My students need a couch, balance ball, beanbag, and floor seats to give them a comfortable learning environment and choice of where to work. Flexible seats will promote motivation, engagement, and collaboration.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
I teach reading to 107 fourth grade students. My students are from low income, high poverty. Eighty percent of our students are on free and reduced lunch. My students are adventurous, innovative, and compassionate. Despite the adversities they face in and out of school, they persevere academically.
A number of my students struggle with reading and perform on a 2nd grade level; this does not stop their drive and hard work.
My kids are very active students who love music, dancing, and moving through the classroom. Flexible seating will further promote a student centered classroom which allows students to take ownership and become invested in their education.
My Project
As a first year teacher, my students inspire me to seek resources to enrich them. The various flexible seating options will promote a student centered learning environment. The beanbag, balance ball, and floor seat will provide choices to students, who will feel empowered by the freedom and control of their environment. The flexibility to change seats will also allow comfort. Students become easily distracted when they are uncomfortable. The comfy chair and couch will encourage students to stay calm, focused, and productive.
I want to create a classroom from my students point of view, filled with things like the bean bag to increase academic achievement.
I want my students to believe it is not my classroom but our classroom. Flexible seating has many benefits, one being a sense of community. Students will share, and take turns sitting in different locations with the options. The balance balls will quickly allow students to collaborate. Students may work in pairs or small groups without moving the heavy desk.
My goal is to cultivate a learning environment that produces motivated, empowered, and engaged learners. Student motivation and commitment to their learning will increase. My students love to move. Having a variety of seats in the classroom will allow kids to move based on their needs and become the best they can be.
Flexible seating will also help with communication skills. Strong leaders cannot advance without communication.
Lastly, the seats will make learning fun for my kids. My students face many challenges in and out of school. These seats will motivate students and their love for school and learning.
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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 Ms. Castleberry and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
