I teach special education at a K-3 school in southern Maine. Our school community is diverse; we have students from military families at a nearby naval base, and we also serve children from families who have lived here for generations. Our families are hard-working and gracious. The children reflect those values, and they show so much appreciation for learning. I teach reading and writing to three different grades, and all my kids have disabilities. They face challenges in reading, writing, or language, so it is essential to teach them with a multi-sensory approach. I try my hardest to create learning opportunities that are meaningful, effective, engaging, and fun.
My Project
The students in my classes have learning disabilities, and many are either neurodivergent or have attentional needs that make learning more challenging. Although my class is filled with engaging, active, multisensory activities, there are times when my kids must calm their bodies in order to attend to quiet tasks. Their ability to focus is directly related to level of their achievement. If their bodies are calm, they learn better.
Wobble seats will help my kids regulate their bodies so they can stay focused and engaged.
Learning might involve a hands on activity or it might involve one where they have to sit calmly in order attend to reading or writing. Some kids have such a hard time slowing their bodies that learning mostly occurs in short, condensed moments. Wobble seats help kids effortlessly regulate their impulses so their bodies are more ready to learn. Instead of putting energy into slowing their bodies down, they can instead direct their attention to learning the skills and attending to the work that helps them become better readers and writers. These seats will help create better learning opportunities for my kids.
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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. Williams and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
