I am biased, but I teach the best students at the best school in the world. Our students face numerous challenges, but they still work their hardest to achieve their goals daily.
Our school is a K-8 school, considered high poverty by the state, with roughly 700 students, who are largely special needs or have a parent serving in the military.
We have the second highest population of special needs children, ESE children, and children who have a one or both parents in the military in our district.
We are a Title I school with minimal resources. Every teacher at our school works to provide our students with a first-class education while helping them to overcome the many obstacles in their lives.
Our students are in before and after school care, due to one or both parents serving in the military and often deploying. Our students experience a transient life of homelessness, displacement and adjusting to new environments, expectations, and education standards due to life in the military or poverty. I strive to help my students transition fluidly through these challenges and work hard to catch them up on the curriculum they've missed.
My Project
Math is tough. It is even harder when you're sitting in uncomfortable, cracked, or broken chairs. My students are stuck behind desk-chair combos that have been used for decades. The blue plastic shells are cracked and pinch their skin or pull their hair. The metal armrest that connects the chair to the desk has come loose or completely off other desks. The metal tray for their books has fallen off of many of their desks. More than anything, though, these are extremely uncomfortable. My students are stuck in these seats all day! We cannot expect them to focus, participate and get excited for lessons when they are constantly shifting around trying to get comfortable.
My students need better, more comfortable seating options like yoga balls and lap desks to get their bodies out of the ancient desk-chair combos and into a better position to learn.
To rid my classroom of the antiquated desk-chair combos, my students will need flexible seating options. My students will use the yoga ball chairs to break up their day of sitting in mundane, hard chairs. The yoga ball chairs will promote better posture and allow students who need to wiggle to do so without distracting their classmates. Sitting in the same, unpadded chairs all day is hurting the posture and overall health of my students. They need the ability to get out of their current desks, stretch their legs and move around while working. The lap desks will allow my students to easily work on the floor without having to write on a book or binder. These materials will help my students to be physically comfortable so they can focus on learning.
After unfortunate life obstacles, I have a student experiencing homelessness. They live in a community shelter with their family when not staying with friends. They have shared with others how the beds and chairs in the shelters are really uncomfortable. My student spends 8 hours a day in my school. These chairs will replace the old, uncomfortable ones currently in our classroom. If I can give them a more comfortable place to sit and learn, knowing they won’t have that once school lets out, I’d love to be able to.
Table Mate II Folding TV Tray (Black)
• Amazon Business
$39.95
2
$79.90
LuxFit Exercise Ball Chair, Black
• Amazon Business
$68.95
1
$68.95
Gaiam Classic Backless Balance Ball Chair – Exercise Stability Yoga Ball Premium Ergonomic Chair for Home and Office Desk with Air Pump, Exercise Guide and Satisfaction Guarantee, Purple
• Amazon Business
$47.98
1
$47.98
ECR4Kids The Surf Portable Lap Desk/Laptop Stand/Writing Table, Green
• Amazon Business
$31.19
1
$31.19
ECR4Kids The Surf Portable Lap Desk/Laptop Stand/Writing Table, Blue
• Amazon Business
$31.19
1
$31.19
LapGear MyDesk Lap Desk - Black (Fits up to 15.6" Laptop)
• Amazon Business
$17.79
1
$17.79
Materials cost
$277.00
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$4.16
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$311.16
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$54.91
Total project goal
$366.07
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$366.07
2 Donors
-$184.52
Donations toward project cost
-$156.85
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
-$27.67
match offer
-$181.55
Match offer toward project cost
-$154.32
Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Yates and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
