As a teacher in a low-income/high poverty school district, my students are faced with several challenges both in and out of the classroom. Despite the many challenges they face, I am looking to provide my students with creative and meaningful learning experiences, while also providing a creative and meaningful space conducive to all learners' needs and preferences.
My students are creative, inquisitive and very eager.
They like to move, they love to read and love lots of positive attention. Many of them are being raised in single parent households and receive a free lunch based on their socioeconomic status. Others are being raised by grandparents or other family members. These hurdles may inhibit their getting ahead early in life and may not provide them with the life experiences many of us see as "typical". A majority of these students have never been out of our county. From the minute they walk into my classroom, I focus on providing them with opportunities to be successful and grow. I endeavor to help my students in creative and positive ways, and I am hopeful to inspire even our earliest learners to continue on a path of academic success.
My Project
In trying to shift my classroom into a 21st century classroom, I feel the expectation for students to come in, sit down, and be quiet is antiquated. These are the classrooms of old, in which diverse populations of students weren't recognized and students' needs were not always met.
My goal with these materials is to provide an environment of flexible seating options for students with diverse learning styles and needs.
Students often feel empowered when given choices about what they learn, how they learn the information, and the environment in which they are asked to learn.
These seating materials, including cushions and ball chairs, would provide ways for students to be comfortable, yet engaged in classroom activities. These items will also allow me a way to reach across all populations of students including those students with special education needs. Many students need to move, stand, sit, and bounce to accommodate areas of need. In order to provide this accommodation, I will use these materials to flip my classroom from a traditional seating arrangement into several areas of flexible and alternative seating choices.
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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. Lineberry and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
