My classroom consists of 27 of the most wonderful kindergartners. My students come into school from very different backgrounds, and we work together to form a community. Some of these students are making friends for the first time. Many of them are entering their first group learning experience. All of them are excited and nervous to be in kindergarten. With this excitement comes students who have difficulty understanding boundaries and personal space. Being aware of personal space becomes a problematic issue when it comes to carpet time.
My kindergarten children are coming from a variety of backgrounds, and it is my job to bring them together into one community.
This job can be tricky, as they may or may not be familiar with how to make friends, how to learn together, or how to keep their bodies under control. Forming a community is difficult work but it makes a huge difference in their future school experiences.
My Project
Having a classroom meeting spot is a necessity in kindergarten. The current carpet area is getting worn and definitely showing its age. Kindergarten age children are just beginning to understand how to learn in a group setting, and having a comfortable carpet area for them to begin group learning is essential. In my classroom, the majority of my student's learning time is done at our meeting spot on the carpet, and it would increase their comfort with learning if their physical environment were comfortable as well.
A comfortable carpet in a well-designed carpet area will reduce the amount of wiggling, encourage the children to maintain their personal boundaries, and allow them to learn more effectively in a group setting.
This space will provide a comfortable learning environment, but will also encourage space for small group teaching/learning, including partner reading spaces. Kindergarten is the entry point of group learning experiences for many children, and a positive learning experience in kindergarten can set the stage for many successful future learning encounters. Research shows that a positive kindergarten experience can carry a child through to positive learning experiences throughout their school career. The carpet will assist in providing high-quality learning spaces for children for multiple years.
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
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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. Badyrka and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
