My students need fidgets, timers, foot rests, and exercise balls to meet their sensory needs.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. McNally's classroom raised $370
This project is fully funded
My Students
Tap tap tap goes a pencil. Squeak squeak squeak goes a chair. Ah, the distracting sounds of a classroom. Instead, we should hear interesting conversations about math word problems or the read aloud from that day. I want my students to be able to focus on their learning without any distractions.
I teach a great group of fifth grade students in New York City.
My school has a large percentage of students from low income families. In addition, my school services students on the autism spectrum. My classroom is a mixture of these students. We emphasize the importance of collaboration and forming a strong school and classroom community. Students learn how to work with people with different abilities. My students have many different needs. One of these needs has to do with their sensory system. My students move around a lot. They like to tap their feet and their pencils. Some of them have a difficult time sitting still on the carpet for lessons or even in their chairs during independent work.
My Project
My students will benefit from various sensory items such as fidgets, foot rests, and exercise balls. Also, my students will be able to use timers in order to time sensory breaks when they take them. When a student in my class feels the need to move their body, they can take a sensory break. During a sensory break, students can spend time manipulating a fidget in their hands to get some of their energy out. This break will hopefully replace my students' need to tap their pencils. If my students are tapping their feet and they feel like they need to move, they can use the foot rests. This will be a quiet way to make sure they can still move their feet but not make a distracting sound. If students need an alternative seat, they will be able to use the exercise balls. This allows students a more comfortable seat and it also allows their bodies to move. All of these resources will really benefit the diverse sensory needs in my classroom.
Learning is very difficult if you are not able to focus.
When you are constantly hearing tap tap or squeak squeak, you might get distracted. Therefore, offering my students fidgets and foot rests, sensory breaks and alternative seating (on exercise balls), they will be more successful. With these resources, my students will benefit. They will be able to focus on what is truly important in the classroom... their learning!
More than a third 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 Ms. McNally and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.