Help me give my students the gift of choice! Students learn best when they feel safe and comfortable and I look forward to improving my classroom environment with these materials.
My Kindergarteners are full of wiggles and excitement. Their minds are full of ideas and questions and as their teacher I try to give them all the opportunities I can to explore their interests.
My classroom is full of students from a variety of backgrounds and households but when we come together we are a family who grows and learns together.
Twice a day we have class meetings to share "Good Things" with each other and build our classroom community. We review our classroom "Social Contract" that includes important traits and behaviors we strive to meet everyday, most importantly kindness and respect. It is important to my students and I to have a chance to share and listen to positive things from their peers and it truly sets our day up for success.
My students take pride in our classroom by having jobs to participate in both the upkeep and routines that we share daily. These five and six year-olds are the most helpful and hardworking kiddos, and they deserve to spend their days in a comfortable space that supports what they need developmentally.
My Project
Kindergarten is often a child's first time in school, a time for exploration and exposure. My students seek out chances to make decisions for themselves, from what book to choose from our classroom library to the exploration centers they participate in everyday. Traditionally, choice has not been built into the school system the way that it needs to be, especially for my students who need practice in independence. In past years, I have been successful in the implementation of flexible seating. Not only did I see an increased engagement from my learners but I also saw high-level thinking and problem solving everyday when the element of choice was added.
With flexible seating in my classroom, I will be able to provide my students with the daily opportunity of choice and a chance to take ownership in their learning, a life skill that will stay with them forever.
If a child feels like they work best on their tummy with a pillow and clipboard, I want that to be an option for them. With each day their needs may change and with a variety of options for seating that are developmentally appropriate and comfortable for them, they will come to school excited about learning because they know that they have a choice and a chance to choose for themselves.
I have no doubt that the gift of flexible seating will make a powerful impact on the students that make my room home today and in the future!
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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. Wolter and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
