My students need these flexible seating options to take charge of their learning. We need lap trays, floor cushions, lap desks, exercise balls, a rug, and inflatable chairs.
I teach first grade at a Title 1 school with a high poverty rate. About 93 percent of our students receive free or reduced-rate lunches. We have a diverse student body with many students coming from homes with single parents, a grandparent, or other family members are raising them, as well as students who are considered homeless.
Although we all come from different backgrounds, when my students enter my classroom we are family.
I strive for my students to feel comfortable and welcomed in my classroom. My goal is for them to be excited and happy to come to school. Our school is reaching for high standards and expectations from each student while trying to mold them to be the leaders of tomorrow.
My Project
Having the option of flexible seating in my classroom will allow my students to take responsibility for their own learning and make the choices that work best for their learning style. My students will choose a spot in our classroom that will help them to be successful during independent work time and center time. These seating options give students the opportunity to explore other ways to learn and be successful rather than being stuck in a chair and desk all day. Some of the seating options also allow for movement during work with minimum disruptions. Making sure students are comfortable is an important component in motivating them. When students are given the opportunity to make these different seating choices they tend to be more engaged, and get more work completed than when they are just sitting in an assigned desk/table.
The different flexible seating options will help to increase student engagement, decrease disruption, and create a positive learning environment.
The flexible seating options I have chosen to start with in my room are stability/exercise balls, inflatable beanless bags, block letter alphabet rug, floor cushions, and portable lab desks. I would like to use the stability/exercise balls in my computer area and writing center, these will allow the students some movement while working. The inflatable beanless bags and block letter alphabet rug I would like to use in my reading nook so they have a comfortable place to read a book that interests them. The floor cushions, clipboards, and lap desks are the most mobile and will allow the students to pick a spot anywhere in the classroom they feel they can be successful in.
I am excited to see the changes and the positive impact that flexible seating and free choice will have in my classroom.
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 Mrs. Visser and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.