My students need fine motor skills. With magnetic mazes, marble runs, magnetic fishing poles for literacy games, and creativity, these skills will grow!
My students are spectacular! Not a single day goes by that I am not touched by the enthusiasm, love, and happiness my students share amongst each other, and myself, in our classroom. In our classroom, you will find a diverse group of individuals that have unique stories. It goes without saying that kindergarten is fun but it presents fresh challenges each day and it is the love for learning that positively encourages students to be present, ready, and engaged.
Rita Pierson said, "Every child needs a champion." This is very true for my students.
It is hard to comprehend the stresses that must be relieved in many classrooms today. Students will come to school hungry, tired, confused, and sad. This makes teaching curriculum tough. But, the joy of teaching and learning is that it is contagious and many of our students who come from stressful situations outside the classroom are able to separate the good and the bad while distributing the satisfaction of becoming a better person through a good quality education.
My Project
I am bringing developmentally appropriate practices back to the kindergarten classroom by utilizing materials that are fun but also encourage growth in a variety of ways. Research has shown that both gross and fine motor skills are drastically declining as more and more children are not manipulating those muscles in their hands and feet. In turn, writing and basic forms of play are gradually deflating and it is so simple to strengthen these muscles with the timeless integration of PLAY!
Marbles and magnets are EXCELLENT resources for children!
They tone muscles in our hands as we turn, twist, and grasp. Magna-Tiles are creative tools that promote gross motor as well as fine motor skills. Children build structures, imagine scenarios, and connect with peers and ideas. The Marble Mazes I have requested are very helpful in tracking, forming, and encourage problem-solving as well as critical thinking. The Marble Runs promote social play, interactions, and, most importantly, small motor functioning. The Swing and Catch Cups are for outdoor play and coordinate those functions of control, tossing, catching, hand/eye coordination, and critical thinking.
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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. Chartrand and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.