I teach incredible special education students with a myriad of disabilities, the most prominent of which are autism and ADHD. Our building has been trying to provide solutions for our students by giving them flexible seating options, but unfortunately, the cost is too great and there are too many restrictions that we are unable to bypass in order to get the seating options many of these students need.
One of the most important ways that these students learn is through varied sensory opportunities, which is why it is critical to student learning to provide flexible seating.
I currently have one wobble stool and one balance board that 18 students sign up to access during a single class period. I would love to provide more options so that all students can access the support they need to be focused learners!
My Project
During a typical day in my classroom, you might come in and see students wandering around, bouncing up and down, tipping back in their chairs, or sitting on their legs. They tap and knock on the desks and struggle to figure out how to get out their energy in a non-disruptive way.
Research shows that students who have access to flexible seating are not only more engaged in the classroom, but also create higher quality work when being allowed to work in a place where they are comfortable.
My personal goal is to help students learn to advocate for their learning needs by providing a classroom environment that allows exploration of their learning preferences!
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