my classroom, I give my students a choice of where they would like to work. My second graders love to choose where they sit, and they know that I trust them to make a smart choice. My school qualifies for Title 1 funding, which means that 56% of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch. Our school families are middle class citizens who work hard to provide for their children. Some of our families have access to resources and technology while others do not. This leads to a very diverse school and classrooms.
My Project
My students will use these materials on a daily basis. These stability balls will be an aspect of the alternative seating that I am moving towards in my classroom. I currently have a rocking chair, crate seats, my teacher chair and desk, a couch, a butterfly chair, and a lot of pillows. These stability balls will add more choice in seating to my classroom. The students can sit on them safely with the help of frisbees as they work. My students are rarely sitting in their seats, because I often have found that they are more focused and engaged when they pick a spot where they are comfortable. They know themselves well enough to decide where they will work best. These stability balls will allow my energetic class to deal with "ants in their pants" while they complete their work.
The stability balls will make a huge difference in my classroom.
It will allow for my students to be more focused and engaged learners. They will be able to bounce safely with the help of frisbees while they read their favorite books or publish a writing piece. These stability balls will allow for my students to focus more on the work they should be completing rather than focusing their energy on trying to sit still.
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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 Mrs. Wright and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
