We begin the day at the rug and have a morning meeting. During morning meeting we use the whiteboard near the rug as a visual tool for mini-lessons. Students love using the whiteboard to share knowledge with their classmates. The rug is a gathering space where we build our classroom community.
Located in a small town in Northern California, our school consists of a diverse socio-economic background with over 50% on free and reduced lunch.
The children love coming here and it feels like their home away from home. We strive, as a staff, to build relationships with our students. Our school's code of conduct is "Safe, Responsible, and Respectful." It is clear, that from their first year in Kindergarten, that the students here know and understand the code of conduct.
As teacher, I find that building community, and encouraging cooperation and respect from the first day they arrive in my classroom makes a productive learning environment. My goal is to have more of a student-centered classroom where the children are able to take on leadership roles, have opportunities to make choices, work in groups, and share out what they have learned.
My Project
A classroom rug and teaching easel will allow me to facilitate classroom meetings and teach mini-lessons to the whole group. During "rug gatherings" we will do the following:
Build community through team building activities, Make charts that will be hung in the classroom, Individuals will have opportunities to share ideas, Individuals will have opportunities to take on leadership roles, Discuss issues or problems that arise, Problem solve the issues together through discussion, Read aloud books and have discussions, Teach mini-lessons, Read poems, Sing songs and learn dances,"Check-in" and discuss what went well and what could improve. The students are typically at the rug as a whole group about one hour and a half during one school day. In addition, many students enjoy utilizing the rug for reading, math, and group/partner work.
My classroom is in need of a clean and comfortable space to gather for meetings and whole group lessons.
Currently, we have foam mats that are dirty and worn down. The whiteboard needs to be upgraded, as the current one is a makeshift that had the legs cut off to be at the students' level. The requested whiteboard will include many features that will enhance both teaching and learning. These students deserve to have a clean area to sit and work, as well as a functional and sturdy easel.
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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. Foreman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
